Hunter Long | Boston College 6’5” 254 lbs. 8/19/1998 (Age 22)
Hunter Long was drafted 81st overall by the Miami Dolphins, becoming the third tight end selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
Hunter Long has 89 career receptions for 1,297 yards and nine TDs during his three-year college career at Boston College. He had a productive junior season hauling in 57 catches for 685 yards and five TDs in 11 games. Long made up 21.9% of the Boston College passing attack, averaged 1.74 yards per team pass attempt, and 2.01 adjusted yards per team play. His adjusted performance index is in the 72nd percentile of all college receivers since 2000.
Hunter Long’s 2020 season being in the top 30 percent of all pass catchers becomes rarified air when looking strictly compared to Tight Ends. Only 12 other tight ends have accomplished this feat since 2012, if Long finds early success in the NFL he could be a staple at the top of tight end value in dynasty leagues.
ATHLETIC TESTING
At his Boston College Pro Day, Hunter Long measured in at 6’5” and 254 lbs. Which equates to a BMI of 30.12 . His best 40-yard dash time was 4.65-seconds which equates to a 108-Speed Score, and at 6’5” that is a 110-Height Adjusted Speed Score, both figures are in the top 85th percentile across all offensive skill positions.
Long shows athleticism on tape, he jumped a solid 32.5” in the vertical and 122” in the broad jump. He also ran the three-cone in 7.4-seconds and the short shuttle in 4.4-seconds. Long compares favorably from an athletic and size standpoint to Travis Kelce, the top tight end in fantasy.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Above Average
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Above Average
The Dolphins take Hunter Long, Boston College’s productive tight end. Long will likely take over the inline tight end responsibilities and enable to use Mike Gesicki as the move tight end. He joins an organization that is clearly focusing on building weapons for Tua Tagovialoa to succeed. Long could develop into a Travis Kelce type of player in the NFL.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
Hunter Long will have to carve out a role as a rookie to have any immediate fantasy impact, this is the case for all rookie tight ends. Because Long likely won’t contribute to your fantasy team until year three in any consistent manner, he becomes a target in the third-to-fourth round range as a dart throw. I do like Long’s chances to emerge as one of the top tight ends in this class, but be patient with him. If your team allows for taxi squad spots, Long is a great candidate to stash on that taxi squad until he emerges as a pass-catching threat.
Thank you for tuning in to DFF’s 2021 NFL Draft Coverage! Stay tuned as we break down every fantasy-relevant pick during the draft. Please consider becoming our yearly DFF subscription so we can deliver top-notch analysis and fantasy breakdowns. Our yearly subscription will save you $40 and lead you to fantasy championships.
Thank you for reading my article! If you would like to interact with me feel free to reach out to my @DynastyDiagnos1 Twitter account! Come join the #DFFArmy where I provide #Dynasty and #Devy content along with rankings for @DFF_Dynasty. #DynastyFootball #FantasyFootball
