2021 NFL Draft tight end rankings: Kyle Pitts leads the way
By John Blair
5. Kenny Yeboah, Ole Miss
6-foot-4, 247 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fourth round
Ole Miss’s Kenny Yeboah is yet another athletic tight end in the 2021 NFL Draft class. His best attribute might be making yards after the catch as he routinely broke off long runs after the catch in 2020. In fact, his 244 yards after the catch were the fifth-most by a tight end this season. He has also been a very productive player in the red zone having accounted for 11 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
My biggest concern with Yeboah is that he is basically a big wide receiver who plays tight end. He is not a great block by any stretch and lacks very little pop in this area. I look for Yeboah to be an early day three pick and someone who sees significant playing time in the NFL next year.
6. Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame
6-foot-4, 248 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fifth round
One of the more intriguing prospects in this year’s draft is Notre Dame tight end Tommy Tremble. On one hand, you have a player who produced very little in college. He never had more than 19 receptions in a year and caught zero touchdowns this year.
This lack of production can partly be attributed to him playing behind two stud tight ends in Cole Kmet in 2019 and Michael Mayer in 2020. Even though he was behind these guys, you would still like to see more production from a mid-round 2021 NFL Draft prospect.
On the other hand, you have a player who has been impressive while on the field. He was graded as the top run blocker among tight ends in college football last year by Pro Football Focus. He also displayed the speed and hands to be a threat in the passing game. Overall, despite his limited playing time, I think Tremble could develop into a potential starter in the NFL.