The NFL is moving towards a game of spacing. Finding a tight end who can dominate as a receiver and provide a mismatch is a coveted asset. Guys like Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Darren Waller are changing the position in front of our eyes. Bowling Green tight end and 2021 NFL Draft prospect Quintin Morris possesses similar athletic ability. Could he be a steal in the upcoming NFL Draft?
Quintin Morris NFL Draft Profile & Senior Bowl Measurements
- Position: Tight End
- School: Bowling Green
- Current Year: Senior
- Height: 6’2 1/4″
- Weight: 243 pounds
- Wingspan: 80 3/4″
- Arm: 32 1/2″
- Hand: 10 1/2″
Tony Pauline’s Quintin Morris Scouting Report
Positives: Three-year starter who projects as a move tight end. Fluid releasing off the line of scrimmage, runs well laterally on crossing patterns, and extends his hands then looks the ball in.
Follows the quarterback across the field to make himself an available target, exposes himself to the big hit in order to come away with the catch, and works to pick up yardage running after the reception. Gives effort blocking, stays square, and keeps his feet moving.
[sv slug=”drizly”]Negatives: Possesses average quickness and really does not show much of a burst. Drops the occasional easy pass.
Analysis: Morris was a consistent pass catcher for Bowling Green and is a fluid tight end who makes a lot of plays down the field. He needs to run well before the draft and show that he can be a consistent blocker to have a career in the NFL.
Quintin Morris’ Pro Day Performance
About 20 scouts were on hand at BGSU to watch Senior Bowl tight end Quintin Morris work out. Morris came in at 243 pounds, 8 less than his weight in Mobile. He timed as fast as 4.58 seconds in the forty, .2 seconds faster than scouts expected. Morris also touched 34 inches in the vertical jump.
Quintin Morris Player Profile
As a true sophomore, it was clear Quintin Morris was one of the most talented players in the Mid-American Conference. Coming out of high school, he was considered a wide receiver and was a two-sport athlete, having also starred on the basketball team.
Morris was a heavy receiver coming out, and Bowling Green moved him to tight end early in his career. However, the coaching staff has done a tremendous job taking advantage of his size and athletic ability by playing him all over the formation. Whether out wide, in-line, or even in the backfield, they like to manufacture mismatches for him.
Morris’ receiving production took a dip this season. Not just because he only played five games, but his production per game dropped as well. Turnover on the Bowling Green offense, as well as the global extenuating circumstances, likely affected how they went about moving the ball this year, and Morris faced much of it. His tape speaks for itself, though, and he should be a prospect NFL teams are interested in.
Quintin Morris’ journey to becoming a Bowling Green tight end
A high school receiver, Morris’ team was far and away the best 5A school in the state of Texas. His team went 16-0 his junior season and won the state championship 56-0. He caught a 22-yard touchdown in that game.
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Despite possessing quality size for the position, Morris was viewed as an average to above-average athlete as a wide receiver. He received little interest from Power 5 schools and chose to sign with Bowling Green. The coaching staff decided instead of using him as a big wide receiver, they would transition him into a dominant tight end, whose size and athletic ability would provide consistent mismatches for defenses.
Morris’ freshman and sophomore seasons
As a true freshman, Morris didn’t see much production, but he did see playing time. He appeared in 11 of the team’s 12 games and led all tight ends on the team in receiving yards and touchdowns. His athletic ability was already evident, but he was undersized, weighing less than 240 pounds. If he were to be a complete tight end, he’d need to add weight and become less of a liability as a blocker.
His sophomore season is where his NFL future started to form. Morris finished second on the Bowling Green roster in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He was only behind wide receiver Scotty Miller, who played substantial minutes with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season.
Morris posted a 42-516-7 receiving stat line and cemented himself as one of, if not the top tight ends, in the MAC. Quintin Morris’ NFL Draft dreams were starting to become a reality.
Junior and senior year campaigns
After maturing into one of the top weapons in the MAC, Morris took it to another level for the Bowling Green offense in 2019. The team started to line him up all across the field, using him as a wide receiver, tight end, and occasionally in the backfield. Morris led Bowling Green in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. His overall production dipped, but a significant decline in quarterback play caused that.
Morris proved that he was still capable of producing despite a lack of talent around him.
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His senior year, the quarterback play managed to get even worse, and Morris’ production dipped once again. He was still easily the most productive player on the team, and I don’t expect his senior year to effect his draft evaluation at all. Strong physical tools and a productive college career will get Quintin Morris selected in the NFL Draft.
The Bowling Green tight end was also chosen to take part in the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Analyzing Quintin Morris’ NFL Draft profile
It’s always tricky to estimate how high the NFL is on non-Power 5 prospects. Playing at a smaller school that struggled in his last two seasons will create some hesitations for scouts. However, Morris’ athletic ability and production both lead you to believe he can be an effective player in the NFL. He’ll likely be selected on Day 3 somewhere, but we’ve seen several Day 3 tight ends develop into impactful players at the next level.
Morris projects best into a role that lets him take advantage of his athletic ability, forcing mismatches in space. Playing as a big slot or lining up wide should be something his offensive coordinator considers, as he’s fast enough to separate from linebackers and big enough to bully defensive backs. A team in need of a TE2 that can provide mismatches for defenses should consider Morris as early as the beginning of the fourth round.
What are the potential issues with Morris?
Morris playing at a school like Bowling Green is going to limit his ceiling on draft day massively. Morris was always one of the top physical specimens on the field, but he didn’t produce like he was the conference’s best player. As much as some hate to use production against players, it’s merely how the NFL thinks. It’s also easy to say Morris is a great athlete against his opposition in the MAC but does that athletic ability transition to the NFL?
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Morris also lacks refinement as a tight end. He’s not a polished route runner, and his technique as a blocker is questionable. However, he does play with great effort. Teams may view him as a one-dimensional tight end, and that could also hurt his draft stock. A strong combine would have been huge for him, but I don’t expect scouts to take pro day numbers seriously since they canceled the combine.
Quintin Morris’ best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
Morris fits best with a team that isn’t in desperate need of a TE1. Joining a team that will use him off the line and work with his skill set makes the most sense — a team like the Buffalo Bills who have a talented tight end in Dawson Knox. Morris could join Knox and create a dynamic young tight end duo while also providing another much-needed weapon for Josh Allen.
Another team that would have merit is the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers just lost tight end Vance McDonald to retirement and need a tight end to pair with Eric Ebron. Morris would fit well with the talented receiving unit that has been assembled in Pittsburgh.
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