From now until the 2020 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to showcase as many prospects as possible and examine both their strengths and weaknesses. Most of these profiles will feature individuals that the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to have an interest in, while a few others will be top-ranked players. If there is a player you would like us to analyze, let us know in the comments below.
#40 Harrison Bryant/TE FAU – 6’5 242
The Good
- Very good technician as a run blocker, works his hips and hands to get leverage
- Will hustle harder than the defender to get to the point of attack.
- Natural slot receiver who beats the press with ease
- Can line up in-line and square off against lighter edge defenders
- Pass protection is solid for a tight end
- Punches above his weight in the run game
- Great body control in the air and tracks the ball like a wide receiver
- Very good contested catch concentration
- Savvy receiver who can find the soft spot in zone coverage
- His overall fundamentals and technique for the tight end position are very good.
The Bad
- Narrow hips limit his lower body mass potential
- Short arms despite his nearly 6-5 frame
- Lacks lateral agility and burst
- Struggles to create separation at the top his route, sluggish in and out
- Linear athlete who is only fast in a straight line
- Explosive after the catch ability is good, not great
- Not violently strong for a tight end
Bio
- John Mackey Award winner for the Nation’s top tight end
- Led all tight ends with 65 receptions and 1,004 yards in 2019 (7 TDs)
- First non-Power 5 tight end to receive the award
- Unanimous All-American
- 148 receptions, 2,137 career receptions.
Tape Breakdown
Harrison Bryant is like a Rorschach test for the tight end position. What you see in him probably says more about what you value in the position than it does his actual skill set. Some may see a big slot receiver, others may see a flex tight end, and yet others may see a player that lacks the skills to fill either role.
The senior pass catcher is ‘undersized’ at just under 6 feet 5 inches due to a narrow frame and shorter arms (31.5 inches). At 242 pounds he looks more like a receiver than an in-line tight end.
There isn’t really a weak area in Bryant’s game from a technique standpoint. He’s a capable receiver who can threaten the seam, make contested catches, and be a reliable target as an underneath receiver against zone defense. His best attribute is ability to get off the line of scrimmage cleanly against press coverage. This allows him to gain a step on defenders despite an incomplete set of physical skills.
The Georgia native is a capable blocker despite his physical traits. He shows good technique, hustle and toughness as a run blocker. His quick feet and hips allow him to be effective at walling of defenders to create a hole, or to move in space and lead block. Despite a narrower frame (especially through the waits, limiting lower body mass), Bryant has maximized what he has and punches above his weight in the running game. He even shows the ability to kick slide and sink his hips in pass protection.
While he’s more suited to take on linebacker rather than traditional defensive ends, Bryant shows the strength to take on defenders bigger than him and hold his own.
Bryant also generates highlight-level catches with a very good set of hands and the ability to track the ball while maintaining body control.
The real issue with Bryant is that he does not have great lateral agility. His ability to create separation at the top of his routes and to make sharp cuts is limited. In fact his overall athletic profile when viewed as a whole is nothing exceptional. He does make explosive plays at a high clip, but they were generated by scheme and effort, not necessarily with athleticism.
No matter what you see in Harrison Bryant it’s clear that he is a good football player from a fundamental standpoint He’s worked to make himself a complete tight end who can block, pass protect and create separation despite his physical limitation. His draft stock will likely depend on a good showing at the NFL Combine, specifically in lateral agility drills. If a team values sound positional fundamentals and a player who is simply good at football, Bryant will be a hot commodity. That being said, with short arms, a ‘tweener’ build and limited lateral agility, it’s hard to project Byrant any higher than a Day 3 pick.
Projected Round: 4th
Games Watched: @Oklahoma (2018), @OSU (2019), @UAB-CC (2019), vs North Texas (2018)
