Nick Boyle: 2015 Baltimore Ravens Draft Prospect

Jan 21, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad tight end Nick Boyle of Delaware (86) hangs onto a pass over North squad safety Kurtis Drummond of Michigan State (27) and defensive corner Doran Grant of Ohio State (12) during North squad Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The draft process for an NFL team is a long and tedious one. Scouts keep their eyes peeled on college players year round even though the actual hype begins shortly after the NFL’s regular season ends. We are headed into full blown draft season, an exciting time that reaches its peak when teams are officially on the clock beginning April 30th.

This year we are tracking every player that the Baltimore Ravens talk to or reportedly show interest in. Whether it be a workout, interview, team visit, or simply a rumored bit of interest, we are going to cover them all. We’ll take a look at each prospect and discuss whether or not that particular player might represent a good pick for the Ravens.

The Ravens likely thought they were pretty much set at the tight end position heading into the 2014 season. Dennis Pitta was healthy, they signed Owen Daniels to a one year deal, and they used a 3rd round pick on Crockett Gillmore. Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go as planned. Right now the team is staring at an uncertain future for Pitta, Daniels is a free agent, and Gillmore is still a question mark.

One guy the Ravens might be looking to draft is Delaware tight end Nick Boyle, who team officials were spotted talking to at the Senior Bowl. Boyle is another mammoth guy who goes 6’6″ and 270 pounds. He has the size and athleticism to be an every down guy, which is exactly what the Ravens need. He is a smooth and natural hand catcher to go along with his ability to sustain blocks.

Boyle exhibits great quickness for a guy his size and has demonstrated the willingness to go after tough catches by extending and diving for balls. He has also shown the willingness to drop his shoulder and deliver punishment to would be tacklers, and has been known to hurdle a few as well. Not just a short passing game weapon, Boyle demonstrated the ability to make plays downfield for the Fightin Blue Hens.

The biggest knocks on Nick Boyle are his footwork while blocking and he needs some work in the run game. Boyle showed a tendency to disengage from blocks too quickly and the tape shows a lack of desire when he was asked to run block. While Boyle has the size to be an effective blocker, he doesn’t seem to possess the nasty disposition required to excel at it.

Nick Boyle is already a starting caliber pass catching tight end, and he has the tools to become a solid blocker as well, if he can be coached up to it. Boyle may not present a mismatch for defenses in the passing game, but he is a big, strong possession type guy who can move the chains. He is also a guy that projects to be a good value in the middle rounds of the draft.

Do you think the Ravens should draft Nick Boyle?

Next: Here's a Wide Receiver the Ravens Might Draft

More from Ebony Bird

Home/Ravens Draft