Welcome to the 15th daily installment of the NFL Draft 1-through-32 series on DK Pittsburgh Sports, intended to introduce you, a prospect at a time, to the top 32 players in the class on a consensus basis, leading right up to the main event.
That, of course, will be April 27-29, in Kansas City, Mo., though all 32 teams, including the Steelers on the South Side, will operate from their local headquarters.
NO. 15: DALTON KINCAID
Utah tight end
Kincaid is the No. 15-rated player on Pro Football Focus' big board. He is a premier pass catcher for his position and should be the first tight end off of the board at the end of the month.
COLLEGE BACKGROUND
The third-team All-American and first-team All-Pac 12 tight end Kincaid left as college football's active leader among tight ends in receiving yards (2,484) and receiving touchdowns (35). His story is rather unique in that he played just one season of high school football and went to play at the University of San Diego, where football is considered a non-scholarship sport. With that one season of football in high school, though, Kincaid was an all-state selection at Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas.
He transferred to Utah prior to the start of the 2020 season, and his ascent began in 2021 as he was an honorable mention All-Pac 12 pick by registering 36 receptions for 510 yards and eight touchdowns while playing in all 14 games.
In 2022, Kincaid led Utah in receptions (70), receiving yards (890) and receiving touchdowns (eight) while pacing all Football Bowl Subdivision tight ends in total receiving yards and in yards per game (77.3).
He burst onto the national scene in Utah's 43-42 win over No. 7 USC by recording 16 catches on 16 targets for 234 yards and a touchdown. The 16 grabs were the most by a player in FBS, and the 234 yards were the most in a single game for a tight end in FBS in 2022.
Kincaid was not on the prospect radar out of high school. He did not receive a star rating from 247Sports and was considered a two-star prospect by Rivals. He held two offers, per Rivals, from San Diego and from Black Hills State University located in Spearfish, S.D.
NFL COMBINE, PRO DAY
Kincaid stood out as the best tight end at the NFL Combine, based on his production score of 90 and his overall NFL Next Gen Stats grade of 88, each ranking first among tight ends. He received a prospect grade of 6.48, or "will become good starter within two years."
He measured at 6-foot-4, 246 pounds with a 32 5/8-inch arm length and a 10 1/4-inch hand width. He did not participate in any drills at the Combine or at Utah's pro day due to a back injury, but according to the NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah on his "Move the Sticks" podcast, Kincaid passed all of his physicals.
"My updated top 50 is out, I can't find 10 players better than him. I can't," Jeremiah said on his podcast. "I know you can say he's a little bit older. He had a back (injury), which I'm told he passed all his physicals. He's fine there. When you turn on the tape, there's not 10 players better than this dude in this draft."
MOCK DRAFT
The USA Today mock draft consensus tracker has Kincaid going at No. 22 overall to Baltimore, with an average draft slotting at 23.5. Our own latest mock draft has Kincaid going to Green Bay at No. 15.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE STEELERS' STANDPOINT
This is likely not happening in the first round, as the Steelers' tight end room is loaded with Pat Freiermuth, the recently re-signed Zach Gentry, and second-year pro Connor Heyward. It would be fun, though!
COREY'S TAKE
Being the first tight end taken off the board in the draft can be a hit-or-miss thing, depending on the team. Arizona took Colorado State's Trey McBride as the first tight end with the 55th overall pick in 2022, and he caught just 29 passes and scored one touchdown last season. Kyle Pitts was taken fourth overall by Atlanta in 2021, and he went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in spite of being in a bad offense.
If there is a tight end to take in this draft, though, it is Kincaid. I'm curious as to which team actually grabs him, because he could either be viewed as one of the focal points of a team right away, or he can just be another luxury piece for a contender.
THE REST
1. Alabama QB Bryce Young
2. Georgia DT Jalen Carter
3. Alabama DE Will Anderson Jr.
4. Kentucky QB Will Levis
5. Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
6. Florida QB Anthony Richardson
7. Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon
8. Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson
9. TCU WR Quentin Johnston
10. Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez
11. Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski
12. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
13. Pitt DT Calijah Kancey
14. Iowa DE Lukas Van Ness
