Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Hunter Bryant, TE DET

Ryan Finley

The NFL Draft is behind us, rookie drafts are taking place, and as dynasty owners, we are looking ahead to the upcoming season. In the Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update series, we break down all the incoming fantasy-relevant rookies, looking at their profile and where they fit.

Name: Hunter Bryant

Position: Tight end

Pro Team: Detroit Lions

College Team: Washington Huskies

Draft Status: Undrafted

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

COMBINE REVIEW

  • Height: 6’2’’
  • Weight: 248 pounds
  • Arms: 32”
  • Hands: 10 3/8”
  • 40-yard dash: 4.74 seconds (unofficial)
  • Bench press: 23 reps
  • Vertical jump: 32.5”
  • Broad jump: 115”
  • Three-cone drill: 7.08s
  • 20-yard shuttle: 4.46s

STRENGTHS

  • Great hands
  • Catches the ball away from his body
  • Contorts his body and fights for the ball
  • Home run hitter
  • Game speed higher than timed
  • Weapon in the red zone due to winning 50/50 balls
  • Mismatch against linebackers and big safeties

WEAKNESSES

  • Size is not ideal for the position
  • Same tested speed as much bigger TEs
  • Not the crispest route runner
  • Scheme may have created easy targets
  • Blocking is questionable at best – complete mismatch against edge rushers
  • History of injuries including torn ACL/MCL

OPPORTUNITIES

Hunter Bryant stayed close to his hometown of Bellevue, WA when he enrolled at Washington. He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school, and the fifth-ranked TE prospect in the nation. Bryant showed well as a rookie before injuries slowed him down in his sophomore season. He stayed healthy in his junior season and found himself a John Mackey Award finalist for his trouble.

screen shot 2020 07 17 at 08.47.43

Statistics from sports-reference.com.

Bryant’s overall production is strong considering the missed time. Nearly 1,400 yards receiving looks good, especially alongside the strong 16.4 yards per reception. Imagine what he could have done with three full seasons. These numbers look particularly good if you compare to Cole Kmet, who didn’t even crack 700 yards in three seasons. Yet Kmet went in the second round and Bryant didn’t get drafted at all – but we’ll get back to that.

Bryant will not have a completely open door with the Lions, but I believe he can carve out a role. The team did just use the eighth pick last year on TJ Hockenson, who would be hard to surpass after a few flashes in his rookie season. The Lions also have veteran Jesse James on the roster, but neither one of these players plays like Bryant, who is perhaps more like a big slot receiver than a true tight end.

THREATS

It’s unlikely that Bryant would find success as a heavy usage tight end. He is a detriment to the running game as his blocking is passable at best and catastrophic at worst. He just does not have the frame to deal with an NFL edge rusher or linebacker. His strength showed well at the bench press, but his form as a blocker can be very, very poor. But I’m assuming that is not why the Lions signed him.

Also, when was the last time a tight end was very successful in Detroit? Ebron never did all that much in the motor city, and though Hockenson has all the tools his rookie year was only ok. It also might be hard for Bryant to sneak by Jesse James, as the Lions will likely value his experience.

Bryant’s size is also a real concern. He may have won contested catches regularly against the competition in college, but coverage is a different animal in the pros. Can he win those 50/50 balls against NFL safeties or corners? I’m not sure. There is a decent chance Bryant is nothing more than a big, slow-ish slot receiver.

SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS

But he is a playmaker. Don’t forget that. Perhaps he can fight his way by the uninspiring James and find a lot of playing time alongside Hockenson or in multiple receiver sets. I could see him having a lot of success working out of bunched formations with wide receivers.

However, he was an undrafted rookie who is undersized, and he has at least a bit of an injury history. I wouldn’t expect a lot this year, but he could be a cheap/free stash at the position, especially this year.

LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS

If Bryant can figure out the game at the NFL level, he would not be the first player with his body type and skills to be a successful tight end. You don’t have to look farther than Jordan Reed to see a similar story – an undersized tight end without the speed but with tons of playmaking ability. Bryant could be that guy.

It is also possible he learns how to block at the next level to round out his game. If he could do that, he would be a huge threat on play action. He certainly showed the ability to make the big play at Washington, and it could translate to his time in Detroit.

NFL PLAYER COMPARISON

I already mentioned the Jordan Reed comparison, which many will make. But just to show the other side of the coin, he also profiles a lot like Tony Moeaki. So it doesn’t always work out for a guy like Bryant. Let’s hope for more Reed minus the injuries.

PROJECTED ROOKIE DRAFT RANGE

DLF’s Rookie ADP shows that, like many tight ends this year, you won’t have to pay a premium if you want Bryant. His profile page has him going all the way down at 216 in startups, which is right around Latavius Murray territory. He’s fourth-round material in rookie drafts, if he doesn’t make it all the way to the waiver wire.

The only good thing about tight end in this year’s draft is you can get almost any one of them dirt cheap. But that’s because not one of them is a slam dunk – and Hunter Bryant is no exception. In the grand scheme of things, he has at least shown that he knows how to make plays in the passing game, and for fantasy purposes that might be all you need. I wouldn’t expect an Evan Engram-type breakout, but you could certainly find value here, especially at those rock-bottom prices.