2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jake Briningstool (TE – Clemson)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jake Briningstool

Jake Briningstool (TE – Clemson)

6-foot-6 | 240 Pounds

Background

Jake Briningstool was a four-star recruit who caught three passes as a freshman back in 2021 before serving as the team’s second tight end behind Davis Allen the following year, playing nearly 400 snaps and ending up with a 25-285-4 (11.4) line. Took over the starting role in 2023, finishing his career with lines of 50-498-5 (10.0) in 2023 and 49-530-7 (10.8) this past season.

Positives

A two-year starter and three-year contributor for a program that’s produced some good tight end prospects in recent years. Tall for the position, with good length and the frame to handle additional bulk. In terms of usage, Briningstool most often lined up as a big slot receiver, but also took some snaps as an H-back and the occasional snap as more of an in-line option.

Plus athlete for the position, and shows good acceleration off the line of scrimmage. Runs routes to all three levels of the field; saw a lot of seams, flats/sneak flats, crossers, stops/hitches and delayed releases, but even the occasional wheel or corner. Smooth mover who can glide up and threaten the seams. Shows some snap and detail at the route stem, with hip sink and head-fakes to create separation.

Shows a good understanding of how to find and settle into soft spots against zone coverage. Does a good job of improvising to give his quarterback a chance when the play breaks down. Natural hands-catcher with a wide radius. Competes for additional yardage after the catch. Briningstool’s size makes him an effective red-zone option. Shows a good understanding of positioning as a blocker, using opponents’ aggressiveness against them. Engages with good extension, appropriate knee-bend and a wide base, keeping his legs churning and working hard to sustain through the whistle. A pretty rangy stalker in space.

Negatives

On the thin side for a pro tight end as tall as he is. Could be asked to add additional bulk/strength to fill out his frame. Doesn’t always look like he has the sturdiest base underneath him as a blocker, and can occasionally lunge or show issues with balance as he plays outside his frame.

Pad level tends to be high, and can be jolted on contact with front-seven defenders at times. Can struggle to stay on track through contact on his routes. Per Pro Football Focus (PFF), Briningstool caught slightly under 50% of his career contested catches. He doesn’t have the bulk or strength to reliably box out opponents. Could also be more aggressive in working back to the ball. Competitive after the catch, but doesn’t survive contact very well.

Summary

In some ways, Briningstool is closer to a big wide receiver than a tight end, often lining up from the slot or as a receiver in a tight alignment and showing impressive burst, speed and route-running chops, with natural receiving skills. While he’s not purely a receiving option — he shows good competitiveness and a sound understanding of technique/positioning as a blocker — he’s also not going to overpower many opponents, due to his thin frame and lack of ideal functional strength.

It’ll be interesting to see whether teams want to maximize Briningstool’s value as a receiver or whether he’ll be asked to gain bulk and develop a more well-rounded game. Either way, he looks like a pretty good candidate to be one of the first six or eight tight ends off the board.

Projection: Round 4/Round 5

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Tight Ends

Colston Loveland (Michigan)

A very solid overall tight end who has the type of polish you’d expect given his pedigree. Loveland lined up split out wide or in the slot very often during the games reviewed, showing impressive speed, route-running skills and body control. Provided the Wolverines with a reliable target who could create mismatches against different types of defenders.

Despite not being a primary inline blocker for the team, he is also a physical, aggressive and tough blocker with good effort, sound fundamentals and impressive functional strength. A do-it-all type who looks likely to be a first-round pick at this point, although Lovelans is not quite the physical/athletic freak that typically goes in the first round at his position.

Projection: Round 1/Round 2

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Colston Loveland

Tyler Warren (Penn State)

A big, smooth and versatile tight end who has the functional strength to execute different blocking assignments and who stuffed the stat sheet as one of the focal points of Penn State’s offense this year.

Running a variety of different routes from different alignments and showing the ability to create on underneath throws or come down with contested catches, Warren looks like a reliable option with the skills to play either inline or as a flex option at the next level. Looks likely to be one of the first two tight ends off the board, potentially as high as the first round.

Projection: Round 1/Round 2

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Tyler Warren

Mason Taylor (LSU)

Just a big, tough tight end who works hard to sustain in the run game and who presents his quarterback with a big target and a reliable pair of hands underneath. Taylor was asked to execute various blocking assignments and line up all over the offense in school, so as a three-year SEC starter with pro bloodlines, the level of polish is about what you’d expect.

May never be the fastest or most dynamic receiver, but it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to envision Taylor developing into a no-frills, starting-caliber in-line tight end.

Projection: Round 3/Round 4

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Mason Taylor

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