2026 Draft: Tight Ends

[scott99]

Don't know what you're getting at but Nate Boerkircher should go UnDrafted. Delp is a Sure Third Rounder in my book: I hated the way they used him at Georgia.

I’m a huge Delp fan, but Devil’s Advocate, why didn’t he put up big numbers ? He’s so athletically gifted. Did they switch the offense after Bowers left ?

 

[PatsFan2]

Once again, people always talk about things in the absolute. Like they think there’s no possibility to get better at certain skills. I’m not saying Koziol is a must, but he does have certain skills at this moment that would be a great player to land in the 4th or 5th round. He gives you a mismatch because of his size and skill.

Bottom line, the Pats need a talented, as well as hopefully explosive pass catching TE with Henry’s days being numbered. If they can get one that’s both explosive pass catching and passable blocking, I’d be happy grabbing him.

This is a deep drag as far as TE’s being pretty athletic and explosive. I believe there were 9 TE’s that ran a 4.70 or less at the combine. And then Delp ran a 4.49 at his pro day on a recovering broken foot. I just want ONE of these guys to groom into Henry’s eventual replacement.

It won't take much to relegate Henry to a back up role.

 

[PatsFan2]

I’m a huge Delp fan, but Devil’s Advocate, why didn’t he put up big numbers ? He’s so athletically gifted. Did they switch the offense after Bowers left ?

****ty QB play.

 

[Water Boy]

Delps' speed and fluidity with the ball in his hands is special. He's going to be a match up nightmare. No idea why they didn't feed him more. I'd take him at 63 with no hesitation. I would not be surprised if he went before that.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Delps' speed and fluidity with the ball in his hands is special. He's going to be a match up nightmare. No idea why they didn't feed him more. I'd take him at 63 with no hesitation. I would not be surprised if he went before that.

If we do miss on Delp, look at J Kanak. 3" shorter, 0.03 seconds slower in the 40, doesn't jump quite as well, but Kanak is a Day 3 guy, R5/R6. Very athletic, smooth, Delp-like.

 

[DaBruinz]

Delps' speed and fluidity with the ball in his hands is special. He's going to be a match up nightmare. No idea why they didn't feed him more. I'd take him at 63 with no hesitation. I would not be surprised if he went before that.

Georgia didn't use their TEs for much other than blocking.. 43 Targets between 4 TEs for the entire year. That's either a bad QB or by design of the coaching staff or both. .

 

[DaBruinz]

If we do miss on Delp, look at J Kanak. 3" shorter, 0.03 seconds slower in the 40, doesn't jump quite as well, but Kanak is a Day 3 guy, R5/R6. Very athletic, smooth, Delp-like.

Kanak is barely 6'2. In fact, he supposedly was 6'1 7/8 at his Pro Day. He's also very raw. He's got 1 year of TE experience.

I wouldn't even consider Kanak unless the team is looking for a Special Teams Linebacker. Kanak is more of a Move TE than an in-line blocker, though he has shown willingness to block. He doesn't meet the "violent" player type as a TE the way that players like Kacmarek and others do.

They'd be better off looking at Dae'Quan Wright or Matthew Hibner if they missed on Delp rather than Kanak.

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[Rdforty2]

I’m a huge Delp fan, but Devil’s Advocate, why didn’t he put up big numbers ? He’s so athletically gifted. Did they switch the offense after Bowers left ?

Combo of a lot of things. He was used more as a blocker than Bowers. He got open when he ran routes but didnt get the ball. QB play declined. It was a new coordinator as well. Bobo was there for Bowers' last season, but he inherited an AA TE. Hard to not give him the ball. This past season Georgia only had 43 receptions total by TE's. 20 by Delp.

Pretty much the entire deck was stacked against him as far as producing.

 

[Rdforty2]

If we do miss on Delp, look at J Kanak. 3" shorter, 0.03 seconds slower in the 40, doesn't jump quite as well, but Kanak is a Day 3 guy, R5/R6. Very athletic, smooth, Delp-like.

Eh, hes more of Stowers/Trigg alternative. He offers nothing as a blocker.

The reason Delp is liked so much is because of his potential as a two way TE.

Hes intriguing as a late round pick as you say, but probably more as a double dip option. Maybe a PS candidate as a guy who could potentially be a FB/TE and contribute on special teams. He picked up TE quickly, which bodes well for his continued progression.

 

[DaBruinz]

at 1:46 of the video, he pulls a Gronk... LOL

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Eh, hes more of Stowers/Trigg alternative. He offers nothing as a blocker.

The reason Delp is liked so much is because of his potential as a two way TE.

Hes intriguing as a late round pick as you say, but probably more as a double dip option. Maybe a PS candidate as a guy who could potentially be a FB/TE and contribute on special teams. He picked up TE quickly, which bodes well for his continued progression.

I agree with all that. Kanak picked up TE well, his routes and hands look great, but I do not see him as a TE at the NFL level. I see Kanak eventually in the Big Slot role. People think of Kanak as a TE (he offers nothing as a blocker), and not as a Big Slot. Kanak will block the slot corner well. Some guys can play football and Kanak is one of those guys (see Edelman, Troy Brown, etc.).

 

[manxman2601]

Eli Stowers has suddenly become a popular pick for the Pats and as far as I can see it's based upon one report from Mike Reiss that our TE coach worked him out. That same report though, said that he had also worked out a number of other TEs so it wasn't specifically a Stowers thing. Unless Reiss was signalling something by deliberately referring to Stowers over those other TEs although I find that unlikely.

Anyway, here's where Stowers ranks.

Consensus - 48
Daniel Jeremiah - 66
The Beast - 63

He is TE 2 for both DJ and Brugler which tells me teams aren't going to wait the whole of round 2 without drafting him so the Consensus rank feels more realistic.

 

[Clonamery]

Kanak is barely 6'2. In fact, he supposedly was 6'1 7/8 at his Pro Day. He's also very raw. He's got 1 year of TE experience.

I wouldn't even consider Kanak unless the team is looking for a Special Teams Linebacker. Kanak is more of a Move TE than an in-line blocker, though he has shown willingness to block. He doesn't meet the "violent" player type as a TE the way that players like Kacmarek and others do.

They'd be better off looking at Dae'Quan Wright or Matthew Hibner if they missed on Delp rather than Kanak.

Y not both. Mismatches are mismatches. Kanak was a LB before the switch...he can handle physicality, he'll play special teams. He's worth considering late.