Finding NFL comparisons for Brycen Hopkins

Who are some of the best NFL comparisons for tight end Brycen Hopkins?

One of the best aspects of the NFL combine is that we have years upon years of data to sort through potential comparisons to players we have once seen in the NFL. For Brycen Hopkins, a tight end for Purdue, we can see that based on his size and athleticism, there is a list of comparisons in the NFL that we can look through.

Below are some of the better comparisons to Brycen Hopkins based on his draft profile and playing style, combined with his combine metrics.

Floor NFL Comparisons for Brycen Hopkins

Below are two of the potential low-end outcomes that could come with drafting a player such as Brycen Hopkins.

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Tony Moeaki is a Big 10 tight end, which was more of a receiver than a blocker. The questions around Moeaki pre-draft were if his size, at below 250 pounds, could handle more in-line work. Similar weakness have been laid out for Hopkins pre-draft, as they have the same size, and limited blocking reps in the Big 10.

Moeaki had a good start to his career, putting up over 500 receiving yards as a rookie. However, as he was asked to do more as a tight end, he got worn down, and a variety of injuries limited his chances. Of course, any player in the NFL can see this outcome, but it is a question of whether Hopkins has a frame that can hold up in-line. It is worth noting Moeaki went 93rd overall.

Ricky Seals-Jones was a big slot in college who moved to tight end. He put up 343 yards as a receiver but has also struggled with the physicality of the NFL.

Recent NFL comparison for Brycen Hopkins

If you want a recent example of where a player with a profile similar to Hopkins went, look no further than last year and Josh Oliver. Oliver did not play in the Big 10, but the two were both used as big slot receivers and had more pass-catching attempts than blocking.

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Hopkins caught 61 passes for 830 yards last year, Oliver hauled in 56 passes for 709 yards. Oliver had 21% of his team’s offensive production, Hopkins had 23%, and both entered the NFL at age 22.

Unfortunately, Josh Oliver missed most of his rookie season with injury and caught three passes in just four games active.

Best potential NFL comparisons for Brycen Hopkins

There has been a trend that failing to hold up as a blocker and injuries are looming from this type of profile. Some of these names do not ease that trend but do show some of the upside of what can come from a player like Hopkins.

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Fans are debating signing Eric Ebron, but Hopkins is a cheaper and younger version. Of course, it took Ebron a few years to become an NFL asset, but that mainly is because the Lions asked too much of him as a blocker. If a team recognizes who he is, and uses him as a pass-catcher, the upside of his 2018 is on the table. Still, with Ebron, you are talking about a player who has played two fully healthy seasons since 2014.

Speaking of injuries, Tyler Eifert played his most games since 2013 in 2019. He is a free agent as well and is the best athlete of the group. His playing style is similar to Hopkins, though, and a healthy Eifert would be a huge addition to this offense. Could they get that play out of Hopkins in his rookie year? Eifert had 445 yards as a rookie.

Julius Thomas had some high ceilings with Peyton Manning, but also showed his lack of versatility and inability to line up in-line. Injuries due to the physicality of the NFL against his frame have come up as well. It also took Thomas two years to produce, but he had much less experience in college, and when he did produce, he had 24 touchdowns in two seasons.

Overall

Ebron and Eifert went in the first round, which seems rich for Hopkins. Still, Julius Thomas went 129th with much less pedigree from college, so that should be looked at as a floor for his draft slot. Last season Oliver went 69th overall with a similar profile, and Moeaki went 93rd overall. The 60-90 range seems ideal for targeting Hopkins.

Could he give an offense a couple of years of Julius Thomas type production? His profile certainly suggests so. However, as history has shown, when a player has questions about how he will hold up in-line, he usually really struggles with the physicality of the NFL.