2026 NFL Draft TE Rankings: Big Board, Tiers & Predictions

The top 10 tight ends available in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Oct 18, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

One of the big storylines exiting the NFL Combine was the performance of Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. One of the athletic rarities in this class, Sadiq was among the top-five overall performers in Indianapolis. We've responded to his performance by including him in the top 10 of our latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft.

Sadiq wasn't the only tight end who impressed. Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers set modern-day NFL Combine records in the vertical and broad jump results. Max Klare is among the top-ranked players despite his non-participation. This is a particularly strong tight end class, with six qualifying for our initial top 100 prospect rankings.

Stanford's Sam Roush was another pre-draft board climber, who captured outstanding testing results when weighed against his size profile. With this year's NFL Combine officially in our rearview mirror, we've updated our tight end positional big board, ranking the top 10 overall prospects at the position.

Top 10 Tight Ends in the 2026 NFL Draft: Post Combine Update

1. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq could be a top-15 pick in the draft. Sadiq possesses an extremely well-rounded skill set. He's athletic enough to create mismatches against safeties and linebackers as a pass catcher, and he's also willing to mix it up around the line of scrimmage as an impactful in-line blocker. His athleticism will impress scouts at the NFL Combine.

2. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers was a difficult assignment for SEC defenders this past season. Diego Pavia's trusted go-to target produced a team-high 62 receptions for 769 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. Stowers is a savvy route runner who creates separatio

3. Max Klare, TE, Ohio State

Max Klare would have been even more productive if not for sharing targets with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. His best football is ahead of him. Klare is an outstanding athlete as a pass-catching threat, and he's also effective enough as a blocker to suggest a three-down role is in his future.

4. Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

Despite being a victim of Stanford's lackluster passing game, Sam Roush still recorded 49 receptions for 545 yards and two touchdowns. He's a good-sized athlete at a listed 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds. Roush doubled as an in-line blocker in a run-heavy offense, but he's also a functional athlete in the passing game.

5. Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor

After unimpressive stints at USC and Ole Miss, Michael Trigg exploded at Baylor this past season. The Tampa, Florida native registered 50 catches for 694 yards and six touchdowns. The NFL Combine will be critical to finalizing his pre-draft grade for a variety of reasons, but Trigg is a difference maker as a receiver.

6. Justin Joly, TE, NC State

Justin Joly possesses a more compact build at 6-3, 263. He's an efficient route runner who posted 49 receptions and a career-high seven touchdowns this past season. Joly possesses the traits required to immediately establish himself as a quarterback-friendly target.

7. Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati

Cincinnati's Joe Royer is a high-IQ route runner who routinely exploits soft spots in zone coverage. He varies his pacing as needed to create separation. After failing to establish himself at Ohio State, Royer accumulated 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons (2024-25) with the Bearcats.

8. Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan

Michigan tight end Marlin Klein once hit 6.89 in the three-cone drill, according to Bruce Feldman's Freaks List. A similar result at next week's NFL Combine would turn heads. Klein, a German native, is an effective route runner once he reaches top speed, and he's a well-developed blocker as a result of playing in Michigan's run-heavy offense.

9. Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame

Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon bided his time and maximized his opportunity in 2025. The Fighting Irish standout registered career-highs in receptions (32), receiving yards (482), and yards per catch (15.1). Raridon has a three-down skill set, but developing as a route runner would help him create separation more consistently.

10. John Michael Gyllenborg, TE, Wyoming

Wyoming's John Michael Gyllenborg is an intriguing sleeper. He thrives when detached from the line of scrimmage as an athletic pass catcher in space. The small-schooler faces a steep uphill climb to acclimate to the NFL, but he creates separation on film with a vertical skill set.

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