The tight end position is often an afterthought in fantasy drafts, but this year's class offers some intriguing prospects who could make an immediate impact. Here's a look at the top tight ends in the 2021 NFL Draft:
Tier 1:
- Kyle Pitts (Florida): Pitts is the consensus top tight end prospect in the draft. He's a freak athlete with the size and skillset to be a dominant force in the NFL. He has the potential to be a top-five pick in the draft.
Tier 2:
- Pat Freiermuth (Penn State): Freiermuth is a well-rounded tight end with good hands and blocking ability. He's a safe bet to be a productive player in the NFL.
- Brevin Jordan (Miami): Jordan is a dynamic athlete with good speed and hands. He's a bit raw, but he has the potential to be a big-play threat in the NFL.
Tier 3:
- Hunter Long (Boston College): Long is a big, physical tight end with good hands. He's a good blocker and could be a valuable asset in the red zone.
- Tommy Tremble (Notre Dame): Tremble is a good athlete with good blocking skills. He's a bit undersized, but he could be a valuable player in the right scheme.
- Tre' McKitty (Georgia): McKitty is a versatile tight end who can play both inline and out wide. He's a solid blocker and has the potential to be a productive player in the NFL.
Tier 4:
- Charlie Kolar (Iowa State): Kolar is a big, strong tight end with good hands. He's a good blocker and could be a valuable asset in the red zone.
- Kenny Yeboah (Ole Miss): Yeboah is a big, athletic tight end with good speed and hands. He's a bit raw, but he has the potential to be a big-play threat in the NFL.
- Jacob Harris (UCF): Harris is a big, athletic tight end with good speed and hands. He's a bit raw, but he has the potential to be a big-play threat in the NFL.
Late Round Gems:
- Colby Parkinson (Stanford): Parkinson is a big, strong tight end with good hands. He's a good blocker and could be a valuable asset in the red zone.
- John Bates (Boise State): Bates is a good athlete with good blocking skills. He's a bit undersized, but he could be a valuable player in the right scheme.
These rankings are just a starting point. The tight end position is always difficult to project, and there are a number of other players who could emerge as sleepers. This year's class offers some intriguing options for teams looking to upgrade their tight end position.