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5 Tight Ends in 2021 NFL Draft Matt Nagy could covet

By Parker Hurley

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Tight End Kylen Granson #83 from SMU of the American Team warms up before the start of the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Tight End Kylen Granson #83 from SMU of the American Team warms up before the start of the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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While the Chicago Bears have four tight ends, there is still an outside chance that Jimmy Graham gets released to save cap space. Beyond that is J.P. Holtz and Jesper Horsted who are fine as depth pieces, but do not have much upside moving forward. The Bears could move through the 2021 NFL draft without addressing tight end and having these four set to make the roster.

However, Matt Nagy has mentioned that he not only wants two tight end sets to be common in his offense but three. Nagy and Ryan Pace signed Demetrius Harris last offseason and he was their third tight end, even with Horsted and Holtz on the roster. So the team could very well look to draft the position.

Considering the other needs on the roster, it is fair to say that a tight end addition through the draft will be on day three. This will leave them out of the running for players such as Kyle Pitts, Pat Friermuth, Brevin Jordan, Tommy Tremble, and Hunter Long. The Bears are just replacing Demetrius Harris here, and even if they let Graham go, they are adding a TE2 to compliment Cole Kmet.

With that in mind, who are tight end prospects beyond those top five that could fit into a role In a Matt Nagy offense?

5. Kylen Granson, SMU

Kylen Granson would be coming for J.P. Holtz if he were drafted. Granson spent over half of his snaps detached from the line of scrimmage, whether it be in the slot, or even in the backfield as an H-back. Holtz has the role of pseudo-fullback for now, but if Granson were drafted, it could be with intentions of the Chicago Bears upgrading from this spot.

At 6’2″, 240 pounds, Granson is not your prototypical size as a tight end. From an effort standpoint, his blocking is fine, but Holtz may be a more professional sound blocker to date. Still, you can see based off of his athletic testing what type of upside Granson has.

To be fair, Granson is being compared to fullbacks in this graph. You can see the low bench press number. Still, the Bears would draft Granson for what he can do with the ball in his hands. According to PFF Granson averaged over six yards after the catch last year and ranks sixth in the nation in tackles avoided.

In plays where he can motion across the line, get the ball in his hands, and turn upfield, he can find ways to get all the cheap yards. He could also be looked at as a healthy version of Trey Burton in his usage. PFF has Granson projected for round six, and the Athletic has him slotted for round seven. With three sixth-round picks, the Chicago Bears could add a late-round tight end into the mix.

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