Dalton Kincaid Listed With Best Odds to Be First Tight End Picked in NFL Draft Odds

Who Is Dalton Kincaid?

Kincaid had a fine junior season for Utah in 2022 as the Utes won the Pac-12 title by upsetting USC in the conference championship game. Utah finished 10-4 after losing to Penn State in the Rose Bowl.

Despite missing two games, Kincaid had 70 receptions for 890 yards and eight touchdowns. Those were all team-leading figures.

In 26 games over three seasons, Kincaid caught 107 passes for 1,414 yards and 16 TDs. That came after he played one year at San Diego, a non-scholarship program that competes at the FCS level.

Kincaid has a higher ceiling than most players his age as he played only one season of high school football in Las Vegas while concentrating on basketball.

Kincaid did not work out at the NFL Combine. However, he did attend the event and was measured at 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds with 32 5/8-inch arms and 10 1/4-inch hands.

Experts Feel Kincaid Certain First-Rounder

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Pro Football Focus’ Mike Renner all project Kincaid to be selected in the first round.

Only Jeremiah has pegged Kincaid as being the first tight end drafted, though, going No. 15 to the Green Bay Packers. The only other TE going Jeremiah projects as a first-rounder is Notre Dame’s, Michael Mayer.

Renner and Kiper have Kincaid as the second tight end picked following Mayer. The former has the Jacksonville Jaguars taking Kincaid with the 24 pick and latter has the Dallas Cowboys selecting him at 26.

Brugler also has the Cowboys picking Kincaid, though as the third tight end off the board following Mayer and Georgia’s Darnell Washington.

Uncertainly at Top of NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears hold the first pick in what stacks up as a quarterback-heavy draft.

However, the Bears already have someone who they feel is a franchise QB in Justin Fields. They traded up in the 2021 draft to select him from Ohio State.

It seems most likely that the Bears will likely trade the pick in order to obtain more selections to help continue their rebuilding process.

Brugler and Renner both project the Indianapolis Colts trading with the Bears but are split on who Indianapolis would select. Brugler believes it would be Ohio State’s DJ Stroud and Renner feels it will be Alabama’s Bryce Young.

Kiper thinks the Houston Texans will obtain the pick and select Young, who is the favorite in the NFL Draft odds to be the No. 1 pick.

Jeremiah believes the Bears will hold their spot at the top and select controversial Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter.

Don’t Overlook Mayer in the Tight End NFL Draft Odds

While Kincaid is an intriguing NFL prospect, he is not a lock to be the first tight end to be drafted and offers little value at +110.

Mayer had an outstanding three-year career at Notre Dame with 180 receptions for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns. It is hard to ignore that production.