The junior tight end, Asiasi was a dual threat in High School playing both tight end and defensive line. He started his college career at Michigan but due to college transfer rules, Asiasi misses the entire 2017 season.
In just 18 games Asiasi caught 52 balls for 789 yards and six touchdowns. He was on college award watch lists. Asiasi may have benefitted from another year at UCLA.
Asiasi came in to the combine at 6'3" and weighted 257 LBS. Asiasi ran a 4.73 forty time, And tested with 16 press reps, a 30.5" vertical and a 115" Broad Jump.
Side note To give people an idea how fast he can run, Asiasi barely beat Kyle Rudolph's reported 4.78 forty time. Asiasi is also the first tight end drafted it on day one or two since 2010.
While many writers gave him a 3rd round grade, NFL.com ranked him a 4th round grade. His NFL comparisons are a bit uneven. NFL.com compared him to Alge Crumpler, Last Word compared him to Eric Ebron. and FLM compared him to Austin Hooper. Three names Patriots fans should be familiar with.
NFL.com list his strengths and weaknesses as the following:
"Strengths
- Early juice getting up the seam
- Fluid gait in space, reminiscent of enormous receiver
- Coverage finds it hard to close space on seam and over routes due to his speed
- Three-level potential with career average of 15.2 yards per catch
- Finds soft underbelly of the defense against zone
- Frame and toughness to bang between the hashes as a target
- Makes smooth adjustments to snare off-target throws without bogging down
- Safety blanket size and soft hands for third-down conversions
- Blocking technique needs work, but effort is solid
- Works at chopping feet through sustain phase as run blocker
- Has talent to stalk and connect in space
Weaknesses
- Fluctuating weight in-season needs to be monitored
- Outside hands allow defenders to slide out of his block
- Needs better footwork and landmarks as backside blocker
- Strength and leverage at point of attack need work
- Average to below average tracking it deep
- Struggled to finish contested catches against Arizona
- Still learning to elude traffic and set up routes
- Waits on throws, allowing coverage to crash down on catch space
- Needs to get better at using size as pass-catcher"
As a Patriots writer I may be biased, so before I give my final thoughts, here's what a few other respected writers had to say in their final summary of the the new Patriot.
•"UCLA tight end Devin Asiasi is a breath of fresh air for a team looking for a prospect that can fulfill the traditional in-line duties of a tight end and be moved around the formation as a flex weapon. While he needs polish as both a blocker and receiver, he has a strong foundation to build upon with the upside to contribute in both areas. Asiasi has the upside to become a starter in the NFL and should at least be a quality TE2 by Year 2/3." - Marino Draft Network
•"Asiasi is a powerfully built tight end who offers intriguing athleticism and untapped potential. Smooth off the snap, showing good core flexibility to dip and slip by defenders attempting to jam, as well as surprising suddenness in his acceleration and breaks. Moves well for a big man, including when hurdling over defenders (Utah) or racing past them (USC). Can open up and get moving very well, presenting a difficult matchup for opponents. Naturally powerful blocker who delivers a strong initial pop on defenders with the lateral agility and balance to shuffle and mirror. Terrific core flexibility and length to make late adjustments, recovering on snaps in which he appears to be beaten." - FLM
•"Color me intrigued by the growth and potential of Asiasi in a less than loaded tight end draft class. Despite only one year of production he is a reliable pass catcher who can be lined up all over the field and used on all three levels. He has shown good aggressiveness to pass and run block and has improved to the point where it looks like he may enjoy it now. He’s not explosive and didn’t show the ability to create after the catch but it’s hard to find a tight end that can do everything. I’m curious to see his Combine numbers and if he impresses there he may hear his name fairly early in the draft." - Tom Mead Steelers Depot.
•"Asiasi might never be a Pro Bowler, but he will at a minimum be a good starter or high-level rotational player. With so many teams focused on adding depth at tight end to emulate what Baltimore has done offensively, Asiasi's traits as a three-down player are valuable." - Matt Miller Bleacher report
While Primarily an inline blocker, Asiasi can be used an in the backfield or out as a third receiver. He is going to have an easy time against smaller defenders. He can catch good enough to be effective. There is concern about his ability to seperate and make contested catches. I think that was more due to bad coaching than anything.
Although the Patriots had former tight end Mike Williams at 310lbs, weight maybe come a concern for Asiasi. Like with William "The Fridge" Perry, Devin likes food. Hint: Patriots Nation, don't let him tailgate in Foxborough.
He should be a decent number 2 receiving tight end but I am a little worried if they use him as a number one pass catcher. He is a perfect tight end for two tight end sets. He is an upgrade over Lacosse but still a 17-24 ranking at the position for a TE1.
Although it was in high school, he is a bit raw and Belichick may wanna see how good he is on the defense. If the skills are there and he cannot play tight end on the NFL level, he may even be a prospect for a tackle convert.
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