{"id":2190,"date":"2025-06-21T11:15:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-21T11:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/2190\/"},"modified":"2025-06-21T11:15:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-21T11:15:11","slug":"chiefs-roster-can-rookie-tight-end-jake-briningstool-make-the-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/2190\/","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs Roster: Can rookie tight end Jake Briningstool make the team?"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the NFL Draft<\/a>, the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> signed tight end Jake Briningstool as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Clemson. Briningstool had become one of the most decorated tight ends to ever play for the Tigers.<\/p>\n

While the Chiefs seem pretty set at the position (with Travis Kelce, Noah Gray and Jared Wiley all likely to make the team), an impressive camp and preseason could earn Briningstool the fourth chair in the tight end room. <\/p>\n

Background<\/strong><\/p>\n

A four-star recruit out of Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tennessee \u2014 a suburb of Nashville \u2014 Bringingstool was targeted by more than two dozen colleges<\/a>, including Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas A&M<\/a>. Over 48 games at Clemson, he recorded 127 catches for 1,380 yards and 17 touchdowns<\/a>, setting an all-time Tiger record for career receptions by a tight end<\/a>, while finishing second in career receiving yards and touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Checking into the NFL Combine<\/a> at 6 feet 6 and 241 pounds<\/a>, 31 1\/2-inch arms and 8 5\/8-inch hands, Briningstool displayed a good physical build, which is the foundation for his game and playing style. He turned in a 4.75-second 40-yard dash<\/a> (with a 1.6-second 10-yard split), a 31-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 9 feet 7.<\/p>\n

Although his athletic testing shows him to be a modest athlete, Briningstool plays the game with good fundamentals \u2014 and when targeted, he catches it effectively. <\/p>\n

At Clemson, Briningstool used his large frame to make contested catches over the middle of the field \u2014 and even provided some tackle-breaking upside. A crafty player, he also demonstrated a knack for making downfield plays once his quarterback had left the pocket \u2014 a valuable skill for a Kansas City tight end. <\/p>\n

Film evaluation<\/strong><\/p>\n

While tight ends aren\u2019t the centerpiece of the Tigers\u2019 offense, Briningstool made the most of his chances. <\/p>\n

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Jake Briningstool has a big frame, and he used it to help make contested catches. He does a good job of fighting off the DB, concentrating, and hauling in the contested catch with one hand. pic.twitter.com\/s7DTWCiORj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Caleb James (@CJScoobs) May 29, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here, Briningstool runs a crossing pattern over the middle. As the pocket collapses around him, the quarterback scrambles in the same direction as his tight end, throwing just before he\u2019s flushed to the sidelines. Briningstool stops his route, working himself into position to make the grab, boxing out the defensive back and making an impressive one-handed catch for a first down. <\/p>\n

Briningstool created solid chemistry (and synchronicity) with quarterback Cade Klubnik during his final season at Clemson \u2014 displayed not just in these contested catches, but also with his impressive catch radius. <\/p>\n

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Briningstool is working downfield and showing off his catch radius. Way to watch the ball and extend to snag it. I do like his upside as a larger contested catch threat and low red-zone player for KC. pic.twitter.com\/VBPPqnCo87<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Caleb James (@CJScoobs) June 7, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Running a corner route on this play, Briningstool initially works through different layers of coverage undetected. As the outside receiver runs a vertical route, the defensive back sticks with him \u2014 but finally spots Briningstool breaking into space. While the defender is able to close the gap, the tight end showed he isn\u2019t afraid of laying out in space, making a phenomenal diving catch of Klubnik\u2019s throw. <\/p>\n

Clemson mostly used Briningstool as a zone-beater, so he developed a good understanding of running routes to find defensive openings. <\/p>\n

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Bringingstool isn’t the most athletic in the world, but once he gets going, his big frame helps him to break through tackles. Good concentration on catching the ball and fighting through the contact. pic.twitter.com\/xSQ9qQqZlo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Caleb James (@CJScoobs) June 7, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On this play \u2014 in combination with the inside receiver \u2014 Briningstool runs inside the numbers while the running back begins leaking out of the backfield. The linebackers key in on the back, while the defensive backs stick with the inside receiver on his vertical route. This leaves Briningstool with a small pocket of space. Klubnik sees this and fires a good ball to his tight end, who comes up just short of the end zone. <\/p>\n

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Good work by Briningstool to find the hole in the zone and sit down. He works his way past the LB and does a good job of shutting the route down and looking the ball in as the defenders close in on him. pic.twitter.com\/6jOwDQVGid<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Caleb James (@CJScoobs) June 7, 2025<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This snap isn’t anything special, but it does show Briningstool\u2019s good awareness. He times his route to work his way around a defender to find the defense\u2019s soft spot. <\/p>\n

With this good awareness \u2014 and an ability to read defenses \u2014 Briningstool could succeed in a Chiefs system that utilizes built-in reads intended to dice zone defenses and find downfield openings. <\/p>\n

The bottom line<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Kansas City\u2019s training camp gets underway, the tight end room will be packed. Briningstool will have an uphill battle to make the roster. <\/p>\n

After Kelce, Gray and Wiley, the team might carry a fourth right end. Briningstool (and fellow rookie Tre Watson) will have to compete against eighth-year veteran Robert Tonyan, who may be in town to play the role once filled by Blake Bell: the team\u2019s blocking tight end. <\/p>\n

The problem for Briningstool is that while he does provide value as a solid route-runner who can make contested catches and beat coverage zones, he will need to improve in other areas. He doesn\u2019t bring much as a run blocker \u2014 and lacks the strength (or leverage abilities) to play with his hand in the dirt. Early on, this could limit him \u2014 and make it harder to get past Tonyan on the depth chart.<\/p>\n

So Briningstool will likely be fighting to make the practice squad. If he makes it there, he\u2019ll have the chance to develop his game as he adjusts to the NFL\u2019s speed \u2014 and develops the strength and blocking techniques he\u2019ll need at this level. <\/p>\n

He could end up on a similar career arc as the team\u2019s former tight end Jody Fortson, who had a similar size and build. After two years on the practice squad, Fortson eventually made the active roster, providing Kansas City with a red-zone threat opposite Kelce. Unfortunately, injuries prevented Fortson from ever reaching his true potential.<\/p>\n

Briningstool is a long shot to become a contributor \u2014 but we have seen a path he could follow to become one. It will still be interesting to see where he ends up after training camp \u2014 and if he is in the Chiefs\u2019 long-term plans. <\/p>\n