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The_Coach: Kyle Pitts (Florida)
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If Florida tight end Kyle Pitts doesn’t end up being one of the most impactful talents in the 2021 draft class, regardless of position, then something went very, very wrong in his career. At 6’ 6”, 240 pounds, Pitts is an absolute monster whose 43 grabs for 770 yards and 12 (yes, twelve) touchdowns in 2020 don’t even do justice to the type of game-changer he really is. Tight end has become one of the more unique - and important - NFL positions and the top-end talents like Travis Kelce have really shown how they can completely change the complexion of a team. Don’t be shocked to see Pitts become the first non-QB taken off the board on April 29th.
Ross Parker: Tommy Tremble (Notre Dame)
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Gahhhh Coach picks the possible best overall player in the draft. Fine, I’ll be creative with someone else. Okay but, first, it needs to be stated that this tight end class is ROUGH. You have roughly three tight ends that are worthy of a top 100 pick, then not much else this year. For my guy though, I’m rolling with Tommy Tremble from Notre Dame. Now Tremble does not have a ton of production due to playing behind a stacked TE depth chart at Notre Dame, so he warrants a high pick more so due to his upside with more playing time. He displays athleticism and a natural ability as a pass-catcher. Notre Dame does a solid job at teaching their tight ends to block, and while you won’t confuse Tremble’s blocking ability with Gronk, the Fighting Irish provides quality effort in the blocking game.
John: Hunter Long (Boston College)
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Long was one of the most productive tight ends in the country in 2020, with 695 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. If he had more experience he’d probably be a bit higher up most boards, but there’s a lot to be excited about here. He’s a good route runner with solid hands, and is exceptional at fighting defenders for the ball on close coverage. He still needs work as a blocker, but has the build to excel there if he can develop that skill.