2026 Draft: Tight Ends

[mayoclinic]

Then you are ahead of me as usual.

 

[manxman2601]

Then you are ahead of me as usual.

Only on some. you have me beat on plenty too.

 

[mayoclinic]

Hibner a 6th year senior, explains why Manx was onto him.

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[manxman2601]

Hibner a 6th year senior, explains why Manx was onto him.

you know me so well. But also, who isn't a fifth or sixth year senior in this draft?

 

[mayoclinic]

Jelani McDonald
Yhonzae Pierre
Jamari Johnson
Kade Pieper

Oops.

 

[manxman2601]

Jelani McDonald
Yhonzae Pierre
Jamari Johnson
Kade Pieper

Oops.

Well Jelani McDonald was my find but I’ll be magnanimous on him.

No, I was thinking Reese, Styles, Freeling and Iheanachor. You killed it with them.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

This is why I have been big on the TE double dip, so many interesting guys in this draft to consider.

 

[DaBruinz]

Hibner a 6th year senior, explains why Manx was onto him.

Yikes.. 6th year senior.. That make him 25 already??

 

[DaBruinz]

This is why I have been big on the TE double dip, so many interesting guys in this draft to consider.

I mentioned double-dipping as well. My hope is Delp and Kacmarek. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pats carry 4 TE AND a FB on the 53 and another TE and FB on the PS.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I mentioned double-dipping as well. My hope is Delp and Kacmarek. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pats carry 4 TE AND a FB on the 53 and another TE and FB on the PS.

Just seems like there will be really intriguing TE prospects available rd 5-7, I sincerely hope we don't ignore that.

 

[Clonamery]

Yikes.. 6th year senior.. That make him 25 already??

Turned 24 last week

 

[DaBruinz]

Turned 24 last week

So, still one of the older prospects.. Probably means higher floor and lower ceiling..

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

So, still one of the older prospects.. Probably means higher floor and lower ceiling..

I think people get too hung up on age (not talking about drafting chris weinke).

Approximately
50% to 60% of NFL players sign a second contract, but that number drops significantly for retention by their original team, with only about 30% to 44% of drafted players staying with their original team past their rookie deal. The average NFL career lasts less than four years, causing many to never reach a second contract.

If we could get 4 productive years out of a mid rd pick, that is a win.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think people get too hung up on age (not talking about drafting chris weinke).

Approximately
50% to 60% of NFL players sign a second contract, but that number drops significantly for retention by their original team, with only about 30% to 44% of drafted players staying with their original team past their rookie deal. The average NFL career lasts less than four years, causing many to never reach a second contract.

If we could get 4 productive years out of a mid rd pick, that is a win.

My comment had ZERO to do with contracts and everything to do with potential.

A 24 year old player is very near peaking in terms of physical attributes compared to a 21 or 22 year old. Hence why I said he had a higher floor, but lower ceiling.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

My comment had ZERO to do with contracts and everything to do with potential.

A 24 year old player is very near peaking in terms of physical attributes compared to a 21 or 22 year old. Hence why I said he had a higher floor, but lower ceiling.

Ya, I wasn't referring to you specifically, just used your post as a jumping off point as I've seen people talk about age quite a bit, like it's a bad thing.
Messidor as an example.
Now obv the higher the pick the more age MIGHT be a consideration, but I it's seems some folks (draft "experts") use age as a negative for a 24/25 year old.

 

[manxman2601]

My comment had ZERO to do with contracts and everything to do with potential.

A 24 year old player is very near peaking in terms of physical attributes compared to a 21 or 22 year old. Hence why I said he had a higher floor, but lower ceiling.

I think we need a combination of both. Our roster is such that we still need prospects to contribute significant snaps early. Think about the struggles of Jared Wilson (21 when drafted) versus the relative success of Craig Woodson (24).

 

[Clonamery]

Average NFL career length by position 2025| Statista

Which position in the NFL has the longest average career length? When looking at active players as of 2025, long snappers were the longest tenured players.

www.statista.com

NFL teams are no longer shying away from older prospects

(AP) — Bo Nix has already turned 25. Michael Penix Jr. will get there in May. Both quarterbacks were first-round picks last year. They were among 56 players age 24 or older drafted in 2024. That number was up from 54 in 2023, 44 in 2022, 16 in 2021 and 19 in 2020. There have […]

www.timesleaderonline.com

 

[manxman2601]

Average NFL career length by position 2025| Statista

Which position in the NFL has the longest average career length? When looking at active players as of 2025, long snappers were the longest tenured players.

www.statista.com

NFL teams are no longer shying away from older prospects

(AP) — Bo Nix has already turned 25. Michael Penix Jr. will get there in May. Both quarterbacks were first-round picks last year. They were among 56 players age 24 or older drafted in 2024. That number was up from 54 in 2023, 44 in 2022, 16 in 2021 and 19 in 2020. There have […]

www.timesleaderonline.com

It would also be useful to find out how many prospects sign second contracts with the same team. If that's a low percentage, the age of a rookie matters less.