The 2026 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and with the marquee weekend of the offseason nearly here, the hype and excitement surrounding this year's event is already heating up.
Over the next several weeks, we're taking a look at some position groups in this year's class while examining a handful of names to know. Here's what we've covered so far:
We'll continue with the tight ends.
Five Names to Know
Depending on where you look, the various experts from around the web have identified a handful of players who are widely considered the top tight end prospects in this year's class.
Here's a look at five players to know.
Kenyon Sadiq – Oregon
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 241 pounds
Snapshot: A talented and versatile athlete, Sadiq caught 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025.
Big Board Rankings:
Daniel Jeremiah Top 50 3.0 (NFL.com - March 5): No. 13 overall (No. 1 TE)
Dane Brugler Top 100 (The Athletic - Feb. 11): No. 20 overall (No. 1 TE)
Matt Miller Top 50 (ESPN – March 5): No. 13 overall (No. 1 TE)
Pro Football Focus: No. 14 overall (No. 1 TE)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Sadiq is a short, muscled-up tight end with outstanding speed and athleticism. At Oregon, he primarily aligned attached or in the slot, but he also saw some reps out wide and in the backfield. He is very explosive in his release and he's able to separate vertically on seam/wheel routes. He excels on quick screens, where he can display his dynamic run-after-catch skills…I love his competitiveness and tenacity as a blocker. He latches on, runs his feet and works to finish. Overall, Sadiq is a versatile, explosive weapon with toughness."
The Athletic: "An alum of Bruce Feldman's "Freaks List," Sadiq is a brawny athlete with a unique combination of explosiveness and play strength. He brings both short-area quickness and long speed to the position, and he's able to outpace coverage and win at all three levels of the field. He needs continued technique work as a blocker but competes with outstanding physicality to latch, drive and win his assignment. He has the potential to be a mismatch-creating weapon in the NFL."
ESPN: "When scouts were at Oregon watching second-rounder Terrance Ferguson in the lead-up to the 2025 draft, they inevitably started talking about Sadiq, who could be drafted a round earlier than his former teammate. Sadiq is more of an elite route runner, with quickness and shifty moves, than a big-bodied tight end. Sadiq is best at creating separation with quickness and extending his frame on jump balls in the red zone, as shown by his eight touchdowns on 51 receptions last season."
For more on Sadiq, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Eli Stowers – Vanderbilt
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 239 pounds
Snapshot: A former quarterback who made the switch to tight end in 2023, Stowers hauled in 62 passes for 769 yards and four touchdowns last season. He was the recipient of the John Mackey Award in 2025 as the top tight end in the nation.
Big Board Rankings:
Dane Brugler Top 100 (The Athletic - Feb. 11): No. 48 overall (No. 2 TE)
Matt Miller Top 50 (ESPN – March 5): No. 48 overall (No. 2 TE)
Pro Football Focus: No. 53 overall (No. 2 TE)
Expert Analysis:
The Athletic: "An above-average athlete for his position, Stowers attacks the technique of defenders and uses his quickness to consistently win one-on-one on slants, digs or seam balls…He has reliable hands and fluid adjustment skills."
ESPN: "Stowers is the ideal combination of elite athletic testing and high-end production. The Vanderbilt star ran a 4.51 40-yard dash and had record-setting jumps, with a vertical of 45½ inches and a broad jump of 11-foot-3. That burst allowed him to catch 62 passes for 769 yards last season while winning the John Mackey Award as the nation's best tight end. Stowers doesn't have elite size, but he's a nightmare matchup from a flex or F-tight end alignment."
For more on Stowers, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Max Klare – Ohio State
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 246 pounds
Snapshot: The 6-foot-4, 246-pound Klare caught 43 passes for 448 yards and two touchdowns in his lone season at Ohio State last year. Prior to joining the Buckeyes, Klare tallied 51 grabs for 685 yards and four touchdowns at Purdue in 2024.
Big Board Rankings:
Dane Brugler Top 100 (The Athletic - Feb. 11): No. 54 overall (No. 3 TE)
Matt Miller Top 50 (ESPN – March 5): Not Ranked (No. 3 TE)
Pro Football Focus: No. 76 overall (No. 3 TE)
Expert Analysis:
The Athletic: "Klare is a good-looking athlete, with the speed and urgency that suggest he has yet to play his best football. He needs to improve some of his pacing and the subtleties of getting open, but his route movements are crisp and fluid. The foundation is there to be a serviceable blocker, too."
For more on Klare, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Justin Joly – NC State
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 241 pounds
Snapshot: Joly recorded 92 catches for 1,150 yards and 11 touchdowns over his last two seasons at North Carolina State, topping at least 450 receiving yards in each campaign.
Big Board Rankings:
Dane Brugler Top 100 (The Athletic - Feb. 11): No. 87 overall (No. 4 TE)
Matt Miller Top 50 (ESPN – March 5): Not Ranked (No. 4 TE)
Pro Football Focus: No. 129 overall (No. 6 TE)
Expert Analysis:
The Athletic: "Built in the mold of Jonnu Smith, Joly is a good-sized athlete who can drop his weight at the top of routes and uncover with foot quicks and savvy. He has large, strong hands and has developed into a ball-winner because of his ability to frame the catch and finish, regardless of his surroundings."
For more on Joly, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Michael Trigg – Baylor
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 240 pounds
Snapshot: Trigg compiled a breakout season in 2025, tallying 50 receptions for 694 yards and six touchdowns – all career-highs. Prior to joining the Bears ahead of the 2024 season, Trigg spent time at USC (2021) and Ole Miss (2022-23).
Big Board Rankings:
Dane Brugler Top 100 (The Athletic - Feb. 11): No. 91 overall (No. 5 TE)
Matt Miller Top 50 (ESPN – March 5): Not Ranked (No. 5 TE)
Pro Football Focus: No. 106 overall (No. 5 TE)
Expert Analysis:
The Athletic: "Built like a basketball power forward, Trigg is a long, coordinated athlete with the arm length and wingspan that make offensive linemen jealous…It looks like he is catching a Nerf football with the way he "little brothers" defenders at the catch point."
For more on Trigg, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
