2021 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings Top Ten
10. Quintin Morris, Bowling Green
Size: 6-2, 252
The Good: An outstanding target who has wide receiver skills in the body of a fullback. On some really, really bad teams, he caught 125 career passes with 55 grabs as a junior and 42 as a sophomore, turning into the main man for the passing game. He’s got the athleticism and he’s not going to get pushed around, but …
The Not-So-Good: He’s too heavy. He’s not quite 6-4 like he’s been listed, and he’s cranked up the weight in a big way, and not in a good way. He was a big wideout-like 219 pounds as a freshman and played at around 25 last year.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’s an interesting prospect with a whole lot of receiving skills and interesting traits, but he has to get to a tight 235ish or else become a much nastier blocker.
Projected Round: Seven
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9. Tony Poljan, Virginia
Size: 6-7, 251
The Good: There’s a whole lot to work with. He’s very, very big with a fantastic frame and surprising toughness as a blocker for a former quarterback. He can move enough to matter, he’ll grab everything in his area, and he’ll battle for the ball.
The Not-So-Good: There’s a lot of work to do. He’s not all that polished as a target, he needs to be a stronger route runner, and he’s not going to stretch the field all that much if he’s not getting the ball on the move down the seam.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He started out his career as a quarterback at Central Michigan – throwing two touchdown passes with five scores – but switched over to tight end where he cranked up almost 500 receiving yards and four scores for the Chippewas as a junior. He transferred to Virginia, caught 38 passes with six scores, and he’s just getting better.
Projected Round: Sixth
8. Noah Gray, Duke
Size: 6-4, 240
The Good: Even though he played a ton of football over the last four years, he’s still improving and can still to a whole lot more. He’s not a blaster, but he’s one of the better blocking tight ends in the draft, he’s a good route runner, and he’s got the reliable hands quarterbacks love. But …
The Not-So-Good: He didn’t do enough. The offense was more of the problem than he was, but he’s not a deep threat and he’s not going to make too many things happen on the move.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’s not going to be your star tight end, but he has the right size, personality, and hands to be a solid midrange target who’ll hit. He only averaged nine yards per catch in his career, but don’t be shocked if he breaks out at the next level.
Projected Round: Fifth
7. Tre McKitty, Georgia
Size: 6-4, 246
The Good: The tools are there. He’s a big target with good size and nice ability on the move. Just getting started, he was okay for a few years at Florida State despite inconsistent quarterback play, and he had a few good plays for Georgia as a senior, but …
The Not-So-Good: Yeah, the tools are all there, but the production wasn’t. He was just okay at FSU with 49 catches and two touchdowns in his last two seasons, and he only made six grabs for Georgia.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Someone’s going to look at him and think there’s something great there to work with. He’s not going to be a superstar go-to guy, but he might just show off too much talent and upside to ignore.
Projected Round: Sixth
6. Kenny Yeboah, Ole Miss
Size: 6-4, 250
The Good: There’s enough talent to look like a potential diamond in the rough. He’s got good size, nice downfield speed, and he knows how to handle himself in the red zone. He’ll be used like a big wide receiver more than a tight end because …
The Not-So-Good: He’s not going to block anyone. Being physical isn’t really a part of his game, but that’s not why you called – he’s a receiver. The hands are just okay, and he disappeared from the passing game at times, but …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: This is going to be fun. He’s a good-sized tight end who averaged over 19 yards per catch in his one year at Ole Miss after doing what he could in four years at Temple. Even with his 74 career catches and five years playing college football, he might be just scratching the surface.
Projected Round: Fifth