2026 Draft: Tight Ends

Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report

Sam Roush, TE Stanford

A Stanford tight end tends to be safe pick, right? In Sam Roush’s case, his upside is immense, while providing a high floor based purely on his in-line abilities. Roush is the best blocking tight end in this year’s class. As a result, he brings instant Y-tight end capabilities, with untapped potential as a receiver. Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq posted historic workout numbers for a tight end at this year’s NFL combine. Roush’s effort may have been just as impressive, with a near-10 relative athletic score at 6’6” and 270 pounds. Better quarterback play can unleash Roush as a big, effective target over the middle of the field.

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Tyler DeSena, Miami Dolphins On SI

Sam Roush, TE Stanford

With new-age nickel defenders allowing teams to stay physical with lighter personnel, it’s more important than ever to have offensive weapons with multiple skillsets. Stanford tight end Sam Roush is just that. Roush is a capable and willing blocker who can play on the line of scrimmage, and at 6-6, he moves with a rare fluidity in space. He slots in as a zone-beating “Y” who can quickly eat up free yards, with the potential for much more as he learns to better use his frame.

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Cory Kinnan, Daft on Draft & Browns Wire

Oscar Delp, TE Georgia

Georgia tight end Oscar Delp is an enigma. A former high recruit tasked with following in the footsteps of Brock Bowers, he never quite lived up to the hype. It did not help that he never got to see the field under the guidance of Todd Monken at Georgia, and that the quarterback play was subpar when he took over the starting job, but the production remained the same over the last three seasons: under 300 yards.

However, the tape is the tape. Delp is explosive off the ball, does enough as a blocker, and cleaned up catch uncomfortability from 2024 to 2025. The skillset is too good to overlook. Delp has the profile of a player who will exceed expectations at the NFL level based on college production.

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Sam Teets, Sports Talk with Sam Teets & Chiefs Wire

Eli Raridon, TE Notre Dame

Two right ACL tears have Eli Raridon floating in a medical gray area that will likely see him removed from several teams’ boards. Looking past the medicals, Raridon is towering 6’6”, 245 lb. athlete with room to bulk up into the 250s. Raridon excels at finding and sitting in space versus zones and is fast enough to stress or stack linebackers on downfield routes. He is a multi-level threat with the ability to win on deep digs, overs, corners, and down the seam. Raridon completes catches through heavy contact over the middle of the field. While inconsistent, he offers value as an in-line and insert blocker. He needs to add mass and refine his hand usage to become more impactful in this area of his game.

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mayoclinic said:

Some "my guys" TE picks:



Better QB play? Hmmm.

Get to know the 2026 NFL Draft: Media members analyze favorite prospects in the class

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sportstalk.substack.com

Roush for me. Drlp too much traits over production, Raridon 2 ACLs a concern.

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One-If-By-Sea said:

I agree 100%. Can't pick a guy with back to back less than 300 yard seasons. Two ACLs - we tried that before.

What about Roush's hands? Lots of drops?

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mayoclinic said:

Roush's floor is not that much lower than Kacmarek's ceiling. That's worth a 4th to me. Add a 1 round bump because his ceiling is so high.

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mayoclinic said:

So, physically, there is one essential difference between Sam Roush and Rob Gronkowski:

40: Gronk 4.68, Roush 4.70
10-split: Gronk 1.58, Roush 1.61
3C: Gronk 7.18, Roush 7.08
SS: Gronk 4.47, Roush 4.33
VJ: Gronk 33.5" Roush 38.5"
BJ: Gronk 9'11" , Roush 10' 6"
BP: Gronk 23, Roush 25
Height: Gronk 6' 6 1/4", Roush 6' 6"
Weight: Gronk 258#, Roush 267#
Hand: Gronk 10.75", Roush 10"
Arm: Gronk 34.25, Roush 30.63

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mayoclinic said:

Roush's floor is not that much lower than Kacmarek's ceiling. That's worth a 4th to me. Add a 1 round bump because his ceiling is so high.

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mayoclinic said:

I think you're underselling Roush's floor.

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manxman2601 said:

Dan Villari was one of the first TEs we met with.

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OldEngland said:

lockerroom
Arrived at Michigan as a dual threat QB, and transferred to Syracase still as a QB, before they moved to him tight end.

Hardworker, good separator, good route runner. Undersized, only one year of production, 3 cone 7.04 and shuttle 4.31.

Really like him as a development prospect. Probably my late round binkie.

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manxman2601 said:

Dan Villari was one of the first TEs we met with.

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manxman2601 said:

It's good, but not even close to Kacmarek.

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scott99 said:

Tanner Koziol with a 4.70 and a 36.5 vertical at almost 6’7” and a low drop rate, yes please.

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Clonamery said:

He can't block your Great-grandmother but sure, Y not?

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Clonamery said:

He can't block your Great-grandmother but sure, Y not?

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scott99 said:

.You can always learn to block.

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scott99 said:

We signed a blocking TE and a fullback. Also, You can always learn to block. Most likely you can’t learn to be an explosive receiving TE.

People always think who a player is now is the finished product.

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