Bird's Eye View - TE Position Report
- John B. Everett
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
Although there is only one elite talent in this TE class (Kenyon Sadiq / Oregon), the top of the class has excellent depth – the next dozen or so prospects have earned second or third round grades – and looks like it will be one of the best TE drafts in the last decade. This class has some intriguing athletic talents with quality college production – Sadiq, Eli Stowers / Vanderbilt, and RJ Maryland / SMU – and is loaded with prototypical NFL TEs who combine playmaking ability with blocking ability needed to support an NFL rushing attack. Future starting TEs are likely to be found in all seven rounds and amongst a loaded UDFA class. Any NFL team requiring a TE, whether it be a receiving TE, blocking TE, or combo TE, will find a good selection of future starters and major contributors to choose from.
Position Grade – A-
SNS utilizes a tier system to break the log jam that typically forms during the evaluation and stacking/ranking of prospects in a position group. Tier I prospects are franchise players whose combination of measureables, athleticism, and college production warrant a high first-round draft pick. Tier II prospects are future starters who should at a minimum be solid contributors as rookies next year. Tier III prospects are players with starter traits but need additional development before they can be reliable starters. Tier IV prospects are marginal NFL prospects who are never likely to become starters, will need to prove themselves on special teams, and are likely to be battling for one of the final spots on a 53-man roster or practice squad.
*Measurements are taken by 1/8ths. Example: 6004 is 6 feet and ½”
Tier I
One prospect – Kenyon Sadiq / Oregon
Sadiq may be the most athletically-gifted TE to enter the NFL…ever. Just look at what he did at the NFL Scouting Combine at the end of February – measuring in at 6031 / 241 lbs / 10” Hands / 31.4” Arms – and then posting some absurd numbers including a combine-record (for TE) 4.39 40 / 43.5” vertical (2nd all-time) / 11’1” broad (2nd all-time) / 26 reps (225 lbs). Only Georgia TE Brock Bowers has been a higher-ranked TE prospect in SNS’ history. Sadiq is more than just a great receiving threat. He is a quality in-line Y-TE who is a fierce blocker and a complete, well-rounded TE. Sadiq looks like a top ten selection and will push for the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Rare talent who may redefine the position in the coming years in the NFL.
Tier II
Eleven prospects – Max Klare / Ohio State, Michael Trigg / Baylor, Justin Joly / North Carolina State, Eli Stowers / Vanderbilt, Tanner Koziol / Houston, Jack Endries / Texas, Bauer Sharp / LSU, Sam Roush / Stanford, Josh Cuevas / Alabama, DJ Rogers / TCU, Dae’Quan Wright / Ole Miss
Klare – A transfer from Purdue, Klare took a bit of time to get acclimated to the Buckeyes’ offense last season but by the end of the year, he was an absolute stud who opposing teams had to game plan for. Klare will never be a dominating in-line Y-TE but he has the size and strength to hold his own on the line and flourishes as a receiver over the middle of the field. Klare is a likely second-round pick next month.
Trigg – From a measurement stand point, Trigg won the combine as soon as he stood on the scale. Trigg measured in at 6036 / 240 lbs / 10.4” Hands / 34.2” Arms / 84.6” Wingspan. Trigg has the length desired in an OT but moves smoothly on the field like an oversized WR. Trigg also has some of the best game film of any TE in this draft. Trigg will likely be selected late on day two of the draft in Pittsburgh.
Joly – Joly has been on NFL radars for the last three seasons because of his athleticism and speed in the open field and his ability to be a mismatch piece who is too much for LBs or safeties to handle in man coverage. And though blocking will never be his forte, his strength and technique have improved to the point where he projects as an eventual starting NFL TE. Joly should be off the board in the first 125 picks next month.
Stowers – The combine record-holder in the vertical and broad jumps (45.5” and 11’3”, respectively), Stowers is the ultimate mismatch piece in space who is too athletic, explosive, and fast for LBs or safeties to handle and too big (6036 / 239 lbs / 32.5” Arms) for CBs. Stowers is a poor and disinterested blocker and that will likely limit him to sub-packages as an H-back or slot receiver. But Stowers’ receiving skill and speed (4.51 40) will keep him in the NFL for years. Expect Stowers to be drafted in the third or fourth round in April.
Koziol – Koziol is a large target with a massive catch radius (6065 / 247 lbs / 33.6” Arms) who excels as an intermediary target in the middle of the field – Koziol has recorded 168 receptions over the last two seasons at Ball State and Houston. Koziol offers little as an in-line blocker and is a likely sub-package receiving specialist early in his NFL career. Koziol looks like a day three pick in Pittsburgh.
Endries – Endries followed up a great season in 2024 at California with a solid season last year at Texas and looks like a complete TE who will become an eventual starter in the NFL. Endries has the desired size (6050 / 245 lbs / 31.1” Arms) with the athleticism NFL teams want in their starting TE – Endries recorded a 4.62 40 and posted a 36” vertical and a 9’11” broad jump at the combine. Endries is a likely fourth or fifth round draft pick.
Sharp – Sharp is a quickly ascending talent who really came on in the second half of last season in Baton Rouge. Sharp has the size NFL teams covet (6041 / 249 lbs / 31.6” Arms) and is a sneaky good athlete who profiles as a high-end number two TE early in his career – 4.63 40 / 35” Vertical / 10’0” Broad / 20 reps (225 lbs) with starting potential before his rookie contract expires. Sharp looks like a fourth or fifth round pick next month.
Roush – Roush is a premium-sized TE (6055 / 267 lbs / 10” Hands / 30.5” Arms / 76.3” Wingspan) who is one of the best blocking TEs in the nation but he was one of the slowest-timed TEs at the combine (4.70 40). Roush’s hands are inconsistent – Roush dropped seven passes last season – but his physical profile makes him an ideal number two TE that will improve a team’s running game. Roush looks like a fifth or sixth round pick in April.
Cuevas – Cuevas (6033 / 245 lbs / 30.5” Arms) looks like a long-term NFL TE with starting potential. He is a well-rounded TE who is a quality run blocker when lined up as a Y-TE and flashes as a runner after the catch. Cuevas broke his foot late last year and his medical evaluation will impact his draft status next month.
Rogers – Rogers is a complete TE with starting potential in the NFL within the next couple of seasons. Rogers (6040 / 258 lbs / 33.5” Arms) possesses the desired size and athleticism to be an immediate contributor and be developed as a starter a season or two from now. Rogers looks like a fifth or sixth round pick.
Wright – Clearly a better receiver than blocker, Wright has explosive qualities with the ball in space although he needs to improve his concentration and cut down on dropped passes. Wright needs to give better effort while blocking but shows promise as an in-line Y-TE. Wright looks like a day three pick next month.
Tier III
Eight prospects – Jaran Kanak / Oklahoma, Oscar Delp / Georgia, Riley Nowakowski / Indiana, Dallen Bentley / Utah, Eli Raridon / Notre Dame, Nate Boerkircher / Texas A&M, Marlin Klein / Michigan, Matthew Hibner / SMU
Kanak – A former LB with over 100 career tackles, Kanak (6017 / 234 lbs / 30.4” Arms) had an outstanding day at the combine back in February where he recorded a 4.52 40 and recorded a 36” vertical and a 9’11” broad jump, indicative of explosiveness and suddenness. Kanak profiles as an H-back / FB who should provide quality depth and be a special teams force in the NFL. Kanak looks like a day three pick in April.
Delp – One of the top TEs in the nation coming out of high school, Delp waited his turn behind Brock Bowers and then split time with Lawson Luckie, who was primarily the receiving TE while Delp was used more in pass protection. Delp (6050 / 245 lbs / 31.5” Arms) is a quality in-line blocker with an underutilized athleticism with the ball in space. Delp could be a significantly better pro than college player. Delp looks like a day three pick next month.
Nowakowski – Nowakowski (6020 / 250 lbs / 31.4” Arms) is getting a lot of buzz as a FB/H-back prospect who brings a nasty disposition to blocking and a developing game as receiver. Nowakowski will push for a roster spot this fall as a team’s number three TE and core special teams performer.
Bentley – Bentley (6033 / 253 lbs / 33.1” Arms) is underdeveloped as a blocker but he gives outstanding effort and is competent and competitive run blocker. Bentley knows how to utilize his size to his advantage and is a threat with the ball after the catch. Bentley looks like a late round pick with starting potential.
Raridon – Raridon’s combination of size, athleticism, and untapped upside makes him an intriguing mid-round developmental pick with starting potential.
Boerkircher – Boerkircher (6055 / 245 lbs / 10.4” Hands / 32.5” Arms) looks the part with the size and athleticism desired in TEs. He just needs to become more consistent to earn a job on an NFL team’s two-deep roster. Boerkircher looks like a late day three pick.
Klein – Klein, a German-native, has an ideal frame and build for an in-line Y-TE (6060 / 248 / 33.3” Arms). Klein is still relatively inexperienced but he displays good hands, is a powerful runner after the catch, and is an improving blocker. Klein may not be ready to contribute his rookie season but he has starting potential with continued development.
Hibner – SMU probably had the best TE room in college football over the past two seasons with Hibner and teammate RJ Maryland forming a productive duo in Dallas. Hibner (6040 / 251 / 32.3” Arms) is the more complete of the two TEs as he lines up as the Y-TE and is a quality run blocker up front. Hibner ran a great 40 time (4.57) and posted solid jumping totals (37” vertical / 9’8” broad), indicative of his sneaky athleticism. Hibner looks like a quality number two TE who could become a reliable starter within the next few seasons.
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