Will Mallory  |  Miami 6’4”  239 lbs.  |  06/2/1999 (23)

Will Mallory was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts, becoming the 11th Tight End and 162nd overall player in the 2023 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE PRODUCTION

Will Mallory is a fifth-year man out of Miami. While he never posted elite receiving numbers in college, Mallory increased his reception and yard totals yearly. He had his best season in 2022 as a fifth-year senior, finishing with 42 catches for 542 yards and three TDs. Mallory led the Hurricanes in targets, receptions, and receiving yards last season and commanded 15.7% of the targets in this offense. Unfortunately, Mallory had to deal with frequent QB changes and inconsistent QB play overall, as Miami finished 5-7 on the year and just 3-5 in conference play. 

FILM

Mallory relies too much on catching passes with his body and could be better in contested-catch situations. He doesn’t possess that “quick twitch” to create separation, but once he gets up to top speed, he can get by defenders. Will’s a solid runner in open space and can break a tackle or two. In addition, he’s proven his ability to pass-protect, as he gave up just one sack since 2020. Mallory is leaner than most TEs in this class, but that’s also given him an edge in athleticism and big-play ability. With his excellent vision, Mallory has shown he can find soft spots in zone defenses and gain extra yards.

ATHLETIC TESTING

Outside of size, Will Mallory was average or above average in all metrics at the NFL Combine. He posted respectable numbers in the bench press (20 reps), three-cone drill (7.18 seconds), and shuttle run (4.40 seconds). Mallory boasted his speed and burst ability in the 40-yard dash by posting a time of 4.54 seconds and finished in the 81st percentile for the 10-yard split. He was also in the 80th percentile or higher in the vertical and broad jumps. Size may be an issue, as Mallory weighed 239 lbs at the Combine, which put him in the 12th percentile.

DRAFT ANALYSIS 

Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Average

Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Poor

Will Mallory was projected to be drafted in the seventh round of this year’s NFL Draft, so relatively speaking, his fifth-round selection was a pleasant surprise for many. He went to the Indianapolis Colts, who selected Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick. While Richardson has an elite ceiling from a fantasy perspective due to his rushing upside, it’s yet to be determined whether there will be enough volume in the passing game to produce fantasy-relevant receivers.

FANTASY INSIGHTS

The Colts receiving corps includes Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Isaiah McKenzie, and Jelani Woods, who was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Woods got more involved as the season progressed and had his breakout game against Pittsburgh in Week 12, hauling in 8 catches for 98 yards. Mallory will be competing for reps against both Jelani Woods and Mo Alie-Cox. Mallory will need to prove his worth to see quality snaps in 2023 and beyond, and even then, no guarantee that will translate to fantasy production. 

It will be an uphill battle for Will Mallory in the NFL, and my expectations for fantasy points are low. Mallory has shown promise at Miami, but at minimum, I’d prefer at least eight names over him in this tight end class. Because of that, he is not worth a draft pick in rookie drafts now. Still, he’s worth watching and rostering in deeper leagues. If Richardson hits the ground running and injuries hit this receiving corps, Will Mallory has the athletic ability to surprise some people. 

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