Arizona Cardinals

Louisville Football: 10 NFL Teams That Should Draft Cole Hikutini

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:58 a.m. ET

Fansided, Derek Snyder/FanSided via Big Red Louie

We take a look at ten different team in the National Football League that should draft Louisville football’s Cole Hikutini.

The Louisville football team is going to severely miss Cole Hikutini next season when he is playing in the National Football League. He has quickly become Lamar Jackson’s favorite target and probably the Cards’ most-reliable option in the passing game.

Hikutini’s draft-stock is going to skyrocket once he gets through the 2017 NFL Combine. There are a few other tight-ends that will be drafted higher than him this year, however as we have learned over the years, that doesn’t mean the other guys will be more successful.

With that being said, let’s take a look at ten different NFL teams that should draft Hikutini in the 2017 NFL Draft:

Dec 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) prepares to pass the ball during the second half against the Detroit Lions at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Detroit defeated New Orleans 28-13. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

10. New Orleans Saints

This is one of the more interesting scenarios for Cole Hikutini. The Saints already have a decent pass catching tight-end in Coby Fleener, but he hasn’t been the type of player that they were hoping for whenever they singed him. Fleener had a somewhat important role with the Colts, but was never the dominating presence that he should have been.

With that being said, I think the Saints should take a look at Hikutini in this year’s draft because he could significantly help Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees in the red-zone.

Fleener is fourth on the Saints this season with 71 targets, but he only has been able to score three times. Clearly they want to feed him the football, but getting into the end-zone is what counts.

Again, Hikutini would be another nice piece for New Orleans’ offense next season.

Dec 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) calls for the snap of the ball behind center Matt Paradis (61) prepares to pass in the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

9. Denver Broncos

The reigning Super Bowl champions aren’t having the type of season that most people expected in 2016. Their defense is obviously legit, but it’s their offense that has been keeping the team from achieving great success this season.

Broncos’ quarterback Trevor Siemian has thrown to his starting two receivers a combined 236 times. The closest person in targets behind Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas is tight-end Virgil Green with 33.

That’s right, Sanders who is second on the team in targets, is 103 ahead of Green.

The Broncos need to draft Hikutini to place on emphasis on moving the chains. It becomes extremely difficult to move the football in the NFL whenever you are only relying on two, outside wide receivers.

Not to mention, having a reliable option in the passing game could do wonders for Trevor Siemian.

Dec 17, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry (14) and wide recievere Kenny Stills (10) and running back Jay Ajayi (23) celebrate a touchdown against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports

8. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are another team that could be calling Hikutini’s name on draft-day this coming April. They already have two solid receivers in DeVante Parker and Jarvis Landry, but they have still yet to find a reliable tight-end for quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Injuries have kept starting tight-end Jordan Cameron out for most of this season, but other than Dion Sims, they don’t have one guy they can rely on going forward.

Hikutini could add a completely different element to the Miami offense going forward. They play in a tough division, where defenses can make the biggest difference among four different teams that can move the football well.

Not to mention, the Louisville tight-end would help Miami in the red-zone and in the run game with his solid blocking ability.

Dec 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) celebrates with strong safety T.J. Carrie (38) outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) and defensive tackle Darius Latham (75) after stopping San Diego Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) short of a first down during the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

7. Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders are going to the NFL playoffs for the first time since Lamar Jackson was born. Okay, that’s a bit of a stretch, but you get the picture.

They have been able to have success because of MVP-candidate Derek Carr. This guy has made the biggest difference for a Raiders team that has one of the best offenses in all of the National Football League this season.

I believe that Hikutini would be a great addition to a very talented and young Oakland offense.

Just like Denver, their starting two receivers get a ton of targets, however Hikutini could come into the mix and become extremely dangerous under-the-radar.

Whether it’s helping in the run game or creating mismatches with linebackers in the passing game, Hikutini could become very successful under Raiders’ head coach Jack Del Rio.

December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Shaun Draughn (24) is congratulated by wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) for scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the first quarter at Levi

6. San Fransisco 49ers

The 49ers present an opportunity for Hikutini to come right in and contribute, but the bad news is that this is currently a terrible football team under former Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly.

San Fransisco loves to use their tight-ends, but they don’t have a great receiving tight-end like Cole Hikutini. It doesn’t matter who they will have playing quarterback next season, they need a tight-end that can stay healthy and catch 35-50 balls per season.

The 49ers want to run the football well and be able to move the chains effectively. Obviously, every team wants to do that, but only a few NFL teams are run-first in this passing league.

Hikutini would be a solid pick-up for a 49ers team struggling to find consistency on offense.

Dec 4, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) looks on prior to a play in the second half against the Denver Broncos at EverBank Field. The Denver Broncos won 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

Just like the 49ers, the Jaguars franchise is a complete mess right now. They just fired their head coach Gus Bradley and will probably be changing some other assistant coaches in the process of the off-season.

Obviously, new coaches are going to bring in their own philosophies, but as of right now, Jacksonville depends on their tight-ends deeply inside the twenties.

They have former-Broncos tight-end Julius Thomas, but that guy isn’t any younger and Hikutini would be another great option for Jags’ quarterback Blake Bortles.

Not to mention, they play in a division where great offensive football players can put up some amazing numbers on Sundays.

Dec 15, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) calls a play in a team huddle during a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks won 24-3. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

4. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams will also be looking for a new head coach, as they just fired Jeff Fisher a few weeks ago. These guys have only been playing in Los Angeles for a couple of months and surely haven’t been able to rise up to the expectations of the west coast spotlight.

Los Angeles drafted local-boy Jared Goff as the first overall pick in the NFL draft last April, but he hasn’t quite been as advertised either. The Rams are currently 4-10 with a great chance of picking within the top five teams in this year’s draft.

It’s clear that the Rams want to get the football to their tight-end Lance Kendricks, as he is second on the team in targets with 81.

However, could a younger and more athletic tight-end be in Los Angeles’ future?

Dec 18, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers guard Ramon Foster (73) waits on the line during the second against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 24-20. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

This might be a bit of a reach considering the Steelers already have two decent options in Ladarius Green and Jesse James on their roster, but those two aren’t as dangerous in the passing game as Cole Hikutini.

If they add Lamar Jackson’s favorite target, then they could easily be the best offense in the National Football League.

Simply put, if Ben Roethlisberger has a guy in his offense that can get open, then he is going to feed them the football.

Again, should the Steelers draft Hikutini is a definite yes. However, if they will actually draft him is another story.

Dec 18, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) throws the ball against the Detroit Lions in the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

2. New York Giants

The time is now for the New York Giants to invest in a long-term option at tight-end. Odell Beckham Jr. is going to get a ton of targets, but having a reliable tight-end would make life on Eli Manning significantly better.

Giants tight-end Will Tye has 57 targets this year, but has only one touchdown catch. That is simply not being productive or successful for a tight-end in the National Football League.

Cole Hikutini would excel in New York and could be the Giants best option at tight-end since Jeremy Shockey.

If I were in the Giants’ front-office, then I would make every effort to draft Cole Hikutini in this coming draft.

Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) watches quarterback Carson Palmer (3) during the first half against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

1. Arizona Cardinals

This Cardinals’ football team has been nothing short of a disappointment, since they were one game short of the Super Bowl in 2015. A large part of the problem has been injuries, but the poor play of aging quarterback Carson Palmer hasn’t helped either.

Arizona drafted another former Louisville tight-end a few years back in Gerald Christian, but ended up releasing him.

Could they take another chance on a Cardinals tight-end next year? I believe they should, without a doubt.

Jermaine Gresham has been Palmer’s main option at tight-end in 2016, but this dude isn’t getting any younger either. It’s pretty clear that Gresham isn’t the type of player that can excel in this passing league, however I do know one young tight-end who can.

That’s right, Cole Hikutini is the guy for the Arizona Cardinals’ future.