2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Max Klare (TE – Ohio State)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at Ohio State tight end Max Klare.

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Max Klare

Max Klare (TE – Ohio State)

6’5″ – 243 lbs.

Background

Three-star recruit who originally attended Purdue, redshirting after two appearances in 2022 and catching 22-196-0 (8.9) over five appearances (four starts) before sustaining a season-ending ankle injury in 2023. Came back to post his best season in 2024, with 51-685-4 (13.2), then transferred to Ohio State, where he put together a 43-448-2 (10.4) line in 2025.

Positives

Productive two-year starter for two different programs. Tall, with a strong build. Lines up all over the field, with a pretty even split between serving as a traditional inline tight end or H-Back and a slot receiver; also takes some snaps on the outside, usually to block for screens or run clearing routes. Shows an excellent level of effort and intensity as a blocker to work through the whistle, keeping his legs going to generate movement. Shows impressive extension and grip strength in the blocking game. Gets the pads clicking when he motions to crack a backside pursuer. Works hard to reach opponents as a stalker on the outside. A relatively smooth mover who has above-average speed for the position as a receiver and can work down the seams a bit. Handles physicality well to stay on track when running routes. Shows some hip sink into route stems. Able to improvise when the play breaks down. Catches the ball pretty well away from his frame, with a relatively sturdy pair of hands. Shows very good competitiveness, vision, and elusiveness, with above-average power as a runner after the catch. Also an effective salesman on delayed releases and play fakes.

Negatives

Build is strong, but not the thickest, and may be asked to gain a bit more bulk at the next level. Has some occasional issues with lowering his head or lunging into blocks, which can prevent him from successfully sustaining after contact. Wasn’t retained much in pass protection over the course of his career. Targets primarily came as a safety valve underneath the defense, rather than as a truly dynamic option down the field, and wasn’t really a consistently prominent part of the passing game on a week-to-week basis. Doesn’t have the most burst/explosiveness/flexibility out of his breaks as a route-runner, so even though he’s getting low into the stem, can struggle to create separation against man.

Summary

With over two years of starting experience between his time with the Boilermakers and with the Buckeyes, has established himself as a high-intensity blocker and reliable safety valve in the passing game, offering better speed and run-after-catch skills than usual. While he isn’t the thickest tight end and wasn’t always the most high-volume or dynamic target in the passing game, his ability to do everything reasonably well should allow him to carve out a nice career in the league as a jack-of-all-trades type. Looks like he could be one of the first handful of guys off the board at his position, possibly as early as the late second day.

Projection: Round 3-4