To get a better look at the Detroit Lions undrafted free agent tight end Hunter Bryant, let’s take a look at how draft analysts evaluated him in their 2020 NFL Draft guides and website profiles.
The Athletic
Evaluator: Dane Brugler’s “The Beast”
“A two-year starter at Washington, Bryant lined up across the formation in Chris Petersen’s shotgun spread offense, doing most of his damage out of the slot. He battled two serious knee injuries over his first two seasons for the Huskies, missing 12 total games, but he stayed healthy and productive in year three, finishing No. 2 in school history in career receiving yards (1,394) by a tight end. With his speed and run balance, Bryant is a dynamic threat before and after the catch, making it tough for single tacklers to ground him in space. While he shows athletic ball skills, he is a low-percentage finisher with crowded catch points. As a blocker, he struggles to sustain and shouldn’t be expected to handle inline duties. Overall, Bryant is a low-ceiling blocker and could use a few more credits in receiving school, but his plus athletic traits as a pass-catcher make him a potential mismatch “move” tight end if the medicals are clean.”
NFL.com
“He will get the matchup-tight-end moniker, but scouts feel like he’s more of a big slot receiver in the pros. He doesn’t have ideal size or determination as a blocker, but he has sticky hands with the acceleration to work past linebackers and threaten seams. He’s a straight-line mover who gets bogged down in and out of breaks. He has playmaking ability but needs linear routes that allow him to keep moving on all three levels. Bryant is a scheme-dependent pass-catcher with a higher ceiling, but lower floor and a history of knee injuries that will need clearance by NFL medical staffs.”
Pro Football Focus
“You could tell Bryant was something special way back as a freshman when he was stealing targets from Drew Sample. He had this H-Back body, but kept getting lost behind linebackers and defenses had no answer. Unfortunately, his knee injury complications never let us see what he could be as a sophomore in 2018, but we finally got to see the realy Bryant go off this past season. There’s no questions about him as a receiver, rather whether the 6-2, 240 pounder will even be treated as a tight end by opponents. Before you write him off entirely as a blocker, I’ll remind you that Delanie Walker – one of the best blocking tight ends of the past decade – came into the league at 6-1, 240 pounds.”
The Draft Network
“Hunter Bryant should be a dynamic receiving threat at the NFL level. Bryant brings excellent quickness, run after catch skills and versatility to a flex tight end role. Plugging Bryant into a traditional inline role will water down his receiving skills — he’s best working off the LOS or as a flexed slot receiver who can serve as a H/W/S mismatch for opposing defenders. If Bryant it put in such a flex role, look for early production and long-term starter status in the pros.”
Draft Wire
“Bryant is one of the top tight ends in the upcoming NFL draft class. He isn’t your grandfather’s type of tight end, but more of a big slot receiver in the body of a tight end. Bryant is an absolute weapon in the passing game, if you are looking for a pass catching threat then this Bryant is for you. Get him running up the seams and let the man work.”