Final Report

Will the real Max Klare please stand up? After a fantastic sophomore year at Purdue where he looked like a future first-rounder, Klare's transfer to Ohio State killed his momentum. While the dip in production is easily understood, the difference in athleticism was surprising and noticeable. The Purdue version of Max Klare, despite being a bit thin, had a complete profile on tape. In addition to being their main in-line TE and a solid blocker of defensive ends at the point of attack, he was an effective separator and productive pass-catcher. With speed, quickness, flexibility, and explosion out of breaks, Klare looked like the spitting image of TJ Hockenson at Iowa. He handled guys like Mikhail Kamara, Abdul Carter, Matayo Uiagelelei, and Dani Dennis-Sutton in-line and head-up with no assistance. In combination with the ability to be a diverse route-threat and volume pass-catcher, he looked like the next first-round stud TE. Klare transferred to Ohio State and appears to have put on a bit of mass to round out his frame. While that's great, he did not move at the same level. He wasn't necessarily bad, but he lost enough juice out of breaks to be significantly nerfed as a beater of man-coverage. Despite that, the current Klare has a chance to be an okay 3-down player. If we get Purdue Klare back somehow and last season was the result of an undisclosed injury, he has a chance to be a legitimate star. I wish he had come back to school and I wish he had tested at his 245 listed weight. The team drafting him must be willing to fill in some blanks with optimism they will break the right way, but it is in there.

Recommended Position

TE

Round Grade

3rd

Player Comp

Ohio State version: Daniel Bellinger, Purdue version: TJ Hockenson

Scheme Fits