Thomas Fidone II
Thomas Fidone II  TE  Nebraska | NFL Draft 2025 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Thomas Fidone II
Height
6-5
Weight
243
College
Nebraska
Position
TE
Class
Junior
Home town
Council Bluffs, IA
79.3/100
Player Rating
11
PositionRank (TE)
4.7
FortyYD Time
Receptions
36
Rec YDs
373
Rec TDs
Rec AVG
10.4

Thomas Fidone II TE Nebraska | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Thomas Fidone II TE Nebraska
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

ROLE: Inline Receiving TE
Last Updated: 04/09/2025
Draft Year: 2025
40 time: 4.70 seconds (70%*)
Age: 22.7 DOB: 09/20/2002
Measurables:
Height: 6-5 (63%*) Weight: 243 (19%*)
Hands: 10 5/8 (85%*) Arm: 34 (74%*) Span: 82 4/8 (95%*)
Forty: 4.70 (C) (70%*) Shut: 4.29 (C) (71%*) Ten YD: 1.57 (C) (88%*)
Vert: 35.5 (C) (79%*) Broad: 126 (C) (96%*)
3Cone: 7.01 (C) (78%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
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ROLE: Inline Receiving TE
Last Updated: 04/09/2025
Draft Year: 2025
40 time: 4.70 seconds (70%*)
Age: 22.7 DOB: 09/20/2002
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-5 (63%*) Weight: 243 (19%*)
Hands: 10 5/8 (85%*) Arm: 34 (74%*)
Span: 82 4/8 (95%*)
Forty: 4.70 (C) (70%*) Shut: 4.29 (C) (71%*)
10Yd: 1.57 (C) (88%*)
Vert: 35.5 (C) (79%*) Broad: 126 (C) (96%*)
3Cone: 7.01 (C) (78%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
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Overall Rating: 79.3 / 100
Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced
Defense Rating:
77%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
QB Rating When targeted: 84.7
Hands:
80%
Short Receiving:
69%
Intermediate Routes:
80%
Deep Threat:
73%
Blocking:
66%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 6th
Overall Rank: #206 Position rank: #11
College Games: 25 College Snaps: 971
Grade: 4 ESPN  Stars 4 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 81/100
Grade: 247 Sports 4  Stars 247 Sports 96 Stars 247 RATING: 96/100
Grade: 4 Stars 4 Stars RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
AJ Barner - Michigan
93%
Josh Whyle - Cincinnati
86%
Jeremy Ruckert - Ohio State
85%
New York Giants Drafted: ROUND: 7 - Pick Number: 219 (NYG)
Draft Profile: Bio
Thomas Fidone II the 6'5", 243-pound pass-catcher arrived at Nebraska as a crown jewel of their 2021 recruiting class – a consensus four-star prospect ranked as the country's top tight end by both Rivals and 247Sports. Fidone spurned offers from football powerhouses including Notre Dame, LSU, Michigan, and Iowa to become a Cornhusker, bringing with him eye-popping high school production that included over 1,500 receiving yards and 20+ touchdowns across his prep career.

ACL tears derailed his first two seasons in Lincoln, appearing in just one game before finally getting healthy in 2023. When he did hit the field, Fidone showed flashes of his blue-chip potential – recording 25 catches for 260 yards with 4 touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore, becoming the first Nebraska tight end since 2010 to score in three consecutive games. He followed that with a more productive 2024 campaign, setting career highs with 36 receptions and 373 yards while starting 9 of 13 games for the Huskers.

Beyond the stat sheet, Fidone's academic achievements and character stand out. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and eight-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll member, he twice earned spots on the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team. After battling through injuries that threatened to derail his career, Fidone declared for the 2025 NFL Draft following his redshirt junior season, showcasing his athletic traits at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine where he posted a 4.70 forty-yard dash, 35.5-inch vertical, and impressive 82½-inch wingspan.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • Impressive athletic mover with outstanding build-up speed who can stress linebackers vertically and create separation on crossing patterns when he hits full stride.
  • Length jumps off the screen – 34-inch arms and massive 10⅝-inch hands give him a catch radius that makes quarterbacks look better than they are on off-target throws.
  • Shows natural body control adjusting to balls outside his frame; will twist mid-air and secure catches while absorbing contact from closing defenders.
  • Runs with visible competitive fire after the catch – won't juke many defenders but drives legs on contact and fights through arm tackles with surprising tenacity.
  • Route salesman who sells vertical stems with conviction before breaking; showed improvement creating separation with subtle head fakes and shoulder dips at the top of routes.
  • Displays natural hands-catcher who plucks away from his body and secures through contact; rarely lets balls into his chest when working the intermediate areas.
  • Motor never idles – plays with hair-on-fire mentality whether involved in the play design or not; effort blocker who looks for work downfield when routes aren't his primary.
  • Flashed dangerous ability in the red zone with length and leaping ability; high-pointed several touchdowns over shorter defensive backs when isolated in coverage.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Frame needs some development – long and lean but lacks the functional play strength required for consistent in-line blocking against NFL edge defenders.
  • Medical red flags can't be ignored – lost essentially two full seasons to knee injuries early in his career before finally getting healthy in 2023 season.
  • Too easily redirected by physical corners in press coverage; needs to develop more efficient release package when working against jam techniques at the line.
  • Base narrows when engaged as blocker leading to balance issues; gets caught lunging and loses leverage battles against defenders with better pad level.
  • Processing speed needs development – occasionally looks mechanical rather than instinctive when finding soft spots against zone coverage; eyes can be slow finding quarterback after breaks.
Scouting Report: Summary
Fidone brings legitimate vertical stretch capability with his 4.70 speed and outstanding catch radius, making him particularly dangerous on medium crossing routes where he consistently wins against linebackers. His soft hands when plucking passes away from his frame compared to his developing blocking technique paint the picture of a mismatch weapon rather than an every-down in-line tight end.

Looking forward, Fidone's developmental arc hinges on adding functional mass to his long frame without sacrificing the athleticism that makes him special. His superior effort as a blocker provides the foundation, but technique and power must catch up to make him more than a situational player. The flashes he showed in the red zone and as a seam-stretcher aren't flukes – they're indicators of a passing game threat who can create separation against linebackers and use his length against defensive backs in contested situations.

The right fit for Fidone's skill set comes in an offense that prioritizes multiple tight end sets where his receiving prowess can be maximized while his blocking development continues. His competitive temperament and academic achievements suggest a player who will attack his weaknesses with the same intensity he shows between the whistles. While injury history creates some projection uncertainty, his physical tools and natural receiving ability point toward a player whose ceiling remains tantalizingly untapped. Expect him to contribute primarily in passing situations early while developing into a more complete tight end.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)

Thomas Fidone II percentiles vs other Tight Ends (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)

How other scouting services rate Thomas Fidone II (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
176.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
10.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance. For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.

*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.