Fantasy Football Player Notes
2023 Draft Rankings
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1.
Travis Kelce
KC
All hail the king of tight ends! Travis Kelce has finished TE1 in PPR fantasy scoring in six of the last seven seasons, settling for a runner-up finish behind Mark Andrews in 2021. The gap between Kelce and all other tight ends was a vast chasm in 2022. Kelce averaged 19.2 PPR points; the next-closes tight end, T.J. Hockenson, averaged 13.3 fantasy points. Kelce has strung together seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, and he's averaged 8.4 touchdowns per year over that span. In 2022, he had a career-high 110 catches for 1,338 yards and 12 touchdowns. Age is the only real concern for Kelce, who turns 34 in October. But he's been indestructible for most of his career. He missed a game in 2020 due to COVID-19, but Kelce hasn't missed a game due to injury over the last nine years. Kelce is a worth first-round pick in fantasy drafts, and you can make a strong case that he should be a top-five pick.
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2.
George Kittle
SF
George Kittle remains one of the NFL's most talented tight ends and is arguably the hardest to tackle. He's coming off a strange season in which he scored a career-high 11 touchdowns but averaged 51 receiving yards per game -- the fewest since his rookie year in 2017. Kittle has been remarkably efficient as a pass catcher, with a career average of 9.6 yards per target. The question is whether Kittle will be targeted often enough to suit his fantasy managers. The 49ers are in flux at the QB position, and Kittle will have to share targets with RB Christian McCaffrey and WRs Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
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3.
Mark Andrews
BAL
After catching 107 passes for 1,361 yards and nine touchdowns and leading all tight ends in fantasy scoring in 2021, Mark Andrews was off to a hot start in 2022 before his production fell off in October. Andrews had 39-455-5 over his first six games but then had 34-392-0 over his last nine games while dealing with knee and shoulder issues, along with the late-season absence of injured QB Lamar Jackson. The upside remains vast for the 27-year-old Andrews, who's a worthy TE target if you miss out on Travis Kelce.
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4.
T.J. Hockenson
MIN
A midseason trade to the Vikings invigorated T.J. Hockenson in 2022. In seven games with the Lions, he averaged 6.1 targets and had 26 catches in seven games. After the trade, Hockenson averaged 8.6 targets in Minnesota and had 60 catches in 10 games. He also had 10 catches for 129 yards in the Vikings' playoff loss to the Giants. Entering his age-26 season, Hockenson is in the prime of his career and is an attractive option at the TE position now that he's with a team eager to leverage his pass-catching talents.
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5.
Kyle Pitts
ATL
After becoming the first tight end in 50 seasons to have 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie, Kyle Pitts had a bitterly disappointing sophomore season, finishing with 28 catches for 356 yards and two touchdowns and missing the last six games of the season with a torn MCL. The 22-year-old Pitts is immensely talented and figures to be a top fantasy TE for many years to come. But can Pitts be a prolific fantasy scorer in 2023 with run-loving head coach Arthur Smith in charge of the Falcons' offense and the Atlanta QB situation unsettled? Pitts will be a high-risk, high-reward fantasy option for 2023, but at least he'll be cheaper in this year's drafts than he was in 2022.
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6.
Dallas Goedert
PHI
Over the last two years, Dallas Goedert has averaged 56.7 yards per game and a wildly efficient 10.6 yards per target. He finished fifth in fantasy points per game in 2022, missing five late-season games with a shoulder injury. The athletic Goedert is a playmaking tight end who's averaged 13.8 yards per catch over the last two years. His target upside may be limited, however, since the Eagles were the fourth run-heaviest team in the league last season, and since Goedert has to share targets with WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Goedert hasn't scored more than five touchdowns in any of his five NFL seasons.
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7.
Darren Waller
NYG
After putting together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020, Darren Waller has missed 14 games due to injury over the last two years. In 2021, a knee injury forced Waller to miss five late-season games. In 2022, a hamstring injury wiped out nearly half of his season. Waller has been reasonably productive when healthy the last two seasons, but the presence of target hog Davante Adams lowers Waller's ceiling, and the big tight end will turn 31 in September.
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8.
Evan Engram
JAC
Evan Engram had a terrific rookie season for the Giants in 2017, then spent the next four years failing to live up to expectations. He signed a one-year deal with the Jaguars in 2022 and thrived in his new environment, catching 73 passes for 766 yards and four touchdowns. Engram also had 7-93-1 in the Jaguars epic come-from-behind playoff win vs. the Chargers. Engram is an unrestricted free agent, and if he lands in a good spot, he'll likely be drafted as a midrange TE1 this summer.
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9.
Pat Freiermuth
PIT
After a promising rookie season in which he had 60 catches for 497 yards and seven touchdowns, Pat Freiermuth scored only two TDs in 2022. But Freiermuth drew 98 targets in his second season and finished with 63 catches for 732 yards. The former second-round draft pick from Penn State offers a solid fantasy floor as a key component of the Pittsburgh passing game.
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10.
David Njoku
CLE
David Njoku's first five seasons in Cleveland were a mixed bag, but the uber-athletic tight end had a strong 2022 campaign, with 58 catches for 628 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games. Njoku hauled in 72.5% of his targets and averaged 44.9 yards per game. Although he's been in the league since 2017, Njoku will only be entering his age-27 season, so he's squarely in the prime of his career. With his massive wingspan and above-average speed, Njoku might still be able to take up his game another notch.
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11.
Cole Kmet
CHI
One of the few credible pass catchers for the Chicago Bears last season, Cole Kmet led the team in targets (69), catches (50), receiving yards (544) and TD catches (7). Kmet got off to a s slow start in 2022, catching five passes for 56 yards over his first four games, but still finished TE8 in PPR fantasy scoring. If Bears QB Justin Fields shows improvement as a passer in 2023, Kmet could take another step up in his age-24 season.
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12.
Dalton Schultz
HOU
Dalton Schultz is due to become an unrestricted free agent, and his 2023 fantasy value will largely depend on his landing spot. Schultz was TE3 in fantasy scoring in 2021, catching 78 passes for 808 yards and eight touchdowns. But his production tapered off in 2022. He finished with 57-577-5 and dealt with an early-season knee injury that cost him a pair of games. Schultz isn't particularly athletic, and he's averaged just 6.5 yards per target last season, suggesting that his 2021 numbers aren't likely to be repeated.
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13.
Dawson Knox
BUF
After scoring nine touchdowns in 2021, Dawson Knox had only two touchdowns in the Bills' first 12 games of 2022. But Knox got hot down the stretch, scoring a touchdown in each of Buffalo's last four regular-season games. Knox has had more than 500 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons, and he's averaged a respectable 8.1 yards per target over that span. The 26-year-old Knox might never be featured in the Bills' passing game, but playing with QB Josh Allen is unquestionably a boon to Knox's fantasy value.
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14.
Greg Dulcich
DEN
Greg Dulcich missed the first five games of his rookie season with a hamstring injury, but the third-round draft was productive upon his return, scoring a touchdown in his NFL debut and finishing the season with 33-411-2 in 10 games. Dulcich averaged 5.5 targets per game and drew eight or more targets in four of his 10 games. He's an intriguing growth stock for 2023.
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15.
Chigoziem Okonkwo
TEN
A fourth-round draft pick from Maryland, Chigoziem "Chig" Okonkwo was a pleasant surprise for the Titans in his rookie season, catching 32 passes for 450 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 14.1 yards per catch and 9.8 yards per target, flashing impressive speed and tackle-breaking ability after the catch. Okonkwo is an exciting addition to the TE pool, although the Titans' grim QB situation might force us to temper our enthusiasm for this up-and-comer.
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16.
Taysom Hill
NO
A situational wildcat quarterback masquerading as a tight end, Taysom Hill finished TE5 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring last year. Hill was wildly inconsistent from week to week, however, and a 112-yard, three-TD rushing performance vs. Seattle in Week 5 accounted for a massive chunk of his fantasy scoring. Hill's fantasy value for 2023 depends largely on his usage. If the Saints continue to give him snaps at quarterback every week, Hill should continue to have fantasy utility. But if the Saints upgrade their QB position and reduce Hill's snap counts, he'll be a fantasy afterthought who might have a couple of splash weeks but won't provide bankable value.
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17.
Gerald Everett
LAC
Gerald Everett posted career highs in receptions and receiving yardage in 2022, finishing with 58-555-4. Everett hasn't finished as a top-12 fantasy TE in any of his six NFL seasons, but he's established himself as a playable TE2. Everett benefits from playing with Justin Herbert, one of the better young quarterbacks in the league.
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18.
Zach Ertz
ARI
Zach Ertz was TE3 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring through the first 10 weeks of the 2022 season, but he tore his ACL and MCL on Nov. 13. It's not clear whether Ertz will be ready for Week 1, but he should be back early in the season. The question is whether the 32-year-old Ertz will be fit enough to continue his late-career resurgence. After seven strong seasons with the Eagles, Ertz had a nightmarish 2020 in which he had 36-335-1 in 11 games, missing five games with a high-ankle sprain. Ertz started the 2021 season sluggishly, but then a trade to the Cardinals seemed to rejuvenate him, and he produced useful numbers until he went down last year. Not only is Ertz coming off a major injury, but he may have to share snaps and targets with talented young Cardinals TE Trey McBride. If you're thinking about investing in Ertz for 2023, insist on a discount.
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19.
Mike Gesicki
NE
Mike Gesicki is one of the most athletic tight ends in the league, but he was a complete nonfactor in fantasy last season. After a 73-catch, 780-yard season in 2021, Gesicki was franchised-tagged by the Dolphins last year, only to become an afterthought in head coach Mike McDaniel's offense. Gesicki averaged just 3.1 targets per game in 2022 and finished with 32 catches for 362 yards and five touchdowns. Gesicki hits free agency this spring and could become a more appealing fantasy option in 2023 if he lands with a team that better utilizes his impressive skill set.
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20.
Tyler Higbee
LAR
Tyler Higbee was busy in 2022 but not wildly productive. He finished fourth among tight ends in targets (108) and fifth in receptions (72), but with 620 receiving yards and three touchdowns, he only finished TE9 in fantasy scoring. His first touchdown of the year didn't come until Week 15. Higbee has become a decent fantasy option at TE, though he has never lived up to the promise of his spectacular late-season run in 2019, when he piled up 43-522-2 over the last five games of the year.
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21.
Trey McBride
ARI
The first tight end taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, second-rounder Trey McBride played sparingly early in the season but took on a larger role after Zach Ertz sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 10. Over Arizona's final seven games, McBride was targeted 35 times and had 25-234-1. McBride finished his college career at Colorado State with a 90-catch, 1,121-yard season, but he's not likely to get that sort of usage anytime soon. It's possible McBride could get additional snaps and targets early in the season if Ertz isn't able to play in September, but even if that's the case, McBride might not be playing early-season games with QB Kyler Murray, who also tore his ACL late last season.
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22.
Juwan Johnson
NO
Juwan Johnson finished TE11 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring last season after catching 42 passes for 508 yards and seven touchdowns. It was an impressive performance considering that the Saints slogged through 2022 with Andy Dalton as their quarterback for most of the year. A former undrafted free agent, Johnson has been a diamond in the rough for the Saints and could provide more sneaky fantasy value in 2023.
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23.
Noah Fant
SEA
Noah Fant's first season in Seattle resulted in the lowest yardage total (486) of his four-year career, as he had to share TE snaps and targets with Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson. Fant is still only 25 and is one of the more athletic tight ends in the league, but that has yet to translate into a top-10 fantasy finish at the position. He's had two top-12 finishes in half-point PPR formats, however, and the combination of youth and athleticism gives him plausible fantasy upside in the later rounds of drafts.
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24.
Hunter Henry
NE
After scoring nine touchdowns in 2021, Hunter Henry scored just two touchdowns in 2022 and finished TE21 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring. Henry could be a salary-cap casualty for the Patriots this spring, and it might actually bode well for Henry's fantasy value if he's released and ends up in a better passing offense. Not counting the 2018 season, which he missed with a torn ACL, Henry has produced 500+ receiving yards in each of his last five seasons.
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25.
Jelani Woods
IND
A 6-foot-7, 265-pound behemoth, Jelani Woods had some impressive flashes in his rookie season, including a two-TD game against the Chiefs in Week 3 and an eight-catch, 98-yard game against the Steelers in Week 12. With 4.61 speed and a 98th percentile catch radius (per PlayerProfiler,com), Woods has tools to dream on and figures to become an even bigger part of the Colts' offense in 2023.
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26.
Hayden Hurst
CAR
After catching 26 passes for the Falcons in 2021, Hayden Hurst had 52 receptions for the Bengals in 2022, but he averaged a career-low 8.0 yards per catch and scored only two touchdowns. Hurst will be entering his age-30 season, and even though he's paired with outstanding QB Joe Burrow, Hurst's ceiling is too low for him to be draft-worthy in most 12-team fantasy leagues.
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27.
Isaiah Likely
BAL
Fourth-round draft pick Isaiah Likely turned heads in training camp and the preseason last summer and then had a solid if erratic rookie season for the Ravens, finishing with 36 catches for 373 yards and three touchdowns. The question is whether Likely can become a consistent fantasy contributor as the No. 2 tight end in Baltimore behind prolific pass catcher Mark Andrews.
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28.
Daniel Bellinger
NYG
Fourth-round draft pick Daniel Bellinger showed promise in 2022 but missed four midseason games after an eye injury that included a fractured orbital bone. The 6-6, 255-pound Bellinger finished with 30 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. We don't have a lot to go on here, but Bellinger figures to be the Giants' starting tight end in 2023 and could be an under-the-radar gem in 2023 if the Giants plan to get him more heavily involved in their passing game.
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29.
Albert Okwuegbunam
DEN
Albert Okwuegbunam is one of the fastest, most athletic tight ends in the league, but he's been unable to gain a sturdy foothold in the Broncos' offense during his first three NFL seasons. It's possible that the arrival of new head coach Sean Payton will finally unlock Albert O's potential as he heads into his age-25 season. Okwuegbunam bears watching this summer for signs of progress.
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30.
Robert Tonyan
CHI
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31.
Logan Thomas
WAS
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32.
Cade Otton
TB
Fourth-round draft pick Cade Otton turned in a solid rookie season for the Buccaneers, finishing with 42 catches for 391 yards and two touchdowns. Otton tended to be more productive in games that fellow TE Cameron Brate missed die to injury. Brate is still around, and the Buccaneers have an unsettled QB situation following Tom Brady's retirement, so Otton has a difficult path to fantasy relevance in 2023.
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33.
Irv Smith Jr.
FA
Hopes were high for Irv Smith Jr. in 2022 after he missed the entire 2021 season with a torn meniscus in his knee, but Smith endured a high-ankle sprain in Week 8 and didn't make it back until Week 18. Smith finished the year with 25 catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. Smith won't turn 25 until August, so there's still hope that the former second-round draft pick will become a fantasy-viable tight end, but he's likely to be an afterthought in most 2023 fantasy drafts.
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34.
Jonnu Smith
ATL
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35.
Austin Hooper
LV
After finishing TE3 in fantasy points per game in 2019, Austin Hooper has largely been a fantasy afterthought ever since. He's had fewer than 450 receiving yards in each of the last three years, and he finished TE25 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring last season. The 28-year-old Hooper offers limited upside for 2023, especially with young TE Chig Okonkwo looking like a potential star for the Titans last year.
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36.
Michael Mayer
FA
Regarded by many as the top rookie tight end in the Class of 2023, Michael Mayer of Notre Dame has drawn comparisons to Jason Witten because he shines as both a pass catcher and blocker. Mayer had more than 800 receiving yards in each of his last two college seasons, scoring seven touchdowns in 2021 and nine in 2022. He's likely to be a first-round pick in this year's draft and could provide immediate fantasy value if he lands in the right spot.
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37.
Tyler Conklin
NYJ
A low-ceiling, high-floor fantasy option, Tyler Conklin has finished TE17 and TE16 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring the last two seasons. It's possible Conklin's ceiling could get a little higher if the Jets are able to significantly upgrade their QB position.
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38.
Jake Ferguson
DAL
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39.
Dalton Kincaid
FA
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40.
Foster Moreau
FA
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41.
Luke Musgrave
FA
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42.
Mo Alie-Cox
IND
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43.
Brevin Jordan
HOU
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44.
Adam Trautman
NO
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45.
C.J. Uzomah
NYJ
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46.
Jordan Akins
CLE
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47.
Will Dissly
SEA
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48.
Harrison Bryant
CLE
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49.
Donald Parham Jr.
LAC
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50.
Noah Gray
KC
Chiefs TE Noah Gray is destined to have limited fantasy potential as long as he's playing behind Travis Kelce. But Gray, a fifth-round pick in 2021, is an athletic pass catcher whose career is worth monitoring. Gray had 28 catches for 299 yards and one touchdown last season. He'd be a hot waiver wire pickup if Kelce were to ever get hurt.
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51.
Darnell Washington
FA
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52.
Kylen Granson
IND
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53.
Brock Wright
DET
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54.
Tommy Tremble
CAR
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55.
Kyle Rudolph
FA
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56.
James Mitchell
DET
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57.
Cameron Brate
FA
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58.
Sam Laporta
FA
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59.
Hunter Long
LAR
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60.
O.J. Howard
LV
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61.
Colby Parkinson
SEA
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62.
Jeremy Ruckert
NYJ
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63.
Dan Arnold
FA
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64.
Peyton Hendershot
DAL
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65.
Tucker Kraft
FA
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66.
Cole Turner
WAS
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67.
Zack Kuntz
FA
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68.
Grant Calcaterra
PHI
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69.
Josh Oliver
MIN
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70.
Tre' McKitty
LAC
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71.
Quintin Morris
BUF
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72.
John Bates
WAS
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73.
Charlie Kolar
BAL
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74.
Ian Thomas
CAR
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75.
Luke Schoonmaker
FA
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76.
Geoff Swaim
FA
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77.
Connor Heyward
PIT
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78.
Giovanni Ricci
CAR
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79.
Jacob Hollister
FA
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80.
Johnny Mundt
MIN
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81.
Drew Sample
FA
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82.
Eric Saubert
MIA
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83.
Ross Dwelley
SF
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84.
Jody Fortson
KC
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85.
Parker Hesse
ATL
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86.
Andrew Beck
HOU
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87.
Anthony Firkser
FA
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88.
Jesper Horsted
LV
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89.
Zach Gentry
FA
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90.
Brycen Hopkins
LAR
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91.
Ryan Griffin
FA
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92.
Chris Myarick
NYG
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93.
Jack Stoll
PHI
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94.
Mitchell Wilcox
FA
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95.
Teagan Quitoriano
HOU
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96.
MyCole Pruitt
FA
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97.
Jacob Harris
LAR
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98.
Josiah Deguara
GB
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99.
Maxx Williams
FA
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100.
Tanner Hudson
CIN
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101.
Devin Asiasi
CIN
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102.
Nick Boyle
FA
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103.
Tommy Sweeney
NYG
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104.
Pharaoh Brown
FA
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105.
Armani Rogers
WAS
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106.
Marcedes Lewis
FA
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107.
Kendall Blanton
KC
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108.
Chris Manhertz
DEN
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109.
Eric Tomlinson
FA
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110.
Trevon Wesco
FA
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111.
Ko Kieft
TB
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112.
Stephen Sullivan
CAR
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113.
Luke Farrell
JAC
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