Arizona tight end Tanner McLachlan enters the 2024 NFL Draft after recording career highs in receptions (45), receiving yards (528), and touchdowns (4) this past season. McLachlan leaves Arizona as the program’s all-time tight ends leader in receiving yards (984). He then went to the NFL Combine and showcased athleticism by running a 4.61 40.
McLachlan recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his performance at the NFL Combine, entering the transfer portal after an ACL injury, which teams have shown interest in his services, and more.
JM: You were born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. As a fellow Canadian, I'm always curious. How did you first fall in love with football? When did you start playing?
Tanner McLachlan: I started playing football in the third grade. I’ve always been a big fan of the game. I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by football. I had some cousins and family members that had played the game. I’ve been playing since I was a kid. I’ve always loved football.
JM: Did any of them play professionally?
Tanner McLachlan: No, none of them played professionally. But a bunch of them attended Lethbridge Collegiate [LCI]. I had a bunch of cousins that played at the program. We always went to the games. It was like a Friday Night Lights vibe. I remember being a little kid running around the field. I fell in love with the game. I wanted to be those kids on the field someday.
JM: That’s awesome. Now that you've had time to reflect, how do you look back on the decision to transfer from Southern Utah to Arizona? Was proving you could play on a bigger stage the reason for the move?
Tanner McLachlan: There were a lot of factors that went into that move. I was coming off an ACL injury. I needed some good healthcare benefits from going to a bigger program. That initially led me to the idea of entering the portal.
Also, what you touched on, I wanted to bet on myself at a bigger program. I wanted to make the most of what I had left of my college career. The first collegiate game I ever watched on TV was Arizona versus Washington State. I knew from that moment that I wanted to play at the highest level.
I fell in love with Arizona. That led me to the portal.
JM: You bet on yourself and you took a great step forward this season, recording career highs in receptions (45), receiving yards (528), and touchdowns (4). You leave Arizona as the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards among all tight ends. What led to your uptick in passing game production?
Tanner McLachlan: I placed my trust in our coaching staff. I trusted the guys around me. They made it easy for me. I did my one of 11–I did my job. I developed into a reliable receiver for our quarterbacks. We had a great scheme. Coach Jedd Fisch did a great job getting us ready. I did my part on offense.
JM: You did just that. You continue the momentum by putting forth an outstanding performance at the NFL Combine. You ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds. You also had a 35-inch vertical. Were you satisfied with the overall performance?
Tanner McLachlan: Yeah, you should feel satisfied to an extent because you put the work in leading up to the process. I worked so hard just to get there. The numbers, that’s what you put on paper. It can always be better in some areas, but overall I was satisfied with the performance. I was also super grateful to have had the experience.
JM: Have you met with any teams throughout this process, whether in person or virtually?
Tanner McLachlan: Yeah, I’ve probably met with like 75% of the teams in the league. I had official 30 visits with the Bears, Baltimore, and New England. I recently hopped on Zoom with the Chiefs as well. I’ve probably Zoomed with 75% of the league as I said. Everything is going well. I’ve heard good feedback from them. We’re just days away. We’ll see who liked me the most (laughs).
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. We've appreciated your time today. What kind of impact is Tanner McLachlan going to make at the next level?
Tanner McLachlan: I’m going to do whatever’s asked of me. It might depend on the system and scheme I get drafted into. I know I can make a contribution, whether on offense or special teams. They’re going to get a good football player. I’m willing to come in and work. I just want to win at the end of the day.
