Josh Whyle NFL Draft Scouting Report

TE, Cincinnati Bearcats

Josh Whyle held more than 30 scholarship offers including the likes of Wisconsin, Auburn, Georgia, and Tennessee but took his talents to Cincinnati, where he developed into a productive playmaker at the tight end position. His career got off to a slow start, missing almost all of his freshman campaign with a broken collarbone and serving as a backup to Josiah Deguara in 2019. His impact truly began in 2020, where he was the team’s starter and provided a steady presence as a receiver while developing as a blocker. 

Whyle is a good athlete that shines in the passing game where his hands, body control, and ball skills are top traits. He is a good route-runner that can win at every level of the field. His ability to snap through route breaks and produce after the catch are surprising qualities given his body composition. Whyle’s blend of size and ball skills make him a legitimate seam threat. Whyle is sure-handed and has made his share of highlight-reel grabs outside of his frame in addition to handling the routine receptions. 

Having studied Whyle across three seasons, I find myself impressed with how he’s been able to develop as a blocker. It’s clear that he’s added both mass and functional strength, which has made him much more effective, in addition to his improved hand technique and leverage when blocking. He is a willing and aggressive blocker that has shown notable growth. Whyle is experienced as a blocker and receiver both inline and from the slot. 

When it comes to concerns, Whyle needs to continue developing his footwork as a blocker to enable him to sustain with more consistency and not fall off blocks. While he has the size, ball skills, and athleticism to win down the field, I wish Cincinnati gave him more chances to do so. His opportunities really fell off in 2022 which coincides with his added weight. Whyle is high-cut and leggy, which could present some natural challenges with his ability to win after the catch and get in and out of breaks at the next level. 

Whyle’s versatility to contribute as a big slot and in-line gives him a chance to contribute relatively early in his career and has the makings of a starter given his overall skill set. 

Top Reasons to Buy In:

• Size
• Receiving profile
• Versatility 

Top Reasons For Concern:

• Still developing as a blocker
• What does he truly offer down the field and with yards after catch?
• High-cut frame presents challenges as a route runner, blocker, and ball carrier 

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 6′ 6 1/2”

Weight: 248 lbs

Arm Length: 31 1/2”

Hand Size: 9 1/2”

Athletic Testing (NFL Combine):

40-yard Dash: 4.69s

Vertical Jump: 33.5”

Broad Jump: 9′ 7”

Short-Shuttle: TBD

Three-Cone: TBD

Bench Reps: TBD

Ideal Role: Versatile tight end 

Scheme Fit: Spread

Prospect Comparison: Coby Fleenor (2012 NFL Draft) 

TDN Consensus Grade: 72.00/100 (Fourth-Round Value)

• Marino Grade: 72.00/100

Written By: Joe Marino

Exposures: UCF (2020), Houston (2020), East Carolina (2020), Georgia (2020), Notre Dame (2021), Indiana (2021), Houston (2021), Tulane (2021), Arkansas (2022), SMU (2022), Temple (2022)

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