The tight end class is star-studded at the top. Of course, Kyle Pitts is a top-five talent in the class. Pat Freiermuth is another potential first-round talent at the tight end spot. Brevin Jordan is another prospect that will likely be selected on day two. Unfortunately, the class has a significant dropoff after the second tier. The last player in that second tier may be Hunter Long. Long was the focal point of the Boston College offense during the 2020 season and has a favorable projection to the next level.
Make sure to check out all of our other 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Reports.
Player Bio
Name: Hunter Long
Jersey: #80
Position: Tight End
School: Boston College
Class: Redshirt Junior
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 254 lbs
Route Tree (8.25/10)
For a tight end, Long has quite the expanded route tree. He runs a lot of ins, outs, and double moves that rely on him to beat the defender with his deception. Long has good timing on his routes and makes cuts at the right time to create the most separation. He will sometimes round off his routes, but that is only a time or two each game.
Hands (9/10)
Long has very good ball skills. He only dropped five passes during his time at Boston College. Long can catch passes with his arms fully extended and in stride. When the ball is put right on him, Long can put himself in a position to complete the catch and keep his legs moving.
Contested Catch (5.5/10)
There are three weaknesses to Long’s game. The first comes in the contested catch category. There were only a few instances where he could hold onto the ball and complete the catch with a hit incoming. The defensive backs timed the hit just right, and Long wasn’t able to hold onto the catch. This happened on a few occasions on some big plays in the games, so it was frustrating to see it happen.
RAC (6.5/10)
Long’s athleticism is only slightly above average. He isn’t going to break away from the defense due to his limited athleticism, and it showed in his 2020 film. Long knows where the sticks are and aims to get the first down, and then any additional yardage is hard to find. He will break some tackles, but he isn’t going to make a house call after making a catch.
Blocking (8.25/10)
Long is potentially the most well-rounded tight end in the class. His blocking skills paired with his receiving skills give him a solid floor at the next level. Not only can Long run block, but Boston College used him to pass block a lot as well. He can get overpowered by more explosive pass rushers, but he did a solid job in both the run and pass blocking sections.
Balance (8/10)
As said in the section above, he gets blown back by more explosive pass rushers. In his route stem, he stays balanced with defenders trying to knock him off of his route. Long can stay squared and keep his hands on the defender while they are rounding the corner to get to the quarterback.
Versatility (8.25/10)
Long can be a receiver and blocker. As a blocker, he can both pass and run block effectively. He isn’t going to wow you with his athleticism or deep speed, but he is a reliable receiver in the middle of the field that can get the team a first down. Long offers some appeal as a slot receiver as well as an in-line tight end.
Football IQ (9/10)
After AJ Dillon was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2020 draft, Long was the focal point of the BC offense for the 2021 season. He excelled in this role. Long has a good feel for where the defenders are and can sit in a zone and expose the defense. His versatility will make him a hot commodity and could see him drafted higher than expected.
Athleticism (7/10)
Some teams will be lower on Long due to his only average athleticism. He isn’t going to break away from the defense with the ball in his hands and shouldn’t be used on tight end screens or reverses often unless in short-yardage situations.
Competitive Toughness (4.75/5)
Long is a willing blocker, there’s no doubting that. His marginal contested catch ability brings this grade down slightly, but nothing too major.
Injury (5/5)
Long’s injury sheet appears to be clean.
Player Summary
Long is the consensus fourth tight end on most draft boards at this moment. He offers a high-floor, low ceiling skillset that some teams will love taking in the third and potentially fourth round. Long excels in his plucky hands and high IQ. His blemishes fall in his contested catch and RAC ability, as well as his limited athleticism. He is a versatile prospect that can block just about as well as he can catch. Whoever gets Long in the draft is getting a player that will have a long career as a guy that can do just about everything you ask him to.
Final Grade (79.25/100): Mid Third Round
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