North Carolina Tar Heels TE Bryson Nesbit has been productive since the very start of his collegiate career, and now, his 2025 NFL Draft scouting report bears careful observation. Where does Nesbit rank in the upcoming tight end class off of initial viewings?
Bryson Nesbit’s Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’5″
- Weight: 230 pounds
- Position: Tight End
- School: North Carolina
- Current Year: Senior
Catching passes from Drake Maye can’t hurt your draft stock, but Nesbit isn’t a product of passing talent alone. Rather, he was one of Maye’s favorite targets for almost the entire stretch of the quarterback’s two-year starting career with the Tar Heels.
Why was Nesbit such an easy target to rely on? It doesn’t take much observation to find out. Even dating back to his high school days, when he was a four-star recruit from South Mecklenburg in Charlotte, North Carolina, Nesbit’s natural receiving skills stood out.
Nesbit was smooth, explosive, and had a knack for generating big plays. That was clear by the end of his true freshman season, when he amassed 154 yards and a score on just seven catches, averaging 22 yards per reception.
In 2022, Nesbit racked up 35 catches for 507 yards and four touchdowns. In 2023, he added 41 receptions for 585 yards and five scores. All along the way, he distinguished himself as a uniquely reliable and dynamic pass-catching threat at the TE spot.
Nesbit could have declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, but he chose to return to school and close out his career on a healthy note. Now, he’ll have a chance to be one of the first tight ends selected in 2025.
Nesbit’s Scouting Report
Strengths
- Sports a tall, streamlined frame with good length and decent lean mass.
- Explosive mover who can accelerate quickly and close cushions on the vertical plane.
- Has the requisite long-track speed to stack and gain vertical separation up the seam.
- Can use his burst and bend in tandem to sear around defensive backs and get leverage.
- Has the body control, flexibility, and timing to make high-difficulty catch adjustments.
- Flashes the ability to offset with fast feet and twitch, then cut tight angles on breaks.
- Can make adjustments in-stride while threatening up the seam, then reset for RAC.
- Tracks the ball exceptionally well over his shoulder and can guide his hands to the point.
- Natural box-out receiver with mitts for hands; can snare high passes with authority.
- Has the zone awareness to bend and sear behind blindspots, making himself available.
- Uses intentional eyes and jab steps in tandem to stem and then surge into space.
- Can use rip moves and leans to supplement angle adjustments at stems and pry upfield.
- Flashes good physicality, leg churn, and grating play strength after the catch.
- Has the versatility to take receiving reps in-line, split out wide, or in the slot.
- Is a willing boundary and scramble drill blocker who can square up and use his tools.
Weaknesses
- Is noticeably light for the position and may be close to maxed out with his frame.
- Explosiveness, while great, falls short of the quantifiably elite mark.
- Speed and burst are more powerful than energetic; linear strides can be lumbering.
- Sometimes swerves and loses balance when attempting to bend on route breaks.
- Lacks elite hinge flexibility and sometimes drifts past break points before redirecting.
- Can improve throttle control and plant-and-drive efficiency on multi-layered routes.
- Momentum can be slowed — and coordination affected — by physicality at route stems.
- Tendency to play with high pad level on sharper breaks can make him easier to wall off.
- Isn’t relied upon often as an in-line blocker; lighter frame warns of translatability issues.
- Sometimes comes off the snap with pads too high as a blocker, exposing his frame.
- Missed the end of the 2023 season and 2024 spring practice with a lower body injury.
- Will turn 23 years old in September of his rookie campaign.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Entering the 2025 NFL Draft cycle, Nesbit grades out as a fringe top-100 prospect but could garner consideration in the late Day 2 or early Day 3 range. With additional growth in 2024, he can ascend into mid-to-late Day 2 territory.
Nesbit is a unique prospect, with traits that both attune and clash with modern NFL tendencies. His physical tools, at times, resemble those of a bigger receiver. At 6’5″, 230 pounds, he’s explosive, has good long speed, and flashes inspiring short-area quickness, foot freedom, and cutting flexibility on breaks.
Going further, Nesbit can actively weaponize his tools as a route runner. He’s a venerable seam threat with his speed and box-out ability. Nesbit can sear through open zones with a bend, and he has a functional route tree with variability at stems.
As if that wasn’t enough to sell onlookers on Nesbit’s receiving value, he’s also a superb catch-point threat. His basketball background lends itself well to his positioning IQ, and he can make high-difficulty adjustments with ease while snaring passes with strong hands.
Nesbit’s issues stem from his overall play strength and blocking utility. At 230 pounds, he’s visibly lean and underweight. He has a degree of targeted physicality in his arsenal as a route runner, but his tempo and rhythm can be eroded by more competitive defenders.
Meanwhile, as a blocker, Nesbit lacks greatly in the way of in-line experience. When he’s engaged at contact, play strength, leverage, and block maintenance remain issues to monitor.
All this being said, Nesbit has the upside to function as a quality TE2 in a scheme that accentuates his receiving prowess. He can be a dynamic move tight end with vast usage versatility and the playmaking chops to be relied upon for big plays and clutch conversions.
