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It’s not often that tight ends move the needle when it comes to top-notch draft prospects, but Hunter Long stands out as one of the best players at his position this year. While Florida’s Kyle Pitts has often been referred to as a game changer, Boston College’s Long is a solid player in his own right. He caught 57 passes for 685 yards and five scores in his breakout junior year.
Scouting Report
The first thing that pops about Long is his frame. He’s 6’5” and weighs 253 pounds. He’s able to use his frame to high point the ball with strong hands and controls his body well to come down with contested catches. His size could also make him ideal for blocking. Unfortunately for Long, he lacks the ability to create separation consistently. He also doesn’t offer much as a runner after making catches.
— NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein
Mock Draft landing spots
Hunter is not enough of a high-profile prospect to be a regular on mock drafts, but he’ll likely come off the board in the third round at the earliest. Tight end isn’t a priority for most teams, but the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans could be among the teams interested.
Fantasy impact: Rookie year
Long is projected to be a backup to start, so his fantasy floor probably won’t start in a great place. If he lands in the right spot, he could move into a starting role at some point and become an impact player. However, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll crack the top 25 at his position with the abundant of talent at tight end in the NFL right now.
Fantasy impact: Career
Hunter has the tools to become a reliable starter down the road. His size could make him a dangerous red zone threat in time, and his ability to rack up chunk yardage could make up for lower target share. He might not be a star in the making, but Hunter can become an above-average starter that gives you consistent numbers.