By Justin Snider
While this tight end class is not as deep with talent as in past years, there is a player at the top who could be considered the best prospect ever graded coming out of college. That player is Kyle Pitts. You also have another quality receiving tight end in Miami’s Brevin Jordan, and all around tight ends in Pat Freiermuth (Penn State) considered the top overall tight end prospect before the 2020 season, and you add in Tre McKitty (Georgia). As the NFL offense evolves, so do individual positions. Tight ends started off as extra blockers who were eligible to receive a pass. They have now evolved into so much more. The tight end position allows offenses to be creative whether it is having the tight end on the line, behind the quarterback, or split out wide. While most often covered by linebackers, defenses are now having to account for pass catching tight ends by either allocating a third cornerback or a safety to cover that position. The tight end position gives coordinators many options to employ and I wanted to discuss the players heading into this year’s draft at the position.
Kyle Pitts – Florida
Pitts, the 6’5” 240-pound tight end from Florida, has gotten a lot of attention from NFL teams and for good reason. He has been talked about being drafted as high as 2 to the NY Jets. I personally don’t see a situation where he falls out of the top 10. He is that good. A mismatch nightmare, Pitts can be used in the slot, off tackle, or in-line. He has great hands which he uses to maximize his insane catch radius. He has good speed to create seperation from linebackers and knows how to use his size to his advantage, especially in the red zone. The 2020 John Mackey Award winner had 43 receptions for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in 8 games this season. He is a 2X All-SEC selection and was a unanimous all-American for the 2020 season. Pitts will be better suited to add more strength and muscle to his frame, which will allow him to get better at blocking while also working on using better hand techniques for those situations. Pitts will be a top 15 overall selection, but Waldo and I disagree with just how high he will go. As Waldo pointed out on the podcast no TE in history has ever been drafted top 4, and only two TEs taken at 5, the last being in 1972. That being said, this kid is special and I don’t think teams will let him slide very far.
Pat Freiermuth – Penn State
Pat Freiermuth, the 6’5” 260-pound tight end is the best all around tight end prospect in the draft. He was considered the #1 tight end prospect heading into the 2020 season. This was based off his 2019 season in which he had amassed 43 receptions for 507 yards and 7 touchdowns. However, he underwent season ending surgery for an injury he sustained against Ohio State. Freiermuth ended the 2020 season with 23 catches for 310 yards and 1 touchdown in just 4 games. Sporadic quarterback play at Penn State never allowed Freiermuth to fulfill his potential. He has prototypical size for the position, and is not afraid of all the physical aspects the position demands. He has good hands and is fearless going across the middle and rarely loses the ball through contact. He is a good run blocker, takes great angles and shows good technique. Freiermuth has good enough speed to create seperation from linebackers and when the ball is in his hands he has a violent stiff arm and runs with a mean streak. While he is an all around tight end he doesn’t have the athleticism to excite. He is a straight lined athlete who will have an opportunity to improve his route tree. One thing Freiermuth needs to learn is better technique in getting through press coverage. Late first, or early round 2nd round draft grade for Freiremuth.
Brevin Jordan – Miami
Jordan is a 6’3” 245 pound tight end, from “tight end U”. The University of Miami has produced an embarassment of talent at the tight end position. In fact, since 2000, Miami’s tight end numbers are astounding. 12 tight ends drafted, five of them being first round picks, 16 Pro Bowls and five All-Pro selections. Brevin Jordan played his high school ball for juggernaut Bishop Gorman. He caught 100 balls for over 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns throughout his time there. The former USA Today All American, and 4 star recruit had a solid career at Miami. Known primarily as a pass catching tight end, Jordan had his best season in 2020. He caught 38 passes for 576 yards and 7 touchdowns. Miami used Jordan all over the field to create mismatches. He is a really good athlete who has an expanded route tree for a tight end and also possesses great hands. With the ball in his hands he runs with a purpose, using his speed and powerful stiff arm to ward off defenders. A solid run blocker who had good physicality at the point of attack. While solid as a run blocker, he could improve quite a bit in his pass blocking as he was not asked to do this much in the spread offense ran at Miami. When asked to pass block, he didn’t display great hand use and lower body technique. These will be things the team that drafts him will have to work with him on. The team that does draft him will be drafting him for his receiving abilities, while hoping that he is able to learn the other nuances the position requires. I have him currently with a 2nd to 3rd round grade.
Tre McKitty – Georgia
McKitty is 6’4”, 247 pounds and was originally a Florida State Seminole before transferring to Georgia for his final year of eligibility. Primarily used as a blocker, McKitty does offer solid route running and was able to create space using quickness in and out of his breaks. His best receiving season was in 2018 when he caught 26 passes for 256 yards and 2 touchdowns. Poor quarterback play at FSU and a Covid-19 plagued season in 2020, never allowed McKittty to fully evolve as a pass catcher. This will be something he will need to be coached up on at the next level. As a blocker he plays with a great motor on every snap. He spent time playing in the backfield and out wide. Allows himself to get in great position by understanding the angles he needs to take on any given play. In pass blocking he uses great leverage and has a wide base to hold the point of attack. I see him as a 3rd to 4th round pick.
Hunter Long – Boston College
Hunter Long, 6’5” 255-pounds has great size for the position. He is an all-around tight end with the receiving and blocking abilities to be a solid backup tight end, with an option of being a future #1 with more coaching. Long had his best year receiving in 2020 with 57 catches for 685 yards and 5 touchdowns. In his final game versus Virginia, he really showed out with 8 catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. He plays all over the offense, knows how to beat the zone and become a QB friendly target. He has a good route tree for a tight end. A north-south runner, but doesn’t offer great athleticism. A lot of his yards were from broken down plays, and Long does not win often vs man coverage. For someone with such gaudy pass catching numbers, he was really limited in the red zone. Potential 4th round target
Honorable Mentions
There are some other tight ends out there that have NFL caliber potential and could find a home for themselves this summer with a team. For me the best of the rest includes names like Kenny Yeboah from Ole Miss, Noah Gray out of Duke, John Bates from Boise State, Notre Dame’s Tommy Tremble and TCU product Pro Wells. I will have more insight as we approach the draft on all the prospects, all leading up to my one and only mock that year after year has yet to be beaten. Thank you guys for reading and if you’ve enjoyed the content share with some friends and be sure to catch the Regulators Podcast each week.