Top Tight Ends – 2026 NFL Draft Preseason Watch List

John B. Everett
Aug 11
6 min read

Updated: Aug 15

The 2025 NFL Draft offered one of the best and deepest groups of TEs to enter the league in memory as Colston Loveland (Chicago) and Tyler Warren (Indianapolis) were selected in the first round and twelve were drafted across seven rounds. The prospective top TEs available for next April’s draft may not offer a single player who grades out as a first-round pick. But several prospects look like eventual NFL starters or at least as quality backup TEs.

Top of the Class

1. Max Klare / Ohio State

After toiling for one of the worst teams in the FBS (Purdue) over the last two seasons, Klare entered the transfer portal and jumped at the chance to join the defending national champions. Klare looks the part of the modern-day NFL TE – good height (6’4”), ideal frame, large wingspan, and acceptable mass (236 lbs) with the room to put on more size without losing athleticism. Very good athlete with surprising agility and fluidity to create separation against LBs and safeties. Klare finished the 2024 season with 51 receptions / 685 yds (13.4 YPR) / 4 TDs and should be able to better those numbers on a loaded Buckeye offense.

2. Eli Stowers / Vanderbilt

Stowers originally declared for the 2025 draft and had earned a third-round grade from SNS before deciding to return to Nashville for his senior season. Stowers needs to continue to work on his blocking technique but his receiving skills are what makes him a prospect destined to play on Sundays. Stowers had a solid junior season, going for 49 receptions / 638 yds (13 YPR) / 5 TDs for the Birmingham Bowl champions. Stowers possesses the desired height (6’4”), length, and mass (235 lbs) for an NFL TE and is a good athlete with natural hands who should excel over the middle of the field in the NFL. Stowers is QB Diego Pavia’s favorite target and could work himself into first-round consideration next spring with another good campaign for the Commodores.

3. Oscar Delp / Georgia

Delp succeeded Pro Bowl TE Brock Bowers (Las Vegas) as Georgia’s starting TE but still splits time with fellow prospect, Lawson Luckie. Delp looks the part with the desired height (6’5”), mass (245 lbs), length, and long arms. Delp is a well-rounded prospect with good hands and quality in-line blocking skills. He offers a steady and reliable option over the middle of the field but is not the athlete that Bowers is and does not provide explosive qualities with the ball in space. Delp looks like an eventual NFL starter and is worthy of a midround draft pick.

4. Jack Endries / Texas

After proving to be California’s most reliable and consistent receiving option over the previous two seasons (91 receptions / 1,031 yds (11.3 YPR) / 4 TDs), Endries transferred to Texas and is expected to take over as the Longhorns’ starting TE. Endries has good size (6’4” / 240 lbs) and is a quality route runner with soft hands. Endries needs to improve his playing strength to become a better in-line blocker but he provides Arch Manning with a safety blanket over the middle of the field.

Other Names to Monitor:

· Justin Joly / North Carolina State. Joly possesses average height (6’3”), solid mass (251 lbs), and a large catch radius. Caught 43 receptions / 661 yds (15.4 YPR) / 4 TDs last season. Rarely lines up as an in-line blocker instead usually being split out or in the slot. Very good hands. Smooth route runner who creates mismatches due to his athleticism but needs to develop as a blocker or be passed over by the NFL despite his receiving ability.

· Matt Lauter / Boise State. A rapidly ascending talent, Lauter has adequate height (6’3”), large frame, and acceptable mass (240 lbs) with a sizeable catch radius. Lauter provided QB Maddux Madsen with a quality target last season making 47 receptions / 619 yds (13.2 YPR) / 7 TDs last season. Athletic with light feet and loose hips, Lauter covers ground easily. Reliable hands catcher. Runs with good power after the catch. Still developing as an in-line blocker, Lauter could be a Top 100 pick next April with another solid season.

· Sam Roush / Stanford. Roush is a quality NFL prospect stuck on a poor team with uncertainty at QB, an interim coaching staff, and no other NFL-caliber position talent to distract defenses from focusing on the Cardinal TE. Roush looks the part with NFL height (6’5”), frame, length, and mass (260 lbs). Runs and works intermediate zones well but has limited YAC production. In 2024, Roush had 40 receptions / 334 yds (8.4 YPR) / 2 TDs. Very good hands and concentration – can take a hit and hold on to the ball and has the toughness to thrive in the NFL.

· Lake McCree / USC. Prototypical size (6’4” / 250 lbs), build, and length for a classic Y-TE. Missed significant time in 2023 and 2024 with a severe knee injury and passing an NFL physical may be his greatest challenge. Very good release off the LOS – shoots out low and initiates contact. Effective in run support – competitive blocker. Good hands with a large catch radius. Sinks hips and creates separation out of breaks. Minimal production due to injuries – 50 receptions / 507 yds (10.1 YPR) / 2 TDs combined over the last two seasons. Needs a season of full health to get an opportunity in the NFL.

· Kenny Fletcher / Rutgers. Another prospect who needs a healthy season, Fletcher is a dangerous weapon over the middle of the field but needs to get stronger, he is a competitive blocker who gives good effort and drives legs – lacks power and does not get much movement in the run game. Fletcher is slightly undersized, lacking some desired height (6’3”), length, and mass – looks like a big WR. Explosive off the LOS. Hands are good but he suffers from concentration drops. Made 20 receptions / 137 yds (6.8 YPR) / 2 TDs last season. Very athletic with good speed and agility – difficult match-up for most LBs in coverage. Could rapidly ascend draft rankings with a quality senior season.

· RJ Maryland / SMU. Maryland is the son of former NFL top pick, Russell (first overall pick, Dallas, 1991). Ideal height (6’4”) and reach for an in-line TE. Good athlete. Smooth – accelerates into and out of breaks easily. Snags the ball cleanly out of the air. Good balance and body control near the sideline. Deceptive deep speed and can threaten the seam of a defense. Went for 24 receptions / 359 yds (15 YPR) / 4 TDs in 2024 before injuring his leg on October 22 and missed the remainder of the season. Maryland needs to improve his playing strength to improve his ability as a run blocker.

· Chamon Metayer / Arizona State. Metayer began his career at Cincinnati before heading to Colorado and then transferring to Arizona State after one season in Boulder. He possesses an ideal frame and length (6’4”) with quality mass (255 lbs). Very good YAC ability – runs with power and very good pad level. Very good speed for his size. Suffers from concentration drops in traffic and is not nearly as consistent as he needs to be. Quality in-line blocker. Finished 2024 with 32 receptions / 306 yds (9/6 YPR) / 5 TDs.

· Tanner Koziol / Houston. A much sought after prospect once he entered the portal, Koziol spent a few months at Wisconsin before re-entering the portal and transferring to Houston. Koziol had a breakout season last year at Ball State, making 94 receptions / 839 yds (8.9 YPR) / 8 TDs. Koziol has great length (6’7”) with a huge catch radius. Although he lacks some desired size, weighing in at 240 lbs, his athleticism, reach, and hands makes him an enticing target near the end zone.