Will Mallory 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Background: 

• Father played college football at Michigan and has NFL coaching experience
• Had offers from Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State, Florida, and Notre Dame. 
• Grandfather coached Miami of Ohio, Colorado, Northern Illinois, and Indiana. Uncle is an assistant coach in the NFL. Another uncle is the head coach at Indiana State. 

System: 

• Scheme tendencies: Tempo offense featuring RPOs — ”speed in space”
• 2022 projected role: Starting TE

Pros: Will Mallory is predominantly a pass-catching tight end target who has provided Miami with versatility in his alignments, allowing him to be a contributor as both a player in the progression and as a blocker. Mallory is at his best in the latter when Miami has implemented the screen game or called upon him as a point man on quick RPO throws versus numbers on the perimeter. In these situations, he showcases effective mobility and effective hand strength and pop to secure a block outside versus perimeter defenders. As a receiver, you’ve seen plus run-after-catch opportunities for Mallory and he has showcased effective route-running, as you’d expect from a high school receiver. Mallory has done well to find soft spaces against zone coverage as well, running sit and stick routes that uncover for on-time throws versus pressure for his passer. 2022 feels like a good breakout opportunity for Mallory in the new Josh Gattis offense where the team has a clearly established vertical passer in Tyler Van Dyke serving as the incumbent at quarterback. Mallory’s play at Miami has not offered this kind of upside in the passing game until the second half of 2021. 

Cons: If Will Mallory is going to serve as a Y tight end in the NFL, he’s going to need to get stronger and more assertive as an in-line blocker. The perimeter play is good but his work in the box and when fitting defensive linemen provides much in the way of improvement opportunities. Mallory gets bubbled and collapsed, even when working laterally to climb to second-level defenders. I saw some frustrating moments for Mallory as a pass-catcher in which catches (and touchdowns) got away from him in contested situations. Given that I don’t think he’s overly dynamic and I believe he needs to add muscle and strength to his game anyway, I’m going to be focused on contested opportunities in 2022 to see if that troubling trend continues, as well.

Will Mallory NFL Draft Scouting Report by Kyle Crabbs