Bengals make their correct and fired the dude who ran the wrong card to the commish
Pick 5.158
TE From the U!!!
CHRIS HERNDON | Miami (Fla.) 6036 | 253 lbs. | SR. Norcross, Ga. (Norcross) 2/23/1996 (age 22.2) #23
BACKGROUND: A three-star tight end recruit out of high school, Christopher “Chris” Herndon IV was basketball-focused most of his life, but football emerged as his best sport, especially after he transferred from Meadowcreek to Norcross as a junior. He recorded 33 catches for 543 yards and six touchdowns as a senior, helping lead Norcross (teammates with Georgia’s Lorenzo Carter) to the Georgia 6A State Championship in 2013. Herndon was ranked as a top-20 tight end recruit in the country and committed to Miami (Fla.) over Mississippi State and Western Kentucky. After not recording any stats as a true freshman, he started three games as a sophomore, posting 18 catches for 237 yards and one score. Herndon shared the tight end duties with David Njoku in 2016 and finished with 28 receptions for 334 yards and two touchdowns. He became the clear starter as a senior and recorded 40 catches for 477 yards and four touchdowns over the first 11 games before a season-ending injury, earning Second Team All-ACC honors. Herndon was invited to the 2018 Senior Bowl, but was unable to participate due to injury.
YEAR (GP/GS) REC YDS AVG TD
2014: (3/0) 0 0 0.0 0
2015: (13/3) 18 237 13.2 1
2016: (13/12) 28 334 11.9 2
2017: (11/11) 40 477 11.9 4
Total: (40/26) 86 1,048 12.2 7
HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP
COMBINE 6036 253 32 7/8 09 1/4 79 No workout (left knee) 21
PRO DAY N/A
STRENGTHS: Quality body thickness with core strength…graceful athlete with loose body control…fluid route-runner and doesn’t run stiff…reliable hands-catcher to pluck…adjusts to the football like a wide receiver, bailing out inaccurate throws…athletic YAC threat, efficiently transitioning from pass-catcher to ballcarrier…not an easy player to get on the ground…athletic feet to move laterally and quickly recover in pass protection, shielding the pocket from rushers…versatility allowed the coaches to play him at fullback, wide receiver and tight end…graduated with a degree in sociology (Dec. 2017)…described as a “humble leader” by his coaches…set career-bests as a senior before his injury.
WEAKNESSES: Physical build, but doesn’t always play like it…needs to do a better job powering through road blocks mid-route…too much of a finesse finisher, preferring to go around defenders instead of lowering his pads and barreling through contact…needs to add glass to his diet as a blocker, lacking the aggressive nature desired…get-in-the-way pass blocker, lacking the sustain skills to shut down defenders…draft grade will hinge on the medical reports after season-ending surgery to repair the MCL in his left knee (Nov. 2017).
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Miami (Fla.), Herndon lined up as the “Y” tight end in the Hurricanes’ offense, lining up inline, detached and in the backfield as a fullback. He moved to the top of the tight end depth chart after David Njoku left early for the NFL and responded with a career-season over the first 11 games, helping Miami go undefeated when he was healthy. Herndon was at his best on bubble screens and underneath routes where he could snatch and use his athleticism to create in space. His sweet feet allow him to move laterally and stay in position as a blocker, but he needs to get stronger and tougher as a finisher, both as a blocker and receiver.
Overall, Herndon is coming off a serious knee injury, but if healthy, he has the athletic profile and blocking potential to grow into a versatile Delanie Walker type of role.
GRADE: 3rd-4th Round
@FaulkSF is on the clock