3 College Tight Ends Lions Should Keep an Eye On
The Lions have taken their fair share of tight ends in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2009.
It started with Brandon Pettigrew being taken by ex-Lions general manager Martin Mayhew at No. 20 overall in the '09 draft. And most recently, present Detroit GM Bob Quinn selected T.J. Hockenson with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 draft.
Eric Ebron was the tight end selected in the first round in between those two. He was drafted at No. 10 overall in 2014.
Hockenson is entering just his second year in the league, and the Lions also have veteran tight end Jesse James under contract until 2023.
So, they don't have a glaring need at the position in the immediate future.
But, if they were to target a tight end in the 2021 NFL Draft, here are three players they should pursue:
1.) Florida TE Kyle Pitts
Pitts is the definition of a receiver playing tight end.
Standing in at 6-foot-6 and 239 pounds, he's too fast for linebackers and too big for safeties in coverage.
It allowed him to consistently beat defensive backs down the field a year ago, leading to him outpacing nearly all of Florida's wide receivers in reception yards in 2019. He finished with 54 receptions for 649 yards and five touchdowns.
The 649 receiving yards only trailed Van Jefferson's 657. Jefferson was drafted in the second round of the 2020 draft by the Los Angeles Rams.
If the Lions want to take Pitts, they're going to likely have to select him before the end of the first round -- something that Quinn & Co. will likely decide not to do because of the presence of Hockenson.
2.) Penn State TE Pat Freiermuth
He's been nicknamed "Baby Gronk" for his 6-foot-5, 260-pound frame and his ability to consistently beat linebackers and other defenders 1-on-1 on the boundary, or short side, of the field.
He finished the 2019 campaign with 43 receptions for 507 yards and seven TDs.
According to Pro Football Focus, he "is easily the most 'complete' tight end in the (2021 draft) class."
3.) Wisconsin TE Jake Ferguson
If the Lions don't nab Freiermuth, they could acquire another Big Ten tight end later in the draft in the form of Ferguson.
He’s caught 30-plus passes for 400-plus yards, and has broken seven-plus tackles in each of his two seasons as a starter at Wisconsin. In 2019, he hauled in 33 balls for 407 yards and two scores.
He'd be a good find for Detroit's front office as the draft progresses into the third round next spring.
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