Potential makes Moeaki a top TE prospect

IOWA CITY - Tony Moeaki's potential ranks him among the NFL's best tight end prospects entering this week's NFL draft.

Scouts and analysts rave about Moeaki's intangibles, from his 40-yard dash time (4.71 seconds) to his strength (18 bench press repetitions) to his size (6-foot-3, 245 pounds). But it's his injury history that scares teams and likely will keep him from earning a paycheck commensurate with his ability in this week's draft.

Moeaki, 22, suffered his first major injury in 2007, when he dislocated his elbow and broke his wrist. The injuries occurred in Iowa's fourth game, which allowed Moeaki to red-shirt that season.

In 2008, Moeaki broke his foot in training camp, which required surgery. His foot never healed properly and he needed off-season surgery. Moeaki also suffered a concussion and then missed three games in 2009 with a high-ankle sprain.

It's that injury history that gives teams pause when looking at Moeaki.

“He started 15 games over his career, and that durability is a big question mark,” said Dan Shonka, general manager and national scout for Ourlads Scouting Services, LLC. “But you see him play and you evaluate him, he's a terrific football player. He's got excellent hands, he's one of the few tight ends in this draft that's the total package, he catches the ball well, he runs routes, he blocks.

“He's got all the talent, and he's got the ability to start in the league, but you're going to wonder if he's going to be in the tub a lot.”

NFL Network analyst Charles Davis formerly worked as a broadcaster for the Big Ten Network. Davis heaps glowing praise on Moeaki - with one caveat.

“Part of the reason he's downgraded is he's had a lot of injuries,” Davis said on “Path To The Draft.” “He's gotten dinged a bunch. I actually went to do a game, I was so excited to see Tony Moeaki, can't wait to see him play. He got dinged in the first series and I didn't see him for the rest of the game.

“But if you watch him in the bowl game (against Georgia Tech), watch what he does blocking, watch what he does route running and catching the football, he's definitely a prospect.”

Moeaki was prepared for the annual prodding at the NFL Combine in February. Physically, he cleared out fine, he said.

“That's what they're supposed to do,” Moeaki said. “A physical is part of the combine as well. But everything went really smooth. I passed all my physicals so that was fine.

“Everything has been good to go the whole year basically. I had a high-ankle sprain during the season, but I've been healthy for a long time now.”

On the field, Moeaki was a complete package for Iowa. Despite missing three games, he caught a career-best 30 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns last year. He often turned medium routes into long gains with his speed and route-running ability with eight receptions of at least 22 yards, including three for touchdowns.

Moeaki scored on catches of 34 and 42 yards against Michigan to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Of his four touchdowns, all went for either the game-tying or game-deciding score. He was named first-team all-Big Ten tight end by league coaches.

But it's his injury history that has kept evaluators busy and Moeaki somewhat paranoid, especially at the scouting combine.

“You kind of have an idea of what it's going to be like but generally it's just different,” Moeaki said. “You don't get that much sleep, you're always doing something where you're getting tested, you're constantly talking to coaches. You're walking around and you feel like you are being evaluated on just walking up the stairs.”

Since the combine and Iowa's pro day last month, Moeaki has visited NFL teams Baltimore, Philadelphia and Kansas City. He compared those visits to those he took in high school before selecting Iowa. He'll watch the draft in Utah with his family and said he doesn't “like to play that game” when guessing his potential landing spot this week.

Davis, however, said Moeaki could be one of the draft's top sleepers - if he can stap healthy.

“I think Tony Moeaki is going to be a great value, a third or fourth-round guy who's going to make your team and going to make you better,” Davis said.