A “Too Early” Look at the 2026 NFL Tight End Class

The 2026 NFL Draft tight end class won’t be as deep as the last few years, featuring rookie sensations like Brock Bowers, but there are plenty of future starters to explore. Many in this group will need to define themselves during the 2025 NCAA season, but here’s a list of the top tight ends to keep an eye on as the season nears:

1. Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt)

Stowers might be the best of this class of tight ends. He’s got all the physical tools to be successful, and at 6'4", 225 pounds and with a 4.55-forty time, Stowers may be the most athletic of the bunch. 

Stowers has proven to have great hands and is quick off the snap. His size will give pro safeties problems, and with his speed, he can create separation. And if he gets the ball in the open field, Stowers is hard to catch and bring down. 

2. Max Klare (Ohio State)

Klare might earn the top spot in this class when all is said and done. The talented Purdue transfer excels in the passing game and should add immediately to the Buckeyes’ weaponry over the middle and down the seam.  

No doubt Klare will likely benefit from defenses doubling down to stop Ohio State’s talented receiving corps of Carnell Tate and freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith, but don’t sleep on Klare’s talent or impact on their offense. 

Klare is big and can run over people. He will contribute enough as a blocker to help in the run game, and he can line up on or off the ball. 

3. Joe Royer (Cincinnati)

Royer may not get the same play nationally than some of the other big name school prospects, but he’s in the mix to be the best tight end in this class. He has great hands, dominates on intermediate routes, and has a sizable catch radius that will make quarterbacks happy. 

What separates Royer is that he’s perhaps the best route runner of the bunch and won’t need to polish his play before leaping to the league. At 6-foot-5 and nearly 260 lbs, he’s one of the bigger tight ends in next year’s draft, but he still runs a 4.6-forty. With the right quarterback play this year and a strong NFL combine, Royer could be the first off the board from this group next April. 

4. Jack Endries (Texas)

Endries has one big advantage heading into 2025—quarterback Arch Manning. This could be a breakout season for the talented tight end and someone who might be a household name by the playoffs. 

Endries checks all the boxes. Size? Yes. Speed? Yes. Hands? Yes. He runs great routes and has a high football IQ that coaches and offensive coordinators will love during his one-on-one interviews. 

So, what’s the downside?

His blocking will need to improve if he wants to be a 3-down player at the next level, and teams will want to see how he plays as the featured tight end this year. If he can perform under the big lights in Texas, scouts will take notice. 

5. Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon)

At 6'3" and 245 pounds, Sadiq might be the fastest of next year’s tight end class. With dependable hands and a report 4.55-forty time, Sadiq is sure to be a day-two target for some needy team. 

He moves well, and with his giant catch radius, he can easily become some lucky quarterback’s favorite option on third downs and short, underneath routes. But his speed may make teams account for him with a safety and not an off-ball linebacker.