Senior Bowl 2021: 5 Offensive NFL Draft prospects NY Giants should scout

Hunter Long – TE, Boston College

Size: 6’5, 253 pounds

Career Stats: 89 receptions, 1,297 yards, and 9 receiving touchdowns

Round Projection: Rounds 2-4

Hunter Long solidified his NFL Draft stock in 2020. After getting a new quarterback in Notre Dame transfer Phil Jurkovec, Long had better play from his QB and immensely helped him prove his talent and worth to the NFL.

Long put up more catches, yards, and touchdowns in his redshirt junior season than he did in his previous two seasons combined. Long put up 57 catches for  685 yards and five touchdowns compared to a combined 32 receptions for 612 yards and 4 touchdowns in his first two seasons at BC.

Long spent his first season behind future Bills tight end in Tommy Sweeney. After he left in 2019, Hunter took advantage of the most of his opportunities. In 2020, Hunter truly shined and led Division One tight ends in receptions while also rounding out the top five in yards.

Long isn’t as talented as this draft’s top tight ends in Kyle Pitts and Pat Freiermuth, but he isn’t as far behind as some may think. He has prototypical size for an NFL tight end with a nice 6’5, 250-pound frame. He is already a solid and willing blocker who can help provide an extra push for the offensive line as the end man on the line of scrimmage.

Although he is by no means a spectacular athlete, he is certainly a fluid athlete who knows how to use his body and frame to fight off defenders for catches in traffic and showed the ability to consistently fall forward and gain extra yards.

He will need to keep improving his game and continue refining his blocking skills and work on his technique and hand placement. The Giants could definitely use Long at the tight end position where he can push Kaden Smith for playing time as the #2 tight end in the NY Giants offense. Long is a sleeper in this draft and will likely be a mid-round pick somewhere between a mid-to-late Day 2 pick or one of the top Day 3 options available.