The 2016 NFL Draft is 11 days away, and it sounds like visits and workouts are slowly wrapping up. I'm sure we'll hear about a few more around the league, but I would think most draft boards are fairly well settled. Various prospects had medical re-checks on Thursday, and that was likely the last major event on the pre-draft schedule.
Earlier this week, NFL reporter Aaron Wilson tweeted that the San Francisco 49ers were among a handful of teams interested in Air Force tight end/long snapper Garrett Griffin. Other interested teams included the Lions, Saints, Chargers, Chiefs, and Broncos.
Griffin started his career as a linebacker, but moved over to tight end, and has stuck there. He has 41 career receptions, including 13 as a sophomore, 16 as a junior, and 12 as a senior. He missed some time at the start of his senior season due to a knee injury. He averaged 16.5 yards per reception during his career, and scored eight touchdowns. At his Air Force Pro Day, he ran a 4.75 40, measured in at 6'4, 237 pounds, and had a 36-inch vertical. He took part in track events for the track & field team, so there is certainly athleticism there.
Griffin is an athletic pass catcher, but his offensive coordinator at Air Force talked up his blocking last fall (h/t FanSided).
"He's been huge at the point of attack in the blocking game," offensive coordinator Mike Thiessen said. "He's physical, he's athletic, he's powerful, he can handle big-time players, which (Utah State had). Kyle Fackrell over there was a big-time player, he handled him."
Griffin picked up long snapper work, which adds some draft value. The 49ers have Kyle Nelson as their long-snapper, and last year signed him to an extension through 2018. They have the cap space to potentially release him, but obviously they like what he can do as their long snapper.