Jets 2018 NFL Draft Profile: TE Ian Thomas

Here is the 2018 NFL Draft profile on tight end Ian Thomas out of Indiana breaking down his strengths, weaknesses, video highlights, and if he makes sense for the New York Jets.

When it comes to tight end Ian Thomas out of Indiana, the word above average blocker comes to mind. For any offense that is in need of having a decent tight end that would bolster their pass blocking or help with rushing plays, Thomas is a solid option compared to other tight ends in the 2018 NFL Draft. Could the New York Jets take a risk with Thomas?

In the grand scheme of things, the Jets are pretty stacked at tight end. They added some new faces this offseason but hope that tight end Jordan Leggett is ready to showcase his unique skill set in his second season with the Jets. Even though he missed his rookie season due to a severe knee injury, 2018 will be the first year he hopefully is able to make an impact on the gridiron.

The Jets might want to add yet another tight end into the mix if they feel that more quality depth is needed to round out the roster. This is where Thomas might come into play even though it’s unlikely so let’s break down everything that makes him tick.

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STRENGTHS

Thomas has a surprising speed that keeps defenders guessing once he turns on his motor. Is an above average blocker that will boost an offense that needs better pass and rush blocking. Does well lining up as a receiving option during motion plays. In his collegiate career, Thomas totaled 404 receiving yards, five touchdowns, and had an average of 14.4 yards per reception.

WEAKNESSES

Dealt with a lot of undisclosed injuries throughout his senior year that limited his ability to earn more playing time. Due to only playing two years at Indiana, is considered a project tight end that might need at least a year or two of development before everything comes into place. Will need to learn how to properly adjust his speed and timing since a lot of times, will be too aggressive in trying to get separation against defenders but ends up getting phased out in plays.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

JETS PREDICTION

Ideally, Thomas is projected to be a Round 4 or 5 pick mainly due to his small sample size in just two years of playing college football. The Jets will likely not use one of their draft picks on him since he’s mostly a blocker when it comes to his primary attribute that he shines in. Everything else would require more coaching and training to get him to the next level.

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Don’t expect the Jets to draft Thomas since they’ll more than likely want a player that has more statistics to prove they’re capable of succeeding in the pros. Unfortunately for Thomas, it’s a real possibility that he might drop to even later rounds of this year’s draft due to team’s likely not wanting to invest in a player that has a long way to go as soon as his rookie season.