Miami Hurricanes Brevin Jordan leads all tight ends in the 2021 NFL Draft in yards after the catch. Jordan is the third-ranked TE and 74th ranked player overall on the consensus database of NFL prospects for the 2021 draft. According to Pro Football Focus, Jordan was the only college TE with over 300 yards after the catch in 2020.
Jordan finished the 2020 season with 38 receptions for 576 yards and seven touchdowns. Taking away the TDs, Jordan averaged 11.39 yards after the catch. Kyle Pitts of Florida is the overwhelming top-ranked TE in the 2021 NFL Draft. Pitts didn’t match Jordan in yards after the catch but is a deep threat in the passing game.
Pitts led college football TEs with 10 receptions beyond 20 yards and 331 deep yards. With 11 contested receptions, Pitts ranked third nationally. Jordan cannot match the size and skills that Pitts has. Jordan is listed at 6’3 245 pounds and ran a 4.69 40-dash at the Miami Hurricanes Pro Day last month.
Pitts was listed as 6-foot-6, 245-pounds and ran a 4.44 40-yard dash at the Florida Pro Day. Jordan has seen his draft stock slip since Miami Hurricanes Pro Day. Pat Friermuth of Penn State is the other TE projected to be drafted ahead of Jordan in the 2021 NFL Draft. Some analysts rank Jordan lower among TEs.
The ONLY. @Brevinjordan https://t.co/M1tqw2BvIA
— Rhett Lashlee (@rhettlashlee) April 21, 2021
Pro Football Focus ranks Jordan as the fifth best TE in the NFL Draft. While Pitts was often used similarly to a wide receiver, Jordan was compared to a running back. An H-back might be more accurate for Jordan. Originally projected to be drafted towards the end of the first round beginning of the second, PFF ranks Jordan much lower.
"5. BREVIN JORDAN, MIAMI (FL)PFF BIG BOARD RANK: 152“Jordan showed up at Miami looking like a running back but being called a tight end. His usage was closer to a RB with an average depth of catch only 3.4 yards downfield. After filling out his frame a bit more, Jordan still looks like a running back, only now that running back is (the Titans) Derrick Henry.Jordan has a very clear path to success in a (49er head coach Kyle) Shanahan-(Vikings offensive coordinator Gary) Kubiak scheme that runs its tight ends on a lot of drags, flats and seams where speed and YAC are king. The problem is that he’ll have to prove to defenses that he’s a legit inline threat first.”"
Jordan has obviously proven himself in yards after catch. The 40-dash time Jordan ran at Miami Pro Day is concerning. Jordan has the ability to line up throughout the formation. For Miami last season, Jordan lined up 48 times in-line and 166 times in the slot in 269 pass formations. Jordan likely has to work on his blocking.
The performance of past Miami TEs and the success Hurricanes offensive coordinator Lashlee has had with TEs in his career should help Jordan in the draft. If Jordan slips below the second round he could be a steal. As the 152nd ranked player by PFF, Jordan would be projected near the end of the fifth round. That seems too low.