The NFL is having a crisis at the tight end position, and we should be talking about it more. Despite five tight ends drafted in the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, there is a severe lack of blocking ability among draft eligible tight ends. On top of that, guys aren’t getting enough playing time early in college leading to one-year breakout candidates that still need NFL development. Guys like Brock Bowers, Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren aren’t coming around every year and even the established elite-level tight ends like Travis Kelce, Trey McBride and George Kittle weren’t first round picks. I would say, as of now, the top tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft class aren’t on the same level as any of the aforementioned players and will not help solve the league-wide crisis. I only have one first round grade, and you can see from the thumbnail it’s Jack Endries. The crazy eyes just match so perfectly.

note: these are the only 10 TEs I’ve summer scouted, I’ll drop some names I’ll be watching next down below. You can also watch our review of these TEs on the Draft Professors Podcast!

Endries is a versatile tight end who split his 2025 snaps almost evenly between the slot and out wide, with some reps as a fullback sprinkled in. He’s got strong, reliable hands and shows it both as a receiver and when engaging defenders. You can see him handle Miami’s Reuben Bain 1-on-1 in pass protection and even drive defensive ends in the run game. He’s willing to hit somebody, plays physical after the catch, and has enough YAC ability to turn short throws into chunk plays. He’s effective in trail concepts and can be trusted as a solid pass protector, but his run blocking is inconsistent. There are reps where he leads the way with good leverage, and then there are a couple of examples, including giving up multiple negative plays, where he loses his base and doesn’t sustain balance. Overall, he’s a strong receiving threat with the toughness to line up in multiple spots, but improving his run-blocking technique will round out his game.

PROJECTION: ROUND 1-2 PICK

Klare is an athletic tight end who’s at his best after the catch, with the long speed to threaten down the seam and the craftiness to make defenders miss in space. He’s got a good catch radius, which makes him a friendly target for his quarterback, and he’s shown he can step up against top-tier competition. He posted 5+ receptions in six different games, showing he can be a consistent part of the passing attack. He’s not just a scheme-dependent player, but I do think the right system will help maximize his impact, especially one that gets him moving in space and lets him use his athleticism to create mismatches.

PROJECTION: ROUND 2 PICK

This might be the best pure athlete in the entire tight end class. Sadiq's movement skills immediately jump off the screen. Did you see him hurdle that guy in the Penn State?? For all his explosiveness, I actually like his blocking ability when he’s locked in, but there’s still work to be done in the run game to clean up his technique and consistency. The biggest question mark is the production, which is on the smaller side, making him more of a traits-based projection at this point. With his athletic ceiling and flashes as a blocker, he’s the type of tight end NFL teams will be eager to develop.

PROJECTION: ROUND 2 PICK

Stowers is a route-savvy tight end who lined up about 60% of the time in the slot and brings a really good feel for working in space. He’s great at clearing out defenders, finding soft spots in zone, and getting up the seam quickly to stress safeties. I like how he’s used in the screen game and his vision with the ball in his hand. He fights for extra yards and can turn up field in a hurry after the catch. He’s shown strong hands, including great contested grabs over the middle, and he knows how to get open in the red zone especially against zone coverage. I was most impressed with his run blocking against 2026 NFL Draft prospect Anthony Hill Jr. He was able to wash the talented linebacker out of multiple run plays. He also had the game-sealing block in an upset win over Alabama. Overall, he still needs to improve his run blocking and could benefit from adding mass to anchor better. He’s a reliable target with situational blocking value and the upside to be a versatile passing-game weapon at the next level.

PROJECTION: ROUND 2-3 PICK

Trigg is a big-bodied tight end who’s a willing blocker and can hold up in pass protection, with solid run-blocking skills overall. He’s quick off the line and consistently clears lanes in the ground game, even serving as the lead blocker on what should’ve been a game-winning touchdown. That was until Heisman trophy winner Travis Hunter forced a fumble at the goal line to win the game for Colorado. As a receiver, Trigg understands how to use defensive back leverage to his advantage and looks like a natural red zone weapon, even if the production hasn’t fully matched that potential yet with only three touchdowns. He’s dynamic after the catch and can punish smaller defenders in space, but there are still reps where he’ll whiff on a run block. The physical tools and awareness are there for him to be an every-down NFL tight end if he further develops his run blocking technique.

PROJECTION: ROUND 2-3 PICK

Joly is a tight end who can line up in the slot and get vertical, giving defenses matchup problems. He split his snaps about evenly between inline and slot, and he’s a real menace in the passing game with good hands in traffic and the ability to win 1-on-1 matchups. He’s quick off the line, can block and release into soft spots, and made a physical grab on a reverse through pass interference that really stood out. Inline, he holds his own in pass protection, but as a run blocker he’s limited. He's more of a passive lead blocker than someone who’s going to move people off the ball. There are also times he doesn’t take his route all the way through the end of the play which can lead to mistimed throws. His vertical threat ability and versatility to move around make him a weapon in the passing game who can stress defenses in multiple ways.

PROJECTION: ROUND 3 PICK

Royer is a massive-framed tight end who moves smoothly for his size and has reliable hands, especially when working over the middle. He’s strong at the catch point and can get inside leverage on just about any defender. That said, I think he’s a slow accelerator and doesn’t offer much after the catch, relying more on size and positioning than speed or elusiveness. He split his snaps about evenly between the slot and inline, but blocking isn’t a strength. There are reps where he doesn’t even make contact, and overall, his technique and effort in the run game need work. He also lacks top-end athleticism and could stand to improve his route running against zone to become a more complete threat. I'd like to see him fill out his frame more and grow into his body. I think it would make him a more complete, much more physical player that can be an every down tight end.

PROJECTION: ROUND 3-4 PICK

Velling is a tight end who, at times, can create lanes in the run game and move the chains as a reliable underneath option. He’s got a nice tempo to his routes, keeping defenders off balance, but he’s not overly athletic and doesn’t profile as a red zone threat. The lack of lower-body mass shows up on tape, both in his play strength and in how he holds up against physical defenders. His hands are serviceable but not a real strength, and his run blocking could definitely improve with better technique and added strength. Overall, he’s a steady role player who can help keep drives alive but may be limited in how much he impacts an NFL passing attack.

PROJECTION: ROUND 4-5 PICK

Josh Allen isn't the only NFL talent coming out of Laramie! Gyllenborg is a tight end with great hands right off the line of scrimmage who does a nice job working to the inside of defensive backs on slants. He’s got a big catch radius and reliable hands, making him a threat on contested balls and a dependable target in traffic. That being said, he’s pretty much a complete non-factor in the run game, offering little to no impact as a blocker. His value is almost entirely as a receiving option, but with his size and ability to win positioning early in routes, he can still carve out a role in an NFL offense.

PROJECTION: ROUND 4-5 PICK

Koziol is a long, lanky tight end (6'7 240) with a good frame and strong lower body who’s been highly productive in the Mid-American Conference, scoring 18 touchdowns in just 22 starts. He profiles as more of an NFL power slot than a traditional inline tight end, using his size to create mismatches in the passing game. He's not a great run blocker and still needs to fill out his massive frame to handle NFL physicality. His ball skills are only average, and the small-school production comes with the usual questions about level of competition. It’s also worth noting that only one tight end with his frame has been drafted since 2003, making him a tremendous outlier. He's got the size and movement skills, as well as the touchdown production, to make it on an NFL roster if he improves during the 2025 season.

PROJECTION: ROUND 6-7 PICK