Jackson
Hawes.
Jackson
Hawes.
Georgia Tech· 6'5"· 253 lb· 4.82s 40
"Hawes is the rarest thing in the modern draft — a tight end who was drafted almost entirely because of how he blocks, and who catches just enough to keep a defense honest."Pre-draft read
Hawes blocks like a sixth offensive lineman. He fits up in-line, drives his feet through contact and sustains until the whistle, and he is comfortable being asked to handle a defensive end by himself on down blocks and duo concepts. At 6-5 and 253 pounds with heavy hands, he is the reason a run play breaks outside.
As a receiver he is a reliable outlet and nothing more. He catches the ball cleanly, understands where to sit against zone and can convert a third-and-four, but he does not separate against man, he does not threaten a seam vertically, and his 4.82 forty confirms what the tape shows. The route tree is short by design.
Heavy-personnel run game — a team that plays 12 and 13 personnel and wants a true attached Y on gap and duo concepts.
Year 1: blocking TE2 and core special teams. Ceiling: long-tenured TE2 who plays 300-400 run-heavy snaps a season.
Spread offense that detaches its tight end and asks him to win one-on-one against nickel defenders.
He is a role player, and the role is real — but the wrong offense makes him inactive on game day.
Jackson Hawes Georgia Tech Highlights
2025 NFL DRAFT HIGHLIGHTS: Jackson Hawes | TE | Georgia Tech
Jackson Hawes Rookie Highlights | 2025 - 2026 NFL Season - Bills
Hawes started at Yale before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final season, and across his career he caught 39 passes for 434 yards and five touchdowns. Those are not the numbers that got him drafted.
He was taken because he is one of the best blocking tight ends in the class. Teams that still run 12 and 13 personnel need someone who can be attached to the formation and win against a real defensive end, and there are fewer of those players entering the league every year. He plays with proper technique, good pad level and the kind of finish that shows up on tape immediately.
The receiving ceiling is genuinely low. He is a dependable short-area target with reliable hands, but a 4.82 forty and a modest route tree mean he will never be a passing-game weapon. That is fine for the role: Buffalo is drafting a blocking specialist and special teams contributor who can play 300 snaps a year and make the run game better, which is exactly what a fifth-round tight end is supposed to be.
- 01
In-line blocker
He is a legitimate in-line blocker who handles defensive ends without help.
- 02
Heavy hands
He displays heavy hands, proper pad level, and consistent finish through the whistle.
- 03
Reliable receiver
He offers reliable hands as a short-area outlet on third down.
- 04
Ideal frame
He possesses an ideal Y frame at 6-5, 253 pounds, with matching play strength.
- 05
Special teams value
He provides immediate special teams value across multiple units.
- 01
Minimal production
He recorded minimal receiving production with 39 catches for 434 career yards.
- 02
Limited speed
His 4.82 speed indicates no vertical seam threat.
- 03
Cannot separate
He cannot separate against man coverage, and his route tree is very short.
- 04
Detached value
He offers zero value in an offense that plays its tight end detached.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- 4.82sp50
- Vertical
- 34.5inp50
- Broad jump
- 121inp50
- Three-cone
- —s
- Shuttle
- 4.40sp50
- Bench
- 16repp50
| Yr | Team | G | Rec | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Yale | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022 | Yale | 8 | 13 | 139 | 4 |
| 2023 | Yale | 7 | 9 | 97 | 1 |
| 2024 | Georgia Tech | 12 | 16 | 195 | 0 |
| Career | — | 28 | 39 | 434 | 5 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
- Haynes KingQB23%
- Aaron PhiloQB10%
- Chris ElkoWR9%
#10 of 21 tracked contributors · Produced well above his snap share · Offense explosiveness 1.24 (p34) · CFBD — usage x PPA per tracked player
Like Woerner, Hawes projects as a reliable blocking tight end who will help set edges and clear lanes in the run game, but won't be a consistent receiving threat.
Hawes mirrors Dwelley's receiving efficiency and willingness to block but should be a more stout in-line option, impacting the run game with better consistency.
Hawes could follow Carter's path as a player who is known for his run blocking and special teams contributions, but struggles to carve out an offensive role.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Buffalo drafted a specialist. In an offense that leans on heavy personnel in cold weather and short yardage, a genuine in-line blocker has real value.
The receiving production is why he lasted this long. Tight ends who catch 39 passes in a career do not get drafted on day two regardless of how they block.
The realistic outcome is a long career as a TE2 or TE3 who blocks on most of his snaps, plays every special teams unit and occasionally catches a touchdown from the goal line. Useful, unglamorous and hard to replace.