Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Nesbit was a four-star recruit from South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, N.C. in the class of 2021

North Carolina Tar Heels tight end Bryson Nesbit is a tall, fluid vertical threat with limited in-line upside as a blocker. He projects as a role-specific prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft for an offense looking to add another field-stretching option.

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Bryson Nesbit, TE North Carolina: 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Senior tight end from Charlotte, N.C.

Background: Nesbit was a four-star recruit from South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, N.C. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 334 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 223 for On3.com. Nesbit was an unranked four-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 79 grade out of 100. He began playing football the summer before his high school junior season. Per MaxPreps, Nesbit tallied 31 receptions for 400 yards in six games during his final high school campaign. He amassed four touchdowns and more than 500 yards as a junior. Nesbit left South Mecklenburg having earned Third Team All-Observer honors. He also played basketball in high school. Nesbit’s father, Jamar, earned All-SEC honors three times while playing football at South Carolina and joined the program’s Hall of Fame in the class of 2017. Jamar wasn’t drafted into the NFL, but he still appeared in 153 games as a guard from 1999 through 2009. Bryson’s mother, Tara, played soccer at South Carolina.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed 2023 Mayo Bowl with a lower body injury, missed 2024 spring practice with lingering lower body injury

Awards: 2022 Honorable Mention All-ACC, 2023 First Team All-ACC

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, punt return, and punt coverage units, experience lining up in-line and in the slot, arm length more than checks boxes, long strides help eat up grass, off to the races once he's at top speed, straight line speed to stretch defenses vertically, top speed matched Barrett Carter’s (2023), occasionally mixes route tempo, several wins on an out-and-up, sells blocking for the WR screen well before slipping out on a route, good job avoiding unnecessary mid-route contact, good breaks and route fakes on vertical routes, stutter steps and shows a little wiggle in routes, surprising fluidity for a player with his size and long lower half, takes advantage of space given by soft zone coverages, excellent job finding and running into space, massive catch radius, strong hands at the catch point, can play above the rim, tracks ball well over his shoulder, slips through some lower body tackles, top speed allows him to our race linebackers and some nickel defenders

Cons: Penalized four times in 2023, tall but incredibly lean frame, primarily just a slot option, tall frame and high hips, lacks mass for in-line blocking, limited release package to defeat press, inconsistent acceleration and burst, doesn’t consistently threaten to blow past off-man coverage, off-man defenders can squat on the top of his stem without fear, route definition on non-vertical routes, inconsistent sharpness on out-and-up, too long to decelerate on comeback routes, play strength limits effectiveness blocking, GPS blocking on the perimeter, doesn’t mirror or recover in pass pro, lunges into blocks in pass pro, lacks balance as a blocker

Overview: Nesbit has special teams experience on the kick return, punt return, and punt coverage units and primarily lines up in-line and in the slot. He is tall and very lean with high hips and long arms. Nesbit projects as a slot-only prospect who makes his impact on vertical routes by stretching defenses, clearing out space underneath for teammates, or finding openings downfield. He lacks the mass to serve as an in-line blocker. Nesbit lacks a developed release package to defeat press coverage but has the long strides to cover grass quickly. The senior doesn’t have the down-to-down consistent burst off the line to blow past off-man coverage, but his top speed is a legitimate weapon. He possesses the speed to shift coverage assignments and draw coverage vertically. Clemson’s Barrett Carter couldn’t hawk down Nesbit once the tight end hit his top speed (2023). As a route runner, Nesbit occasionally mixes tempo and wins several times per year on out-and-up routes. He sells that he’s blocking for a wide receiver screen before slipping out on a route. Nesbit avoids mid-route contact to maintain his speed. The All-ACC selection showcases good breaks and route fakes on the vertical tree, but his route definition on non-vertical routes is lacking. He takes too long to decelerate on comeback routes. Nesbit has surprising fluidity and wiggle for a prospect with his size and high hips. This helps him sell route fakes and outmaneuver defenders while building toward his top speed. Nesbit takes advantage of the holes and free real estate in zone coverage and excels at locating and running into space. He has strong hands and a massive catch radius that help him finish plays above the rim. The North Carolina native also tracks the ball well over his shoulder. He slips through some arm tackles but primarily relies on his speed to create yards after the catch by outracing linebackers and some defensive backs. Nesbit lacks the play strength to break many tackles or be an effective in-line blocker. He struggles to attach himself to defenders while blocking on the perimeter and doesn’t have the balance or poise to operate in pass protection.

Overall, Nesbit lacks the build and play strength to contribute as an in-line blocker, but his speedy and deceptively fluid vertical route tree makes him a field-stretching weapon in the slot. Nesbit is a role-specific prospect and won’t be a fit for every offensive scheme. This limiting factor could push him down the board in a crowded tight end class.

Role & Scheme Fit: Slot-only tight end in a vertical attacking scheme

Round Grade: Fourth Round

Size: 6'5", 235 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 07-15-24