Jared Zhang's 2026 NFL TE BIG BOARD
INTRODUCTIONS
My name is Jared Zhang, and I have been doing draft evaluations for the past few years. While I started off as a hobbyist, I have been blessed with the opportunity to write for a draft publication and intern for an agent during my scouting journey so far. Throughout the draft cycle, I will be dropping positional big boards as I get through initial watches and rechecks. This document will be updated throughout the cycle with updated grades, new players, and linked reports. The main updates will come after all declaration results come out about underclassman prospects.
For positions where players may switch positions in the NFL (this is mainly talking about OL), I will give a brief note at the beginning of my rankings articles on where I have the player listed currently (Ex. in 2025 I would have listed on the top of my 2025 OT big board that I had Grey Zabel as an OG despite him being a college OT).
GRADING
With grading being different per evaluator, I am grading not based on where I believe players will go in the NFL, but more on what I believe they can be as an NFL player. I have what I look for in each grade for an WR listed below. For anyone who has any off-field/medical issues that can affect their draft position, they will have a * with a note explaining the issue (Ex. I would put a * down for Josh Simmons due to his patellar tendon issue and reported off-field concerns). This means that the grade given to the players is purely based on film evaluations, so there will be players whose grades will not match up with where I believe they should be drafted (Ex. a 5th year senior with an injury history and off-field issues could have listed a day two round film grade, but they should be selected in day three). Grades themselves are range estimations for my evaluations on prospects. Players can creep into the back end of a higher tier (Ex. an early day two grade can be a late day one player).
Blue Chip - Prospects who are immediate high-level contributors on offense who provide rare positional athleticism to be a high-impact pass catcher. These players need to be big enough to be at least be capable move TEs while being elite positional athletes. The main advantage of having these players on the field is that they make defense struggle to match personnels as they cannot match size with size or speed with speed. These players should be Pro Bowl+ players and create unique blocking/receiving mismatches (Ex. Brock Bowers, Vernon Davis, Kyle Pitts)
Day One - Prospects who can play in-line year one while being good positional athletes. These players should be good year-one ready pass catchers. The main difference between Day One and Blue Chip TEs are the difference in athletic tools that create size/speed matchup issues for defenses. These players should be perennial Pro Bowl players (Ex. T.J Hockenson, Colston Loveland, Tyler Warren)
Early Day Two - Prospects with in-line bodies who are good pass catchers who need to improve as blockers, or high-end pure H-Back/Wing TE prospects who play primarily in 12 personnel. These players can be Pro Bowlers, but they generally cap out as quality TEs (Ex. Hunter Henry, Gerald Everett, Cole Kmet)
Mid-to-Late Day Two - Prospects who are great blockers with athletic upside, prospects who have solid pass-catching abiltiy who have in-line TE potential once they gain weight, or prospects who are move TEs who could play in 11 personnel as a power slot player. These players lack the upside to be Pro Bowlers, but they should develop into capable TEs who have the floor of being a good 12 personnel player (Ex. Dawson Knox, Dan Campbell, Harold Fannin Jr).
Early Day Three - Prospects who have sufficient size and passing game ability to project into a future 11 personnel role, or prospects who are high-end blockers with limited passing catching value. This grade is the last round where any in-line 11 personnel starting potential is possible. While starting potential is possible, these payers are often replacement level players (Ex. AJ Barner, Cade Otton, John Bates).
Mid-to-Late Day Three - Prospects too small to be in-line TEs with the athletic tools to be usable wing TEs/big slots or prospects who have the technique and frames to be capable in-line blockers. These players will see limited snaps on offense and will primarily serve special team roles as depth players. Some of these players could see a role on offense as a FB (Ex. Elijah Higgins, Robbie Outz, Ko Kieft).
PUDFA-Camp - Prospects who do not have draftable talent, but can develop into rosterable NFL players with time on a PS or with multiple stints on preseason rosters. The main difference in the undrafted prospects is what kind of roster spot they are ready to compete for (PUDFA grades are practice squad locks with a chance at a 53-man spot, UDFA are preseason T-90 locks with a chance at a practice squad spot, who should win a T-90 preseason spot, Camp grades have a chance at a preseason T-90 roster spot). While these players don’t have draft grades, it is common to see players with PUDFA grades end up as late round fliers (Ex. Mo Alie-Cox, Brady Russell, Maximilian Mang).
Reject - Prospects that do not have any realistic future in the NFL as a player. These players can have a future in other leagues (mainly UFL and CFL), but they often retire from the sport to pursue careers outside of football. The main reasons for lacking any NFL future are having the combination of poor athletic tools and frame.
GRADES
Kenyon Sadiq (Day One) - 6025 - 241 - Oregon - Jr
Pros
Elite positional athlete in terms of speed and acceleration
Speed allows him to stretch the field vertically and threaten the seam
Great fluidity to make cuts in the open field as a ball carrier
High-end RAC/YAC player due to contact balance and physicality
Alignment versatile and can play as a power slot in 11 personnel
Allows for disguised personnels that are difficult to match on defense
High-end play strength for his size and has a rocked-up frame
Great move-TE blocker and will excel in 12 personnel
Capable enough blocker to play in-line as a rookie
Extremely physical as a blocker and plays above his weight
Great ball skills and secures the ball outside his frame consistently
Good at using his hands to push off defenders at the stem
Cons
Undersized TE in terms of height, weight, and length
Likely bars him from being a great in-line blocker
Developing nuance as a route runner in terms of head fakes and false steps
Could limit some of the early effectiveness of the power slot snaps
Mediocre fluidity reduces his effectiveness separating from DBs
Rounded breaks on in and out breaking concepts
Needs to improve to be more consistent when covered by DBs
Oscar Delp* (Early Day Two) - 6045 - 245 - Georgia - Sr
Pros
Great positional athlete in terms of speed and acceleration
Speed allows him to stretch the field vertically and threaten the seam
Good ball skills and secures passes outside of his frame
Good fluidity to cut in space to get RAC as a ball carrier
Good fluidity so speed cut as a route runner
Frame could carry more weight to become more of an in-line player
Active, physical blocker who is a good Wing-TE blocker
Good anchoring ability in pass protection
Special teams experience on kick return and field goal block
Cons
Slightly undersized and not ready for in-line work as a rookie
Mediocre play strength when attempting to dig out EDGEs in the run game
Early-on pure Wing-TE who will be a 12 personnel package player only
Needs to fill out his frame to play in-line in 11 personnel
Not enough of a route runner to separate consistently against DBs
*Post season hairline fracture in foot
Joe Royer (Mid-to-Late Day Two) - 6046 - 247 - Cincinnati - (RS) Sr
Pros
Prototypical HWL for a in-line TE
Solid top speed and acceleration as an athlete
Solid fluidity to get out of his breaks cleanly as a route runner
Good play strength when anchoring in pass protection in-line
Good ball skills and consistently secures balls outside his frame
Cons
Mediocre physicality and effort as a blocker in the run game
Not much of a man mover and is not going to be a force multiplier
Poor consistency when attaching onto defenders in the second level
Limited special teams experience
Sam Roush (Mid-to-Late Day Two) - 6055 - 267 - Stanford - Sr
Pros
Great positional height and weight
Short arms for his frame
Great trunkiness as a blocker in pass protection to anchor against EDGEs
Good physicality and play strength to dig out EDGEs in the run game
Immediately capable of playing in-line as a rookie
Great at chipping and redirecting EDGEs’ rush path
Solid fluidity athlete with ok ability coming out of his breaks
Good at using his hands to be physical at the stem
Special teams ace with experience on all phases
Cons
Average acceleration and speed athlete at TE
Great for a player his size and for a blocking TE
Inconsistent hands with body catches, double catches, and drops on tape
Inconsistent boxing out and elevating for contested catches
Max Klare (Mid-to-Late Day Two) - 6041 - 246 - Ohio State - (RS) Jr
Pros
Prototypical height and length profile
Has in-line TE potential
Solid speed and acceleration athlete
Good range as a move TE blocker to climb and cross the formation
Good fluidity out of his breaks as a route runner
Flashes false steps and head fakes
Athletic enough to play in the slot in 11 personnel
Good ball skills and consistently secures balls outside his frame
Willing to be physical as a blocker when engaging defenders
Capable chipper in pass protection
Cons
Slightly undersized and not ready for in-line work as a rookie
Poor displacement ability and play strength as a blocker
Gets ran through when anchoring in pass protection
Bothered by contact easily as a route runner
Linear ball carrier with limited RAC/YAC ability
Poor consistency sealing off defenders in the second level
Limited special teams experience
Josh Cuevas* (Mid-to-Late Day Two) - 6030 - 245 - Alabama - (RS) Sr
Pros
Solid weight for his frame with a developed lower body
Has in-line TE potential
Good chipper in pass protection and disrupts the rush paths of EDGEs
Great fluidity with quick transitions upfield
Good speed cuts as a route runner
Flashes good fakes and false steps as a route runner
Great ball skills and consistently secures balls outside his frame
Willing to lower the shoulder to get RAC yardage
Good anchor when taking on defenders in pass protectors
Special teams ace with experience on all phases
Cons
Shorter and stumpier frame for a TE
Limited upside as an in-line blocker
Average acceleration and speed for the position
Lacks physicality as a blocker and needs to improve his block sustain
Inconsistent connecting with blocks in space
Poor as the lead blocker as a FB or climbing to the second level
*Broken foot in 2025
Miles Kitselman (Early Day Three) - 6046 - 251 - (RS) Senior
Pros
Prototypical height, weight, and length for an in-line TE
Great ball tracking and ball control to adjust to passes
Great play strength and easily displaced defenders in the run game
Great trunkiness to anchor against defenders in pass protection
Immediate year one capable in-line blocker
Hard-nosed blocker who plays to the whistle
Special teams experience on kick return and field goal block
Cons
Poor acceleration and speed athlete
Poor fluidity out of his breaks limit route running potential
Limited RAC/YAC ability due to athletic limitations
Inconsistent ball skills with a tendency to occasionally body catch
Great when he is consistent with attacking the ball in the air
Needs more consistency attaching to defenders on the move
Athletic limitations limit his abilities as a move TE/FB
John Michael Gyllenborg (Early Day Three) - 6056 - 249 - Wyoming - (RS) Sr
Pros
Prototypical height and weight
Shorter arms make in-line upside limited
Great acceleration, speed, and fluidity as an athlete
Great range as a blocker and is great at climbing into the second level
Great effort as a run blocker as a move TE
Great when aligned on DBs and LBs
Potential power slot usage due to his athletic tools
Clean out of his breaks when speed cutting
Special teams ace with experience on all phases
Cons
Poor attaching and sealing to defenders as a blocker
Poor hands with body catches, drops, and double catches
Poor in traffic catching ability
Poor at chipping in pass protection
Mediocre play strength limit his ability to play in-line
Could play in-line if he is able to get stronger
Poor using his hands to work through contact in his routes
Poor fakes and false steps as a route runner
Needs to develop more salesmanship to separate from DBs as a power slot
Eli Stowers* (Early Day Three) - 6036 - 239 - Vanderbilt - (RS) Sr
Pros
Great speed and acceleration for the position
Good body control and ball tracking of passes
Great at elevating to adjust to high passes
Good range as a move-TE blocker when climbing or playing space
Flashes of solid salesmanship at the stem for a TE
Great hand usage when playing physically throughout his routes
Trick play potential due to QB background
Cons
Zero in-line value due to thin, wiry frame
Non-functional blocker near the LOS due to horrible play strength
Pure slot prospect until he is able to improve his pay strength
Unable to handle assignments on LBs and EDGEs
Positional tweener who could have a difficult time fitting a role
Lacks WR route running and does not add a blocking boost over slot WRs
Poor boxing when in contested catch situations
Needs more consistent securing passes outside his frame as a pass catcher
Zero special teams experience
*Torn PCL and meniscus injury in high school
Will Kacmarek (Early Day Three) - 6055 - 261 - Ohio State - (RS) Sr
Pros
Great positional height, length, and weight
Solid displacement ability in the run game
Immediate in-line blocking ability as a rookie
Willing to be physical as a blocker when engaging defenders
Capable chipper in pass protection
Great ball skills and consistently secures balls outside his frame
Good special teams experience on coverage units and field goal block
Cons
Mediocre speed and acceleration athlete
Mediocre fluidity out of his breaks as a route runner
Limited upside as a route runner
Inconsistent sealing of defenders due to high pad level and wide hands
Leverage issues and let defenders under his pads
Loses footing and balance often during reps
Eli Raridon* (Early Day Three) - 6056 - 245 - Notre Dame - Sr
Pros
Good positional height and length
Can fill out more to have in-line potential
Good ball tracking downfield with highlight in-traffic catches
Good leverage and effort as a blocker
Immediate capable blocker as a power slot/move TE player
Cons
Slim frame with poor play strength
Lacks the size to drive defenders in the run game
Average speed and acceleration athlete
Mediocre fluidity out of his breaks as a route runner
Lacks fakes and false steps as a route runner
Inconsistent ball skills with a tendency to body catch
Bothered by contact throughout the route and loses his stride
Lacks physicality as a blocker to drive defenders out of running lanes
Limited special teams experience
*Back-to-back ACL tears in 2021 and 2022
Dae’Quan Wright (Early Day Three) - 6035 - 246 - Ole Miss - Sr
Pros
Good build-up speed that lets him threaten the seam
Good ball skills and secures the ball outside his frame
Good physicality as a blocker for a move TE
Willing to drive defenders out of the gap
Frame should allow for more weight gain to be a potential in-line TE
Cons
Thinner, smaller frame with very long legs
Extremely stiff athlete with limited RAC/YAC and route running ability
Not fluid enough to speed cut out of his breaks as a route runner
Mediocre play strength as a blocker when anchoring as a blocker
Lacks the strength to dig out EDGEs in the run game
Minimal special teams experience
Michael Trigg*** (Early Day Three) - 6035 - 240 - Baylor - (RS) Sr
Pros
Great positional length with an extremely long wing span
Good ball skills and secures his frame
Solid fluidity allows for clean breaks as a route runner
Solid false steps and fakes as a route runner in the slot
Experience as a power slot in 11 personnel
Extremely physical and willing to run through defenders for yards
Good physicality as a blocker who is willing to block with effort
Great on LBs and DBs
Cons
Slender, shorter frame that limit in-line potential
Average speed and acceleration athlete
Poor for a smaller move TE
Needs to be more consistent squaring up as a blocker
Poor play strength when on EDGEs as a blocker
Struggles to get displacement and gets run through in pass protection
Poor at chipping due to his lack of size
Inconsistent connecting to blockers in space
Poor positioning in contested catch situations
Minimal special teams experience
*Older player that will be 24 during his rookie year
**Character concerns in terms of maturity
Riley Nowakowski (Mid-to-Late Day Three) - 6020 - 250 - Indianna - (RS) Sr
Pros
FB/move TE player who is going to be valuable in 12/13 personnel
Great trunkiness when taking on defenders as a pass blocker
Great displacement when chipping defenders
Good ball skills and secures passes outside his frame
Great effort as a blocker and plays past the whistle
Great at using his frame to win leverage when blocking
Special teams ace with experience on all phases
Cons
Smaller H-back body type limits his ability to play in-line
Lacks the length to consistently lock out and seal EDGEs when in-line
Average speed and acceleration athlete
Short and quick strides when running
Tight athlete without fluidity out of his breaks or in the open field
Linear ball carrier when in the open field
Lacks the size or athleticism to be playable in 11 personnel
Justin Joly (Mid-to-Late Day Three) - 6035 - 241 - NC State - Sr
Pros
Good ball skills to secure passes outside his frame
Solid route runner with good fakes and false steps
Good at using his length to push off and hand fight
Solid trunkiness as a pass blocker taking on power
Good effort and physicality as a move TE blocker
Solid at sealing off LBs and EDGEs from plays
Cons
Narrow frame with mediocre size, height, and length
Mediocre positional speed and acceleration as an athlete
Slower for a move-TE type
Stiff athlete who lacks the fluidity to cleanly get out of his breaks
Mediocre RAC/YAC player due to his athletic and size deficiencies
Limited special teams player who only played on field goal block
Nate Boerkircher (Mid-to-Late Day Three) - 6055 - 245 - Texas A&M - (RS) Sr
Pros
Prototypical height, weight, and length for an in-line TE
Solid build-up speed when running routes downfield
Physical ball carrier who is willing to run through defenders
Good play strength when displacing defenders in the run game
Good special teams experience with snaps on coverage units
Cons
Poor acceleration acceleration
Poor fluidity out of his breaks limits his ability as a route runner
Linear ball carrier with limited ability in space
Poor technique when setting his base when anchoring in pass protection
Has the frame and strength to improve
Inconsistent ball skills with bobbles and body catches on tape
Poor consistency locking out and sealing defenders in-line and on the move
Jack Endries (Mid-to-Late Day Three) - 6046 - 245 - Texas - (RS) Jr
Pros
Prototypical positional height and length give in-line potential
Solid build-up speed downfield
Good ball skills and secures passes outside his frame
Good contested catch player who can secure passes in traffic
Cons
Narrow frame for his size prevent immediate ability to play in-line
Has the potential to fill out more
Bothered by contact throughout routes
Average positional acceleration and fluidity
Horrible blocker in terms of play strength and physicality
Plays soft when engaging defenders
Easily displaced and shed in the run game
Not athletic for a year one move TE that needs to put on weight
Minimal special teams experience
Jaren Kanak (PUDFA) - 6017 - 234 - Oklahoma - Sr
Pros
Great positional athlete in terms of speed and acceleration
Speed allows him to stretch the field vertically and threaten the seam
Athletic enough to play as a slot WR
Good fluidity to cut in space to get RAC as a ball carrier
Shows effort as a blocker and is willing to put his body on the line
First year playing TE and has upside as he develops upside
Good ball skills and constantly secures passes outside his frame
Special teams ace with experience on all phases
Cons
Extremely undersized and is a WR/TE tweener
Poor play strength and struggles to consistently dig out DBs as a blocker
Lacks the frame to currently to block LBs/EDGEs
Questionable ability to see the field on offense
Limited route salesman and needs to develop better fakes/false steps
Poor at remaining in stride when contacted during routes
Poor box out and catch point physicality in contested catch situations
Rohan Jones (PUDFA) - 6016 - 236 - Arkansas - Sr
Pros
Great positional athlete in terms of speed and acceleration
Speed allows him to stretch the field vertically and threaten the seam
Great fluidity and gets out of his breaks like a receiver
Big slot potential due to his athletic tools
Good effort and physicality as a blocker
Limitations are primarily physical
Special teams ace with experience on all phases
Cons
Extremely undersized and is a WR/TE tweener in build
Zero potential in-line value
Poor play strength as a blocker and cannot displace bigger defenders
Questionable hands with double catches, bobbles, and body catches
Limited route salesman and needs to develop better fakes/false steps
Tanner Koziol (UDFA) - 6064 - 247 - Houston - Sr
Pros
Great positional length and height
Elite ball skills with consistent ability to secure balls outside his frame
Major security blanket in traffic and when contacted
Great body control to adjust to passes
Elite high-point ability and can make secure great jump passes
Length gives potential blocking upside if he is able to size up
Cons
Rail thin frame for his height and needs to gain weight
Average acceleration and top speed
Stiff, sloppy mover with limited route running ability
Not able to get out of breaks cleanly or have fakes/false steps
Horrible play strength as a blocker and is outmatched at the LOS
Easily shed and struggles to generate displacement in the run game
Re-route easily by contact throughout his routes
Incapable of playing Y/F TE and not athletic enough to play in the slot
Hard player to find a consistent use/role on offense
Limited special teams player who only played on field goal block
Date Published: 03/23/2026
Date Last Updated: 03/23/2026
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