2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Justin Joly (TE – North Carolina State)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at North Carolina State tight end Justin Joly.

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Justin Joly

Justin Joly (TE – North Carolina State)

6-foot-3 | 263 Pounds

Background

Justin Joly originally attended the University of Connecticut, where he recorded a line of 18-250-2 (13.9) as a true freshman (four starts) before leading the team with a 56-578-2 (10.3) line in 2023. Transferred to the Wolfpack, where he caught 43-661-4 (15.4) in 2024 and 49-489-7 (10.0) this past season.

Positives

Thickly built, productive three-year starter between two different programs. Has lined up in the slot for about half of his career snaps, but there’s a good amount of in-line/H-back work on tape as well. Engages with solid physicality and flashes pretty good competitiveness as a blocker to stick with his opponents through the whistle. Lower-body strength is impressive, allowing him to hold the point of attack.

Shows some feel for positioning to wall off opponents, and has above-average short-area quickness/agility to get to his landmarks. Can motion across the formation and crack backside pursuers, with what looks like good pop. A pretty smooth mover with adequate speed for the position; not a burner, but can run down the seams and force opponents to account for him.

Joly shows some suddenness and craft at the stems of his routes to create windows against man coverage, with a lot of stutter-steps against defenders sitting in off coverage. Flashes the ability to improvise and create opportunities for his quarterback when the play breaks down.

Catches the ball well away from his frame and has cut down on drops, from six in 2023 to three in 2024 to just one this past season. Body control is impressive, especially for a thicker tight end, and he can go up and get the ball. Shows good concentration and toughness to come down with contested catches. Saw his pass-protection role increase this past year, which suits his lower-body strength well.

Negatives

Height is on the lower end of what teams look for at the tight end position. Doesn’t create too much push as a blocker; more of a wall-off type than a people-mover. Would have liked to see a bit more consistent urgency when stalking. Seemed like he could have probably reached a few more blocks with better effort. Doesn’t always sustain as long as you’d like.

Was more dynamic as a junior, and passing-game usage this past season was more of a safety valve. Has also seen his effectiveness/elusiveness after the catch diminish almost every year. Could do a better job of using his size to box out opponents and prevent them from having a chance to make plays on the ball.

Summary

A thickly built tight end who has the lower-body strength and chippy temperament to wall off and mix things up with opponents in the run game, but who is also a relatively smooth mover with a reliable pair of hands in the passing game.

While he’s become a bit less dynamic over the course of his career, it wouldn’t be fair to describe him as a safety valve, either, since he has pretty natural receiving skills.

In a relatively weak skill-position class, it looks like his production and relatively well-rounded game could get him off the board in the mid rounds.

Projection: Round 4/Round 5