What NFL Draft experts are saying about T.J. Hockenson's selection to the Detroit Lions

Dargan Southard
Hawk Central

Former Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson went No. 8 overall to the Detroit Lions in the first round of Thursday's NFL Draft. Here are what NFL analysts are saying about the pick.

Trey Wingo, ESPN analyst

"They know how to deal with tight ends and create tight ends in Kirk Ferentz's system at Iowa. They've done a great job." 

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN analyst

"Basketball background at nearly 6-foot-5, 250. You talk about an athlete. Think about the Kirk Ferentz-Bill Belichick connection. ... He's a throwback to the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. He can block it down the field and make the catch. He's multi-dimensional threat."

 

Dargan Southard covers Iowa and UNI athletics, recruiting and preps for the Des Moines Register, HawkCentral.com and the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.