New York Jets feel they got a 'freak' with tight end Zack Kuntz

Players like New York Jets tight end Zack Kuntz don’t come around often. The 6-foot-7 seventh-round rookie began his career at Penn State but never really got a strong opportunity to show what he could do before transferring to Old Dominion for his senior season.

Unfortunately, even changing schools didn’t provide proper exposure for the young prospect, as Kuntz would suffer a season-ending injury just five games into his senior season.

But Kuntz had one final chance to get on the radar of scouts and draft evaluators at the NFL Scouting Combine. The 23-year-old Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native absolutely dominated the various athletic drills.

Kuntz ran a 40-yard dash in just 4.55 seconds, which is already quick for a tight end, but especially quick for one who is as large as this. But it’s not just straight-line speed that Kuntz possesses. He also showed he could jump out of the gym, posting a 40-inch vertical, a broad jump of 10 feet-8 inches, and even showed some change of direction ability with a three-cone drill time of 6.87 seconds.

All of these marks are impressive on their own, but combined all onto the same player profile? Well, that’s just exceptional.

Apparently, this skillset caught the eye of the Jets, who made Kuntz the 220th pick in the NFL Draft. Now, both coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas are singing the praises of the newest pass-catching option for Aaron Rodgers.

“There’s an old saying, ‘Always take the freak that loves ball.’ And if you do, usually they pan out. So, he’s got freakish ability and he’s got a love for football, so now we just got to work with him.”
New York Jets coach Robert Saleh on Zack Kuntz’ freakish ability

There’s no denying Kuntz’ athletic ability, or his potential. But he faces a long hill to climb, not only to make the 53-man roster, but also to get on the field. Ahead of Kuntz on the depth chart is Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, and 2022 third-round pick Jeremy Ruckert. None of those players seem in any danger of losing a roster spot ahead of the season’s kickoff, but perhaps Kuntz can change some minds in the Big Apple.

The team’s GM is certainly on board, as a noted fan of his final pick in the 2023 draft.

“He tested through the roof. So we were sitting there at the top of the seventh round and just going through some of the guys who just had that freak factor to him and he was right there at the top — the size, the speed, the length, the jump, just everything and another guy who may have been drafted a little sooner if not for the injury this year.”
Jets GM Joe Douglas on Zack Kuntz

While Kuntz may not be in a prime position to perform right away, it’s clear everyone involved with bringing him aboard agrees, he’s a “freak.”