While Nate Byham was also invited to the combine — and I believe he will have a solid career in the NFL — Dorin Dickerson got most of the attention at the TE position at the combine. He raised his stock. His numbers impressed.
Pittsburgh’s Dorin Dickerson, at 226 pounds the lightest tight end at the NFL Scouting Combine, led the field with unofficial times of 4.40 and 4.43 seconds Saturday. NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks projects Dickerson, who played a variety of positions for the Panthers, as an H-back type of player in the NFL. Dickerson moves a little bit like current Jets TE Dustin Keller, who was here two years ago.
The projections still put him outside of the first couple rounds, but still possible (Insider subs).
The story of the day among the tight ends was the performance put on by Pittsburgh’s Dorin Dickerson (6-1?, 226), whose official 4.40 in the 40 illustrated the explosiveness, burst and separation skills that set him apart from the rest of the tight end class. Dickerson looked good all over the field, catching the ball well and performing well in all phases.
The excitement around Dickerson is tempered by his lack of size, however. He has long arms (34 inches) and big hands but still must find a niche with an offensive coordinator who can create a unique H-back role for Dickerson, one that will use his versatility to create mismatches. Overall, though, Dickerson solidified his third-round grade and is at least in the late-second round discussion.
Despite plenty of positive takes, there are those who are not so positive, because of his hips.
Pitt TE Dorin Dickerson ran a blazing 40 (unofficially 4.40 seconds) and produced a 43-inch vertical jump, both of which will likely improve his stock. When we evaluated him on film and at the Senior Bowl, however, he looked to be more of a straight-line athlete who does not show the fluidity in his hips, even as a tight end, to consistently gain separation against NFL linebackers.
I think I’m obliged to go with a “that’s what she said” comment there.
I would think a 5th round pick would be pretty high .. but would really like to see him get it.