2021 NFL Draft Tight End Profiles by @E2gbuddy
1.Kyle Pitts—Florida
College Position:TE, Outside WR, Slot WR
Pro Position: Move TE, Top 2 Target in an offense. Matchup nightmare
HT: 6’5”
WT: 240
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Pros: Tight end with WR skills who on film lined up against 2 potential 1st round CB in Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II. He won on routes on the outside vs the elite CB. Can run a full route tree from any spot on the field. Pitts uses his body well to box out defenders, shows the ability to high point passes and provides YAC. Pitts is a total offensive weapon in the pass game. The way to maximize him in the run game is put him in motion to get momentum, chip block or play him off the line which allows him to gain momentum going into the 2nd level to find a block.
Cons: Struggles as an on the line, inline TE blocking in the run or in pass protection..
Player Comparison: Calvin Johnson
Expected Round: Top 10
2. Pat Freiermuth—Penn State
College Position:Inline TE
Best pro fit: 3 down Inline TE
6’5”
WT: 250 LBS
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Pros: Freiermuth is a solid route runner with good catch radius. He runs good short to intermediate routes, excels in the RPO pass game and is a tough tackle in the open field He can line up Inline TE, block in the run game with good extension of his arms on his blocks to control defenders. Pat is a guy you’d love to use on WHAM blocks in the run game, is a red zone threat and plays with a high IQ in the scramble type plays.
Cons: He doesn’t show great burst off the line of scrimmage, real build up speed type guy. Despite a good catch radius, balls thrown in his frame are allowed to get into his body too often.
Player Comp: Tyler Eifert
Expected round: Round 2
3.Brevin Jordan–Miami
College Position:Inline TE, Slot, Lines up in backfield and used off misdirections to get him in space
Best pro position: Move TE
HT: 6’3”
WT: 245
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Pros: Jordan is a weapon in the pass game whether lined up Inline, in the slot or in the backfield. Solid explosion off the line, getting into his routes quickly and winning against all levels of defenders. He’s elusive enough that you can line him up in the slot and run screens to him. Good YAC, doesn’t avoid contact. He’s a player you scheme to get touches for in a game.
Cons:Can get pushed around when lined up Inline by bigger defenders.
Player comp: Eric Ebron
Expected Round: 2-3
4.Hunter Long–Boston College
College Position: Inline TE
Best pro position: Inline TE
HT: 6’5”
WT: 255
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Pros: Inline TE who has good get off the line ability and is a solid route runner. Most effective in short to intermediate pass game while being a threat after the catch with physicality. Solid blocker in the run game and pass pro. Can be a 3 down guy in the NFL.
Cons:Teams will need to scheme him up down the seam and further down the field in the passing game.
Player Comp: Marv Cook, Early 90’s Patriots
Expected Round: 2-3
5.Tommy Tremble—Notre Dame
College Position:Inline TE in an offense that used 2 TE sets a lot
Best pro fit: Inline TE, H-Back, Early down TE
HT; 6’4”
WT: 250
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Pros: Best blocking TE in the class period. Physicality is the game when blocking DL, LB or DB. He’s the type of player offenses can run behind and continue to grind out yards. Good in the short to intermediate pass game and shows more athleticism with the ball in his hand than he gets credit for. He may test well at pro-day and rise up the rankings.
Cons: It may not really be a con but he just wasn’t used enough in the pass game. He had a role in the offense and filled it well. They had Baby Gronk as the pass catching threat but when asked to fill the role of pass catcher, he filled it admirably.
Player Comp:Mark Bruener
Expected Round: 3
Rest of the top 10
6. Tre’ McKitty–Georgia via Florida St
College Position: Inline TE, Move TE
Best pro fit: 3 down Inline TE who can be split out on occasion.
HT: 6’5”
WT: 240
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Pros: McKitty shows an incredible ability to run routes and sit against the zone. He has a natural feel for the defense with a high football IQ in the pass game. He runs routes from Inline and the slot while also being sneaky good in the screen game. He’s a willing blocker in the run game and has the ability to dominate with downfield blocking.
Cons: Body type and compete level don’t lead to as many broken tackles down the field as you’d think.
Player Comp:Mo Alie-Cox (thanks NDD)
Expected Round:3- 4
7. Kenny Yeboah—Ole Miss via Temple
College Position: Inline TE, Move TE
Best pro fit: TE in 12 personnel that allows him to be used to strengths. Personally, I think he’d be a great #2 behind Kelce in K.C.
HT: 6’4”
WT: 240
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Pros: Completely tore it up at Ole Miss, averaging nearly 20 ypc and of course, the Bama game. Can lineup Inline or Flex out and has a good feel for coverages. He runs good routes, sticky hands with YAC ability. Better blocker at the 2nd level than along the line.
Cons:Plays with more build up speed than initial burst off the line. Needs to be coached up in blocking game but is teachable.
Player Comp: Early Colts Dwayne Allen
Expected Round 3-4
8.Cary Angeline–North Carolina State
College Position: Move TE, Slot WR
Best pro position: Matchup piece who you pair with a good inline guy. I can see Goalline packages where you line up and then split him wide to get a mismatch. I’d love to see him in Atlanta with Hayden Hurst in 12 personnel
HT: 6’7”
WT: 250
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Pros: Red zone and matchup piece. Runs good routes, has long arms that allows him to shield out defenders and has some athleticism to be elusive in the open field.
Cons: Despite size, his blocking needs a ton of work. He gets thrown around to much and can never be the inline TE unless in a pinch.
Player Comp: Dan Arnold
Expected Round: 3-4
9. Dylan Soehner—Iowa St
College Position:Motion TE to block, FB
Best pro position:Inline blocking TE
HT: 6’7”
WT: 270
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Pros: Great size for the position. His best use is in the run game as a blocker either inline or set in motion to seal the EDGE. Soehner can make plays in the short passing game, using his size to take on tacklers and get more yards. Best if paired with an athletic, receiving TE in the NFL.
Cons: Doesn’t use size to his advantage at times. Sometimes when set in motion, he can find his way through the 2nd level without actually making contact with a defender.
Player Comp: Levine Toilolo (Giants)
Projected Round: 4th
10. Matt Bushman—BYU
College Position Inline TE, Flex TE:
Best pro Fit: Inline TE
HT: 6’5”
WT: 245
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Pros:Do-it-all TE who could be one of the steals of the draft. Lined up in multiple spots in the pass game and showed the ability to run a full route tree. Shows a good ability to sit in a zone and catches the ball well with his hands. Can be a 3 down guy in the NFL
Cons: One of those jack of all trades, master of none type players. He’ll just be a solid long time pro who never really jumps out at you.
Player comp:Kyle Rudolph
Expected Round: 4-5