8 a.m. afterthoughts? Don’t tell these two NFL hopefuls

8 a.m. interviews? Being the only two tight ends stuck in a corner of the NFL Scouting Combine media room while eight other tight ends got to conduct interviews at podiums? Being the warmup act for Joe Burrow and the other quarterbacks, who began meeting media at 9 a.m.?

No problem for Josiah Deguara of Cincinnati and Charlie Taumoepeau of Portland State.

Because this is Big Blue View and it’s what we do, I asked Deguara and Taumoepeau to rate their setup in “Kudos & Wet Willies” style. Like the young, excited, NFL hopefuls they are both chose “Kudos.”

“To be honest I’m completely used to this,” said Taumopeau. “I’ve become accustomed to this throughout my career. I went to a small school, Portland State. I’m just happy to be here. I’m enjoying the experience. At the Senior Bowl it was kinda the same deal, they woke us at 5, 6 a.m. and worked us until about 10, 11 p.m. at night so I’m definitely used to it and our training gets us prepared.”

Taumoepeau is a 6-foot-2, 240-pound tight end who caught 117 passes for 1,876 yards (16.0 yards per catch) and 11 touchdowns for the Vikings.

The Giants cut two tight ends (Scott Simonson and Isaiah Searight) on Monday and are probably going to part ways with veteran Rhett Ellison in a cap move. They might be in the market for tight end depth.

“They should take a chance on me just because I’m a playmaker. They have Evan Engram right now, who’s a helluva player and he’s a guy that I watch just because in size I’m closer to him,” Taumoepeau said. “I just feel like I’m a playmaker, You look at my film and I’ve turned 5, 6-yard routes into like 40-yard gains. I feel like I can help that team make big plays.”

Draft Network says:

“Doesn’t have ideal size, however there is definitely a place for his skill set in today’s NFL. He’s not ideally suited as a 3 down TE. He should mainly be used in passing situations and flexed out as an “F”or “H”. It could benefit him to improve his overall strength for the NFL. May be a package player, at this stage but could develop a more consistent role with improved strength and technique in the run game.”

Deguara, 6-2 3/8, 242 pounds, is another smallish tight end. He didn’t mind being a Combine media afterthought, either.

“It’s just a blessing to be here. Just being able to do anything at the Combine is a blessing, so thumbs up for sure,” he said.

Deguara had 92 catches for 1,117 yards (12.1 yards per catch) and 12 touchdowns for Cincinnati.

Draft Network says:

Pop on Josiah Deguara’s tape and you will immediately appreciate his competitive toughness. Whether it’s exchanging power in the trenches, competing with the ball in his hands, trailing plays as they elongate down the field to hit a block or busting his ass to tackle an intercepting defender, he brings the juice. Deguara brings a balanced skill set to the table in terms of blocking and receiving where he’s been productive on both fronts in college. The challenge with Deguara and forecasting him at the next level is that he has pedestrian physical gifts and isn’t dominant in any one area. With that said, his proficiency in multiple areas profiles him well as a TE2 that should provide valuable depth and meaningful special teams contributions to his NFL team. His ceiling is modest but his floor is high.

Why should the Giants take a flier on him?

“I think I’m a real versatile player. I think I can do a lot of things on the field whether it’s inline, off the ball, move around type of guy, get in the slot, win one-on-one’s, so I think my versatility is my greatest asset,” Deguara said.

“I could play all four special teams. I can do a lot of things on the offensive side of the ball as well, so being able to do all those things I can help the team out in more than one area. I’m able to be on the field in a lot of different ways, so I think that’s why a team should take me.”

— NOTE: Stick with Big Blue View. Our Combine coverage is just getting started.