Tight Ends
Brycen Hopkins, Purdue
Brycen Hopkins is the son of former Titans left tackle Brad Hopkins, who spent many years protecting Steve McNair’s blindside. Brycen lacks his father’s mass and power as a blocker but he makes up for it with his ability as a receiver. Hopkins is a redshirt senior who enjoyed a breakout final season with 61 catches for 830 yards and seven touchdowns. Those numbers and his performance were good enough to earn him first-team All-American in 2019.
Fantasy Outlook
Hopkins projects as an ideal second-tight end who can be moved around a formation. He thrives in single back, two tight-end sets and while he isn’t a fierce blocker he does well enough in the area that he can be used as a match-up tight end. He can play inline, split out or play in the backfield. These types of players have become increasingly popular to NFL offenses and especially valuable to fantasy owners.
What to Watch for
Hopkins won’t impress anyone with his blocking, players of his type are often asked to do more backside blocking than at the line of scrimmage. Still, it will be important that he can at least show proper hand placement and technique if he lacks power. Hopkins is sure to impress in receiving drills and his combination of size and speed will have personal taking notice.
Potential Landing Spots
Washington immediately comes to mind as they recently released Jordan Reed. In Los Angeles, Chargers tight end Hunter Henry is a free agent and the team may decide to move on from him due to his injury history. And in New Orleans, the Saints have always shown the ability to utilize an athletic tight end in the passing game.
Hunter Bryant, Washington
Hunter Bryant, an early entry draft candidate, enjoyed an impressive junior campaign, catching 52 balls for 825 yards and three touchdowns. While he lacks the traditional size of a tight end, his profile is becoming increasingly popular in the league. He can be considered more of the big-slot receiver, most comfortable moving around the formation as a receiver. Bryant has battled injuries throughout his college career, which may be a reason he is declaring early.
Fantasy Outlook
When you think of who Hunter Bryant can be, think of Evan Engram. Teams will hardly be able to trust him as a blocker, perhaps not at all. But he makes up for it with excellent ball skills as a receiver and impressive run after catch ability. Because of his limitations as a blocker, his suitors will be limited. Teams will need a complete tight end on the roster plus an innovative play-caller who can utilize Bryant’s abilities to the fullest.
What to Watch for
You can expect Bryant to be among the faster at his position, with a solid three-cone and above-average vertical. Bryant should test at the high end in terms of athletic measurables. For Bryant, his medical examinations will be the most important though. With multiple knee injuries, teams will be focused on his long term outlook.
Potential Landing Spots
Bryant landing in Chicago would be intriguing with a prolific play caller and an overall lack of offensive weapons. Arizona could also be looking hard at Bryant. Kliff Kingsbury wants to have as many receiving options available each snap as possible, yet he must operate with a tight end some of the time.
Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
Cole Kmet is an early entry into the draft, deciding to leave Notre Dame after his junior year. It is an interesting choice, given his limited production until 2019. Kmet came to Notre Dame as a dual-sport athlete, also playing baseball as a relief pitcher. However he decided to focus on football full time after his freshman year. It will likely turn out to be a great decision for him, as he has the potential to be a long term starter in the league.
Fantasy Outlook
For fantasy, tight ends it is critical they are well-developed blockers and accomplished pass catchers. Being a dual-threat allows them to be on the field full-time, maximizing opportunity. The best parts of Klem’s game are as a pass-catcher. While he isn’t an amazing athlete he has strong ball skills, especially on contested balls. Defenders seem to bounce off of him in the middle of the field, which speaks to his frame. He isn’t a great blocker now but with weight training and experience that will change. He can develop into a strong, not spectacular, fantasy starter.
What to Watch for
He will excel at the on the field pass workouts and evaluators will be looking to see if he’s improved as a blocker. Klem just needs to stay consistent and not try and do too much. He’s a day two pick but one that many teams will have an eye on.
Potential Landing Spots
There are many teams that can use a reliable tight end that can be developed. Dallas stands out as a team in need, as do the Jets. But the Packers, Lions, and Jaguars are also searching for help at the position and all historically use a traditional style tight end.
Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic
In 2019 Harrison Bryant won the John Mackey Award for the most outstanding tight end while being named as a first-team All-American. Bryant has increased his production all four years of his college career, finishing 2019 with 61 catches for 965 yards and six scores. While his level of competition does lower his stock, Bryant is the most well-rounded tight end in this year’s class.
Fantasy Outlook
Bryant has traits to develop into an explosive playmaker at the next level. He led all players at tight end in explosive plays, 25 plays of 15 yards or more. He gets up to top speed quickly and can make defenders miss in the open space. Bryant was used mostly as a Y receiver or as an H-back out of the backfield and that’s likely where he will find his role in the NFL. But that doesn’t mean he cannot block, he finished with one of the higher run-blocking grades in the country. He should quickly find his way onto the field as a contributor in the passing game but will likely be scheme dependent.
What to Watch for
Bryant has a long, lanky frame and deceptive speed. Just how fast and agile he is could be a surprise to many interested teams. He will dominate receiving drills but the interviews will be critical. Bryant is little known but he is an intriguing fantasy prospect.
Potential Landing Spots
Bryant will likely need to be a scheme fit that can slot into a role similar to how the Rams use their tight end duo in Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett. A team like the Bengals that hopes to run a scheme close in design is a natural fit. Likewise, New Orleans, where Sean Payton is always searching for weapons in the passing game. Of course, we cannot count out the Patriots. They have a strong need at tight end and Belichick can use players to their fullest potential.
Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
Jared Pinkney enters the draft as a senior with limited production in 2019, after finishing 2018 with 774 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Pinkney only managed 223 yards this year on just 20 receptions. With no significant injury concerns, the production was disappointing but not alarming. Pinkney has the skills to succeed at the next level.
Fantasy Outlook
Pinkney’s ideal position is H-back, or a player set off the line of scrimmage and counted as a runner in the backfield. In this role Pinkney could be an extra blocker with pass-catching ability in a spread, or screen game, creating mismatches. Pinkney will likely need a could of years to develop but could immediately provide a young quarterback with a reliable target in the red zone.
What to Watch for
Pinkney’s combine measurables will be most important. His short shuttle, 40-yard and three-cone times will let evaluators know what sort of explosion the player has and whether or not he can be utilized as a weapon in the passing game. If his athletic profile is lacking that would be an immediate warning sign to teams and give them an idea of what type of player he is.
Potential Landing Spots
Buffalo, Houston, Denver, Dallas, and Minnesota are all potential fits for Pinkney. He will need a traditional offense with a strong run game foundation.
-Marc Salazar (@dingwog)