2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Riley Nowakowski (TE – Indiana)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at Indiana TE Riley Nowakowski.

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Riley Nowakowski

Riley Nowakowski (TE – Indiana)

6-foot-2 | 243 Pounds

Background

Played linebacker and running back in school before walking onto Wisconsin and redshirting the 2020 season as a linebacker. Appeared in two games the following year, then converted to fullback in 2022 and tight end in 2023, starting one of nine games. Was named a captain in 2024, with nine starts in twelve appearances and eleven receptions, then transferred to Indiana for the 2025 season and broke out with 32-387-2 (12.1) and two one-yard rushing touchdowns.

Positives

Relatively thickly built hybrid who worked his way from a walk-on to a starter, with experience at both tight end and fullback. Alignments and blocking responsibilities were pretty versatile, with some work in-line, some as an H-back, some out of the backfield, and some split out or in the slot. Gritty blocker with good physicality/competitiveness. Able to insert and crack opponents in the hole, or motion and engage backside pursuers. Shows good lower-body strength to hold the point of attack and wall off defenders, with a nice understanding of positioning. Works hard to sustain through the whistle, and his grip strength is very good overall. Smooth accelerator with adequate speed. Flashes the ability to use tempo as a route-runner, with pretty good footwork to release when he’s working against press coverage from the slot. Has a very reliable pair of hands, with just two career drops, both of which came back in 2023. Can use his strength to come down with contested catches. Also shows a bit of elusiveness and power with the ball in his hands after the catch, reflecting his background as a high-school running back.

Negatives

Spent six years in school, only one of which was highly productive, so he’s a bit overaged. Doesn’t have the biggest/longest frame for a pro tight end. Lack of length can inhibit his ability to sustain blocks, causing him to fall off, with some occasional waist-bending or balance issues. Has some grabby tendencies he was able to get away with in school, but will need to keep his hands inside to avoid penalties at the next level. Can struggle to work his way through traffic as a route-runner, and was primarily used as a safety valve/underneath option there. Doesn’t present the biggest target for his quarterback.

Summary

A bit of a difficult evaluation in that he’s got a shorter, squatter build than your typical tight end, but he impresses with his competitiveness and strength as a blocker, as well as the versatility with which he was employed this past season. He’s not the biggest or fastest receiver, but offers a reliable pair of hands and is actually a pretty good runner after the catch, too. Those traits should give him some mid-to-late-round looks as a valuable role player.

Projection: Round 5-6