NFL Draft prospects 2021: The top 10 tight ends, ranked from Kyle Pitts to Quintin Morris

If you’ve adopted any of the 2021 NFL Draft coverage, then you know the enjoy affair seemingly every person has with Florida restricted conclude Kyle Pitts. A prospective prime-5 choose, Pitts is truly the only restricted conclude finding any consideration. Even though there is certainly no question he’s the star of this year’s TE class, there are numerous other gamers at this posture worthy of consideration.

Restricted conclude is always a challenging posture for the normal admirer to evaluate. Not only do you have to weigh blocking vs. move-catching, but you also have to account for the fact lots of higher education teams don’t characteristic TEs in their offenses. That leaves us focusing exclusively on pro working day measurements or even one highlights when hoping to appraise lots of of these gamers. 

We’ll do our greatest to slice by way of the noise and crack down Sporting News’ prime-ten TEs for the 2021 NFL Draft. 

A lot more NFL DRAFT: Finish 7-spherical mock | Best 100 big board

NFL Draft 2021 restricted conclude rankings

one. Kyle Pitts, Florida

Pitts experienced a quite superior sophomore season (fifty four catches, 649 yards, 5 TDs), but he was an complete monster as junior, catching forty three passes for 770 yards and 12 TDs in just eight online games. He ongoing his dominance through his pro working day, when he measured in at nearly 6-6, 245 lbs and ran a 4.forty four 40-garden sprint. Evidently, Pitts is a one of a kind offensive weapon in the vein of Travis Kelce or George Kittle, and whilst he doesn’t have the blocking prowess of the latter, it may well not subject. Pitts is heading to be a prime-ten choose — perhaps prime 5 — and likely star from Working day one.

2. Pat Freiermuth, Penn Point out

Freiermuth was a TD equipment his to start with two years at Penn Point out, scoring eight occasions as a freshman and 7 occasions as a sophomore, but a shoulder injuries limited him to just four online games and just one rating final yr. The 6-five, 251-pound TE is acknowledged a good blocker and trustworthy move-catcher, and whilst he doesn’t have blazing pace (reportedly a 40 time in the 4.72 selection), he should really even now be able to get open up at a realistic clip in the NFL. He figures to be a next-spherical choose, but the upside is there for him to outperform his draft posture. 

3. Brevin Jordan, Miami

Miami has a background of creating NFL restricted finishes, and Jordan seems to be subsequent in line soon after a breakout 2020 that observed him catch 38 passes for 576 yards and 7 TDs. His pro-working day general performance was not overly amazing, as he measured in at less than 6-3, 247 lbs and ran a 4.sixty nine 40-garden sprint, but his versatility and blocking upside could even now see him land in the next spherical. In time, he should really build into a good all-around contributor. 

4. Hunter Long, Boston Faculty

Long was a large-participate in professional in his to start with two seasons when he averaged 25.8 yards for every catch (on just four receptions) and eighteen.2 yards for every catch (28 catches), respectively. He became much much more of a steady focus on final yr, when he caught 57 balls for 685 yards and 5 TDs. At just above 6-five, 254 lbs, Long has wonderful measurement, and his 4.sixty three 40-garden sprint is first rate sufficient, so if he can go on to build his already good blocking competencies, Long could carve out a great vocation. Anticipate him to go in the next or 3rd spherical. 

five. Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame

Tremble is much more of a blocking TE, which you could almost certainly inform from his 2020 stats (19 catches, 218 yards, no TDs), but soon after running a 4.59 40 through his pro working day, there are some who believe Tremble has major upside in the NFL, be it as a traditional restricted conclude or much more of an H-back again. The nearly 6-4, 241 pounder has first rate measurement and quickness and will be an intriguing 3rd- or fourth-spherical prospect whose influence likely will not be reflected in the box rating.

6. Tre’ McKitty, Ga

McKitty did minor at Florida Point out (3 seasons) and UGA (just one season) in conditions of stats (56 catches, 628 yards, 3 TDs in his 24 vocation online games), but he was limited to just four online games his senior yr mainly because of a knee injuries. At a minor above 6-4, 246 lbs, McKitty has superior measurement, and with a 40 time in the 4.7-selection, he has sufficient pace. He’s a developmental prospect who will likely go in the mid-to-late rounds, but he has a possibility to make an influence in a couple years. 

7. Kenny Yeboah, Ole Miss

Immediately after four typically nondescript seasons at Temple, Yeboah transferred to Ole Miss and broke out with 27 catches, 524 yards, and 6 TDs. That form of large-participate in prospective is sure to have scouts fascinated in the 6-4, 250-pound move-catcher. His blocking even now requirements get the job done, but  Yeboah profiles as a mid-to-late-spherical prospect with a lot of upside.

8. Nick Eubanks, Michigan

Eubanks is another TE with minor higher education creation but a good deal of bodily instruments. At 6-4, 245 lbs, Eubanks ran a 4.59 40 and confirmed first rate blocking ability, so he’ll be another late-spherical job who could build into a good starter in the ideal situation. 

nine. Miller Forristall, Alabama

But another large, athletic TE who didn’t make much (23 catches, 253 yards, TD final season), Forristall ran a 4.79 40-garden sprint and measured in at 6-five, 241 lbs. He’s envisioned to be much more of a blocking TE in the NFL, and he’ll likely be a late-spherical choose.

ten. Quintin Morris, Bowling Eco-friendly

A transformed extensive receiver, Morris measured in at just above 6-2, 251 pounds and ran a 4.fifty eight 40-garden sprint. As you may well consider, blocking is an problem, but Morris is a wonderful route runner with superior fingers, and he’s the form of player who could go at any place soon after Working day one relying on which crew thinks they can convert him into a matchup nightmare as a secondary restricted conclude.