2026 Draft: Tight Ends

[One-If-By-Sea]

BPA - Best personality available.

This is hilarious.

 

[manxman2601]

Rueben Bain is not uber-athletic. Definitely plays with personality. Probably not Manx's kind of guy.

Yeah, I've been down on him all season.

 

[mayoclinic]

You should try to keep a more open mind. Don't get locked in.

 

[mayoclinic]

This is a fun time of year. You try to evaluate and re-evaluate as many prospects as many times as possible. Don't just believe the hype. No one is flawless, but every one is accountable. So many variables to factor in, just get as many data points as possible.

 

[manxman2601]

Here are the career yards per route run for the highest valued Test in the class

Kenyon Sadiq - 1.94
Max Klare - 1.83
Jack Endries - 1.57
Eli Stowers - 2.36
Justin Joly - 1.74
Tanner Koziol - 1.53
Michael Trigg - 1.70
Joe Royer - 1.46
Lawson Luckie - 1.25
Miles Kitselman - 1.53
John Michael Gyllenborg - 2.23
Jack Velling - 1.51
Marlin klein - 1.23
Oscar Delp - 1.18


The bolded ones are the only TE prospects to measure up reasonably well on that measure.

 

[manxman2601]

Michael Trigg, Baylor, 6-4, 246lbs

Michael Trigg Scouting Summary (Pros vs Cons, Graded 1–10)​

Pros and Cons Breakdown​

Trait	Grade (1–10)	Notes
Hands / Catch Radius	8.5	Strong hands in traffic; natural catcher. Excellent in contested situations.
Size / Physicality	8.0	NFL-ready frame (~6’4", 245+ lbs); can body defenders and win in tight areas.
Athleticism / Burst	7.0	Good for the position, but not elite. Won’t separate purely with speed vs DBs.
Route Running / Separation	6.5	Functional but could improve — tends to rely on body control more than separation. Needs sharper breaks.
Ball Tracking (Deep Throws)	6.0	Inconsistent adjusting to deep balls. Sometimes late locating the ball over the shoulder.
Blocking (Inline & Edge)	6.5	Willing blocker, solid strength — but technique and consistency need work. Not a dominant blocker yet.
YAC / Physical Toughness	7.5	Not a breakaway threat, but breaks arm tackles and has good balance post-catch.
Versatility (TE/Flex/H-Back)	8.0	Can line up inline, in the slot, or as an H-back. Good system flexibility.
Football IQ / Awareness	7.0	Seems to understand spacing and coverages well; still learning nuances of advanced routes.
Durability / Consistency	6.0	Multiple transfers (USC, Ole Miss, Baylor); up-and-down production. Needs to show he can sustain for a full season.

Overall Average Score: 7.1 / 10​

Summary​

• Best NFL Fit: West Coast or spread offense that uses TEs creatively (think 49ers, Bengals, Lions)
• Draft Range (Current Projection): Round 4–5, with potential to move up if he flashes in postseason all-star games or workouts.
• Ceiling: Top 12 TE in the NFL (if everything clicks — route sharpness + better blocking)
• Floor: Backup TE / red zone mismatch weapon

Via AI

 

[manxman2601]

Nice catch here showcasing long arms.



He doesn't look very quick though.

 

[Clonamery]

That he is a decent blocker is the added value.

 

[manxman2601]

He's not a blocker, but Eli Stowers of Vandy is a hell of a receiving TE.

 

[manxman2601]

Kenyon Sadiq effort defending an INT on a 2 point conversion.

 

[manxman2601]

Kenyon Sadiq summary via Grok

Kenyon Sadiq is a transcendent TE prospect whose rare athletic ****tail—sub-4.6 speed at 250 lbs, violent blocking, and RAC vision—positions him as the 2026 class's alpha, evoking a leaner, faster Brock Bowers with LaPorta polish. His 2025 efficiency (13.6 YPC, 89.2 PFF grade) masks deeper traits: pre-snap manipulation, contested pluck ability, and selfless blocking that elevates Oregon's run game (top-10 nationally). Weaknesses like route rounding and mass are coachable for a true junior with rising volume. In a TE-thin draft, Sadiq's "irrational excitement" factor (per analysts) could net a top-20 selection, making him an instant offensive coordinator's dream. Deeper film reveals a player whose motor and IQ transcend stats—watch for his Penn State encore to confirm first-round inevitability.

 

[Clonamery]

Kenyon Sadiq summary via Grok

Kenyon Sadiq is a transcendent TE prospect whose rare athletic ****tail—sub-4.6 speed at 250 lbs, violent blocking, and RAC vision—positions him as the 2026 class's alpha, evoking a leaner, faster Brock Bowers with LaPorta polish. His 2025 efficiency (13.6 YPC, 89.2 PFF grade) masks deeper traits: pre-snap manipulation, contested pluck ability, and selfless blocking that elevates Oregon's run game (top-10 nationally). Weaknesses like route rounding and mass are coachable for a true junior with rising volume. In a TE-thin draft, Sadiq's "irrational excitement" factor (per analysts) could net a top-20 selection, making him an instant offensive coordinator's dream. Deeper film reveals a player whose motor and IQ transcend stats—watch for his Penn State encore to confirm first-round inevitability.

BPA

 

[manxman2601]

BPA

He could very well be, particularly if we're picking in the 15-20 range, and possibly best athlete available too.

 

[mayoclinic]

Sadiq is one of the players who I can get really excited about.

I don't have him graded quite as highly as Tyler Warren, but not far off.

 

[PatsFan2]

I will be watching this list closely: the only one I'm interested in at this time.

 

[BobDigital]

Here are the career yards per route run for the highest valued Test in the class

Kenyon Sadiq - 1.94
Max Klare - 1.83
Jack Endries - 1.57
Eli Stowers - 2.36
Justin Joly - 1.74
Tanner Koziol - 1.53
Michael Trigg - 1.70
Joe Royer - 1.46
Lawson Luckie - 1.25
Miles Kitselman - 1.53
John Michael Gyllenborg - 2.23
Jack Velling - 1.51
Marlin klein - 1.23
Oscar Delp - 1.18


The bolded ones are the only TE prospects to measure up reasonably well on that measure.

Not too toot my own horn, but did i not say Fannin should have a first round grade? And did i also not say when all is said and done even with Warren and Lovelace and a number of bigger names he will be my pick for the best TE in this class? Look at the start Fannin is having with the freaking dumpster fire Browns. Yeah Warren was clearly more NFL ready and in reality was the only TE I would have potentially picked over Fannin. But give Fannin a few years and a QB and look out, he will be neck and neck i believe. He will end this year with i think 800 yards. Not bad for a rookie in his situation.

Here is my next TE prediction, Eli Rairdon. The guy is a huge target, looks smooth and has wonderful hands. Catches like a WR. If he doesn't move up boards quick some people aren't paying attention.

 

[mayoclinic]

6'7" 250#

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[manxman2601]

I was watching his game against Texas A&M as @BobDigital posted his mock and had got to the half. Raridon had stood out to me in the first half with some key catches but I hadn't studied him per se. Having seen Bob's post and yours, I decided to focus on some of his 2nd half blocking and while he's no Jackson Hawes (still a little aggrieved about that missed opportunity) he did well as an inline blocker. Doesn't dominate, but does his job.