Kylen Granson could be a late-round TE project

Kylen Granson, TE
School: SMU | Conference: American
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22 (23 by draft)
Height / Weight: 6’3” / 235 lbs
Projected Draft Status: Round 5-7

College Statistics

Player Overview

Granson broke his leg his senior year of high school, and was very lightly recruited as a result. He received his only FBS offer from Rice, and played in 8 games there as a true freshman at wide reciever. He played in 10 games as a sophomore and transferred out of Rice’s program - without a plan for the future - after his head coach was fired. He considered trying to walk on at the University of Texas, and ended up at SMU on the recommendation of his former coach, David Bailiff, to the Mustangs head coach, Sonny Dykes. Coincidentally, Granson had been offered an academic (though not athletic) scholarship to SMU out of high school.

After sitting out 2018, due to NCAA transfer rules, Granson has played the last two years in Dallas. As a junior, he collected 721 yards and 9 TDs in 13 games, and was named to the All-American Athletic Conference second team. This year, in 10 games, he had 536 yards and 5 TDs, and was selected All-American Athletic Conference first team. His performance also got him an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

“Sonny thought he was a big wide receiver, I thought he was an athletic tight end,” former Mustangs offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. “Turns out we were both right. … “One of the best pure football players I’ve ever coached. Very versatile. Very smart.”

Granson performed well at the Senior Bowl, doing a solid job blocking and making difficult catches during the scrimmages.

Strengths

• Good speed and excellent athleticism.
• Soft, reliable hands. and talented receiver.
• Has good short area burst.

Weaknesses

• Needs to work on in-line blocking.
• Has size that may be more suited to H-back.
• Has to improve consistency as a route runner.

Let’s See His Work

How He Would Fit

The 2021 tight end draft class is considered significantly stronger than last year’s, which could be a very positive development for Washington given there’s a need to build the team’s tight end pipeline. Logan Thomas’ break out performance in 2020 likely secures his role as TE1, unless the team pursues a free agent like Hunter Henry or Jonnu Smith, at which point TE instantaneously flips from a position of relative weakness to one of the strongest units in the league.

In any case, assuming Jeremy Sprinkle is allowed to walk in free agency this year, the team is left with Thad Moss and Marcus Baugh (plus Thomas) under contract at the position in 2021. Granson would be a strong addition addition to the tight end competition mix, and could easily get the year or two of grooming he needs before he has to be thrust into a more active role. His positional flexibility (H-back, slot, TE) would also give Scott Turner another versatile weapon for his arsenal.