2021 NFL Draft Prospects: Tight End

3/27/21: Sources from a number of teams feel Pitts is the second-best player, and second-highest graded, in the 2021 NFL Draft and the rarest prospect after Trevor Lawrence. Some teams think Pitts could move to wide receiver and be a poor man's Calvin Johnson. Other teams think he can't play receiver, but is a generational tight end prospect who could be similar to Travis Kelce or Tony Gonzalez in the NFL. Pitts can line up all over the formation.

Pitts was dominant in 2020, showing superb speed, hands, leaping ability, route-running, natural receiving ability, and dynamic mismatch potential for the NFL. Every opponent was incapable of covering Pitts, including future early-rounders in the Alabama and Georgia secondary. He missed a few games with a concussion, but SEC defenses had no answer for him and he destroyed man coverage from defensive backs all season. Pitts could stand to improve as a blocker for the NFL, but he wasn't horrible in that regard. Team sources like the fight and effort he displayed as a blocker.

Pitts can line up as an X - split end receiver -, a Z - slot receiver -, or as a natural tight end. Sources who worked with Pitts at Florida say he ran the 40 in the 4.5-second range without any training, which is similar to some NFL receivers like DeAndre Hopkins. They believe Pitts will run in the high 4.4s once he performs some proper specific technique.

With his outstanding play the past two seasons, Pitts has proven to be a devastating mismatch problem and worthy of a top-10 choice in the 2021 NFL Draft. Some team sources say Pitts is the best receiving weapon in the 2021 NFL Draft and is a more dynamic mismatch weapon than Ja'Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. Team sources feel Pitts is a better prospect than T.J. Hockenson, Eric Ebron and O.J. Howard were in their draft classes.

8/29/20: Pitts turned into play-maker in 2019, creating mismatches in the passing game. He is too fast for linebackers while being too big for safeties in coverage. For the NFL, Pitts could stand to improve his blocking, but he will get drafted for his receiving ability. In 2019, he hauled in 54 receptions for 649 yards and five touchdowns. Pitts could be improved in 2020 due to his increased experience and further physical development.

3/27/21: Freiermuth was solid in 2020 before going down with a season-ending injury that required surgery. If Freiermuth continues to develop as a blocker, he has the potential to be a starting Y tight end who is a well-balanced contributor.

As a receiver, Freiermuth has the potential to be a contributor to a NFL passing attack, but he lacks elite speed to separate or twitchy athleticism. Perhaps Freiermuth's most distinctive positive trait is his physicality as a runner after the catch. He is vicious with the ball in his hands and really punishes defensive backs downfield. Freiermuth has good size and a strong build to flat out run over defenders and also features a powerful stiff arm to push tacklers away.

Freiermuth possesses mismatch size and is very adept at going up to make contested catches over defenders. He high points the ball well and has strong hands to control the ball while getting hit. Freiermuth has a nose for the end zone and should be an asset in the red zone, where he was very good at producing touchdowns for Penn State. Freiermuth can contribute by finding soft spots in zone coverage and making catches over defenders, but he will struggle to create separation from man coverage against pro safeties and linebackers.

Freiermuth's blocking needs work for the next level, but he has the skill set to develop into a solid blocker. He has the size to be effective, but he needs to get more physical and show more strength to engage defenders off the defenders. NFL coaching could help him to get better with his technique and definitely could employ the motivational tools for him to display a more aggressive demeanor.

8/29/20: In 2019, Freiermuth totaled 43 receptions for 507 yards and seven touchdowns. He has upside with quickness, size and athleticism. As a freshman, he collected 26 catches for 368 yards and eight touchdowns.

3/27/21: Jordan played well for Miami in 2020, producing some big plays. Some team sources think Jordan has the potential to be a late second- or third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

As a receiver, Jordan is a smooth route-runner with the quickness to separate. He glides through the secondary and is able to use athleticism with speed to get open for his quarterback. Jordan has enough agility and burst to get separation from defenders coming out of breaks. Along with good route-running, Jordan has reliable hands that give him the ability to control the bell with his hands or using the body. With concentration and toughness, Jordan is not afraid of contact and makes sure to secure catches while knowing a hard hit is soon to follow. He is a quality underneath receiver with enough speed and size to be a valuable weapon down the seam.

For after the catch, Jordan has a compact build that allows him to run through tackles and makes it tough for defensive backs to get him to the ground. He runs the ball aggressively and will pick up yards after contact while showing the athleticism to leap over tacklers as well.

As a blocker, Jordan has room for improvement for the NFL. He should add strength as he can struggle to sustain blocks. Jordan shows a willingness to block, but he lacks size for taking on NFL edge defenders. The lack of blocking size and ability might lead to him being more of rotational player who is a F - movement - tight end rather than a three-down starter. While Jordan will never be a big deal as a blocker, he should be able to improve enough to contribute some in the ground game and help protect his quarterback.

8/29/20: After a strong freshman season, Jordan is helping to invigorate Miami as 'tight end U'. The Las Vegas, Nevada product made 32 receptions for 287 yards with four touchdowns in 2018. In 2019, the sophomore recorded 35 catches for 495 yards and two touchdowns. He is capable of producing more, but Miami was inconsistent at getting him the ball. Jordan is undersized, so getting stronger and working on his blocking will be important for the NFL.

3/27/21: Long had a good 2020 season, showing solid pass-receiving ability for the next level. He could be a solid tight end who could become a starter or a good No. 2 or 3 tight end. Long is a solid blocker and looks like a potential starting Y tight end for the NFL.

In the passing game, Long has good size does an excellent job of winning contested catches. He uses his build to wall off defenders with skilled body control and awareness to put himself in between the ball and coverage. Long has soft reliable hands and good concentration to secure the catch while defenders are initiating contact. Long is a good red-zone contributor as a result, functioning well on underneath routes. Going down the seam and along the sideline, Long is a weapon to make catches over defenders when nothing else is open.

Long had issues separating from coverage in college, and which the pro game will only compund. He is not fast and lacks the speed to run by defensive backs or outside linebacker. Long is also not sudden or explosive with his route running to generate separation, so he is going to have to be a tight end who wins on contested catches while also serving as an underneath outlet receiver who also could be functional to attack zone coverage.

Long has room for improvement as blocked for the NFL, but the skill set is there for him to develop into a good blocker in time. He has the potential to be effective, but he needs to get more stronger to pack more of a punch and sustain his blocks. Long gives a solid effort, but for taking on NFL edge rushers and outside linebacker, he will need to fill out his frame with more power to engage them. Thus, Long may need a year or two as a backup before developing into a potential starter.

3/27/21: McKitty made only six receptions during the 2020 season, but he still earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl. He had better receiving production in 2019 and 2018 when playing for Florida State prior to being a graduate transfer. McKitty showed some ability to contribute as a blocker, but his blocking could stand to improve for the NFL. Team sources say McKitty impressed in Mobile with his good week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

For the NFL, McKitty is a solid receiving tight end who could be a valuable contributor and a mismatch problem for defense. McKitty is a good athlete with speed to generate separation from coverage. He has a nice burst out of his breaks to create space from defenders and get open for his quarterback. McKitty has nice twitch for a tight end of his size and second-gear quickness. He does a quality job of working the middle seam, slants, and is capable along the sideline. With his surprising speed, he can challenge defenses vertically running down the seam or along the sideline. As a receiver, McKitty could stand to get more consistent as a route-runner and use his size to get off jams or push defenders away when they initiate contact in his routes.

3/27/21: Morris was decent in limited action for Bowling Green, but he showed enough to snag an invitation for the Senior Bowl.

8/29/20: Morris was a dangerous receiving weapon for Bowling Green in 2019. He has quality size, quickness and athleticism. It was his second straight quality year for receiving production. For the NFL, Morris could stand to improve as a blocker. It would help him to have a good performance at an all-star game, given his level of competition.

3/27/21: Granson was a nice receiving tight end for SMU as a senior and earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl. He is an undersized receiving tight end for the next level.

3/27/21: Poljan was solid and contributed well for Virginia in 2020 after going the graduate-transfer route from Central Michigan. Poljan then made to the Senior Bowl.

8/29/20: Poljan was a solid receiver for Central Michigan and has the size to be a blocker at the pro level. He needs to show evaluators the quickness and athleticism to be a receiving weapon in the NFL.

3/27/21: Berry played well, but the Gamecocks had limited games in 2020.

8/29/20: Berry flashed as a junior, showing mismatch size with some receiving skills. If he can stay consistent or improve his production in 2020, Berry could be a riser. He needs to show blocking ability, and it would help him to excel at a postseason all-star game that would let him take on a higher level of competition.

3/27/21: In 2020, Eubanks mainly contributed as a blocker and had limited receiving opportunities. 8/29/20: Eubanks has some upside to develop and put up decent receiving production despite Michigan struggling with consistency at quarterback. More production would help Eubanks get drafted.

3/27/21: During preseason practice, Bushman ruptured an Achilles tendon and went out for the season. He would have been wise to take a medical redshirt or the extra year of COVID-19 eligibility and return to BYU for 2021, but he decided to enter the 2021 NFL Draft. If he had stayed healthy, he could have been a mid-round pick, but coming off a serious injury, he could slide to the late rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft. Some teams might project him as an undrafted free agent depending on the medical report.

8/29/20: Bushman had his best season for the Cougars in 2019, recording 47 catches for 688 yards and four touchdowns. Prior to that, Bushman had been a consistent receiving weapon for BYU as an underclassman. In 2018, he caught 29 passes for 511 yards and two touchdowns. Bushman hauled in 49 passes for 520 yards and three scores in 2017.

3/27/21: Pederson was a solid contributor in 2020.

8/29/20: The advance scouts placed Pederson on their preseason watch list, so he has some upside and ability. Pederson will need to continue to add weight to improve as a blocker and show more receiving ability to have any potential rise.

3/27/21: Bates did not produce much in 2020.

8/29/20: In 2019, Bates contributed some as a receiver for the Broncos. He needs to improve his receiving production and as a blocker to rise.