Top 10 Tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft

By Owain Jones

The 2026 NFL Draft tight end class hits differently. The class is extremely deep with a record number of invitees at the position at this year’s NFL Combine.

There’s a clear athletic ceiling at the top, real three-down stability in the middle, and a handful of projection-based bets sprinkled throughout. The class is super talented and is stacked with role players for all unique schemes and systems at the next level.

2026 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings

10. Sam Roush, Stanford

Sam Roush is a comfort blanket. At 6’6”, 267 pounds, the Stanford standout looks and plays like a traditional inline Y, operating with square pads and controlled footwork that keeps blocks structurally sound. Stanford asked him to handle a large snap volume, and his discipline shows up in both phases. He sells play-action with conviction, works into underneath windows on schedule, and secures the ball cleanly through contact. Nothing feels rushed or out of control.

But, he won’t stretch the seam in a way that forces safeties to panic, and man coverage can squeeze his separation ceiling. He also lacks true after-the-catch creativity. But if a team wants a rotational Y who can survive in base personnel without protection, Roush offers reliability over flash despite his elite athleticism.

9. Jack Endries, Texas

A steady threat, Jack Endries is a solid mover who never wastes mobility. The 6’4”, 240-pound tight end processes quickly, settles in soft pockets naturally against zone coverage, and consistently breaks routes at the sticks with disciplined tempo. He plays with strong instincts underneath, uncovering late and working back into space when protection breaks down. His hands are clean, and he absorbs contact without drifting off structure.

However, he lacks an athletic ceiling that would threaten defenses, so he is limited in his YAC usage. He won’t outrun linebackers vertically or displace powerful edge defenders as a blocker. But football intelligence is universal, and Endries’ feel for space gives him a clear path as a dependable TE2 who can function within structure.

8. Michael Trigg, Baylor

Michael Trigg is a receiving weapon who brings big upside as a slot operator. At 6’3”, 250 pounds, he accelerates up the seam with rapid fluidity, stacking defenders and forcing safeties to widen earlier than designed. His hips are loose enough to sink into intermediate breaks without stiffness, and once he catches in stride, he flips into runner mode with real burst. He is a legitimate separator and mismatch creator.

But that pass-catching prowess comes at a cost. His inline projection is where the conversation shifts. Strong defenders can disrupt him early, and anchoring as a blocker isn’t yet part of his profile. If asked to live as a traditional Y, teams will be disappointed. But motion him, flex him, protect him from heavy contact, and Trigg becomes a mismatch weapon.

7. Dallen Bentley, Utah

Dallen Bentley was a breakout star for the Utes in 2025. The 6’4”, 259-pound tight end showed legitimate seam acceleration and cleaner intermediate pacing, building speed through stems and finishing plays with more conviction. Even if it wasn’t necessarily as consistent as you would like, Bentley’s frame allows him to shield defenders, and when he hits daylight, he can generate chunk gains rather than settling for minimal yardage. He is also more than willing as an inline blocker, where he is competitive and physical as a run blocker.

There are still weeks where the explosiveness flattens out, and his blocking leverage can be upright against stronger edge defenders. The tape isn’t perfectly consistent or restrained, but there is no doubt his career has trended in the right direction. If the growth continues to ascend, Bentley profiles as a balanced three-down option rather than a situational piece.

6. Joe Royer, Cincinnati

Joe Royer might not be the flashiest tight end prospect. He may not be the most elite of tight end prospects. But he simply has a knack for getting the job done. He is functional in every area and is the type of player scouts and coaches fall in love with. At 6’5”, 250 pounds, he handles true inline blocking responsibilities without needing protection, striking with square pads and sustaining through contact rather than lunging. Cincinnati trusted him in both phases, and that sample size shows up in his comfort level. As a receiver, he works underneath with discipline, presenting a wide strike window and transitioning north-south without hesitation.

The question mark over Royer is whether he has already hit his ceiling. He is more functional as an athlete, which means he isn’t dynamic after the catch and won’t be the moveable, versatile pass-catching weapon at the next level. He won’t dictate coverage with vertical speed. But completeness still matters at this position. Royer feels like the type of player coaches trust early because he doesn’t need to be hidden.

5. Oscar Delp, Georgia

Have no doubt, Oscar Delp is a project. You are buying into what he can become and that he will be a better pro than a college player. But, boy, is the ceiling enticing. At 6’5”, 245 pounds, the Georgia tight end is a pure athlete who glides once he opens his stride, eating ground down the seam and flashing YAC acceleration that jumps off the screen. The athletic traits are undeniable. He tracks the ball naturally and shows enough fluidity to redirect through intermediate breaks without looking mechanical. Furthermore, he has the temperament and contact tolerance to be a competent blocker, and he doesn’t panic.

The problem remains that the usage sample size is modest. His blocking consistency fluctuates snap to snap, and his pad level rises, and some wins still rely more on traits than route nuance. The tight end position has historically shown that teams are willing to bet on athletes. Delp fits that mold.

4. Justin Joly, NC State

Inside the red zone, Joly plays like a pure, designed mismatch. At 6’3”, 263 pounds, he has a natural understanding of leverage where he walls off defenders, and attacks the football with strong hands in condensed space. His game is built around positioning and body control rather than explosive burst, but his frame utilization and physicality allow him to be comfortable as a pass catcher and to bring the right demeanor and proper technique as a blocker. On crossers and seams, he wins by presenting a massive catch radius and finishing through contact.

Joly’s top-end speed won’t force safeties to flip their hips early, and blocking leverage can fluctuate when his pads rise. Still, production in tight areas translates. Joly offers scoring value and intermediate reliability, giving him a defined role in structured offenses.

3. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

There aren’t many tight ends in this class who are special in one area. Stowers is. At 6’4”, 235 pounds, he moves like a big slot receiver, erasing cushion quickly and stressing linebackers vertically. The elite receiving production backs it up. He builds speed through overs and crossers, tracks the ball comfortably over his shoulder, and creates explosive plays once he clears the first wave. A former quarterback, he has an innate understanding of timing and rhythm and has elite spatial awareness.

However, the concern is whether he is really a ‘pure’ tight end, because he is, in no uncertain terms, weak as a blocker, which limits his ability to play in-line. Anchoring against true defensive ends is not his strength, and his role breadth will depend on scheme tolerance. But in a league increasingly comfortable with detached tight ends, Stowers’ separation skill outweighs his blocking ceiling. But he might just be a big slot receiver at the next level.

2. Max Klare, Ohio State

One word to sum up Max Klare? Balance. He handles volume as a receiver while holding his own inline as a blocker without schematic shelter. He uncovers cleanly against zone, shields defenders at the catch point, and plays with situational awareness that keeps drives alive. His hands are reliable, and his alignment versatility adds flexibility. He is dependable on third downs and has the underlying footwork and pad level to hold up as a blocker in the NFL.

He might not be overly explosive or dramatically dynamic. But he is trustworthy. He’s not a seam-bender who forces double teams, and his after-catch impact is more efficient than fierce. But that blend of blocking competence and receiving stability pushes him toward the top. Klare profiles as a plug-and-play three-down contributor with a sturdy floor.

1. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Kenyon Sadiq offers athleticism rarely seen at the position. As a receiver, at 6’3”, 245 pounds, he accelerates up the seam with legitimate speed for the position, forcing linebackers to turn and safeties to widen earlier than intended. His hips are loose, his transitions are fluid, and the catch-and-go burst is real. Few tight ends in this class can tilt structure the way he can.

But he remains a projection. The elite athletic ceiling hints at Round 1 upside, but the production sample is still developing, and inline anchor strength needs refinement. Even so, he offers something rare. His movement traits change how defenders behave. In a class balancing reliability and upside, Sadiq sits at the top because his ceiling is far too tempting. However, his production still indicates he’s more projection than foolproof right now. Nevertheless, in this class, a top 20 selection is extremely possible for the Oregon tight end.

OWAIN JONES

College football & NFL DRAFT ANALYST

OWAIN jones COVERS EVERYTHING college football & NFL DRAFT. COMING WITH PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE, OWAIN was PREVIOUSLY a writer for pfsn and WAS THE NFL DRAFT EDITOR AT NINETY-NINE YARDS WHERE HE CREATED DRAFT TALK, YOU CAN FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @OwainJonesCFB_

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