It’s that time again. Dynasty rookie fever SZN is here. The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now rookie drafts are flying off the shelf. Before you dive headfirst into our fantasy football mock draft simulator and run 3,000 rookie drafts in preparation, please read up on this talented prospect class as I roll through my quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end positional primers.
Make sure to also check out our expert consensus dynasty rookie draft rankings as you prepare for your leagues.
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Dynasty Rookie Draft Primer: Tight Ends
Here is my dynasty rookie draft primer for tight ends, including my stats, my scouting report, and player comp. Enjoy.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 1
Eli Stowers (TE – PHI)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 3rd
- PFF Receiving Grade: 6th
- MTF: 9th
- YAC: 2nd
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 9th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 6th
- MTF: 5th
- YAC: 7th
- 66.4-72.2% of his snaps from the slot over the last two seasons
Scouting Report:
- The big question for Eli Stowers is how much his blocking will hinder him as a full-time player in the NFL. With the NFL moving toward higher usage of 12/13 personnel, is Stowers a player whose receiving ability forces teams to feature him in an every-down role, or will he be capped as a 50-60% route per dropback player?
- Stowers can function as a passable inline blocking option currently, but his technique has to improve in the NFL. He won’t be a player that an offensive coordinator is expecting to operate as a pulling or lead blocker in the run game, or someone who is holding a pass rusher at bay for 4-5 seconds on a passing play.
- Stowers plays through contact during routes well and in contested catch situations. He has smooth hips and change-of-direction ability. He has the speed to threaten a defense down the seam while also flashing good ball tracking.
- Stowers flashes high-end route-running chops at times, but he has to improve his play-to-play consistency in this realm. With some routes, you’ll see the route nuance with jab steps, taking advantage of a defender’s leverage, and sharp footwork at the top of a stem, but he’ll also string together plays where the salesmanship is lacking and inefficient footwork at the top of his stem, where defenders are in his back pocket.
- Stowers has to continue to improve his release package, hand-fighting and route running if he’s going to be an option as a mismatch weapon on the perimeter. He can get open against physical zone coverage when dealing with defenders with built-up steam, but corners pressing him at the line can hang him up. Stowers has the athleticism and play strength to improve in this area, but it’s growth that will need to take place in the NFL to actualize his true ceiling.
Player Comp: Oronde Gadsden II
Dynasty Outlook: The Eagles drafted Eli Stowers in the second round of the NFL Draft wth the 54th overall pick. He is the heir apparent to Dallas Goedert, who is back with the team on a one-year deal. Stowers, with this landing spot and strong draft capital, has vaulted to my TE1 in rookie drafts. I’ll look to draft him at the back end of the first round in all formats.
Kenyon Sadiq (TE – NYJ)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 41st
- PFF Receiving Grade: 48th
- MTF (Missed Tackles Forced): 12th
- YAC (Yards After the Catch): 17th
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 14th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 18th
- MTF: 14th
- YAC: 23rd
- 43.1-58.5% slot usage over the last two seasons
Scouting Report:
- Kenyon Sadiq should be a full-time starter for an NFL team from the jump. Not only does he deliver upside as a receiver, but Sadiq is a difference-maker as a blocker. Sadiq can hold his area of grass with a strong anchor and high motor. Sadiq was also utilized as an edge-setting blocker and lead option with the running game for the backs and quarterback-designed runs.
- Sadiq has fluid hips that allow him to uncover at the top of his stems quickly. He has to improve his route running with the footwork at the top of his stems and his salesmanship during his routes. That isn’t to say that Sadiq is a bad route runner. That’s definitely not the case. He has the raw speed to easily pull away from corners during routes and up the seam.
- Sadiq flashes good ball tracking with downfield seam routes and impressive body control in the air. He has the play strength and above-the-rim skills that play well at the catch point and in the red zone. Sadiq’s catch radius is massive, with the skills to adjust to targets thrown low and behind him.
- Sadiq can operate as a dump-and-run option for an NFL passing attack with the ability to create yards after the catch. Sadiq can break tackles in the open field with strong contact balance and a thick lower half, which is great because he isn’t the twitchiest player with the ball in his hands.
- Sadiq can snap off a decent whip route, but it won’t blow you out of your shoes. The lack of suddenness in some of his change of direction and route running can improve as he hones his skills as a technician. He has the raw athleticism to improve.
Player Comp: Vernon Davis
Dynasty Outlook: Well, this sucks. This landing spot for Kenyon Sadiq was nightmare fuel. He lands with the Jets, where he could push for the second spot on the target hierarchy, but he’s more likely fighting for scraps as the third or fourth option for the passing attack in 2026. The Jets already have a competent in-line tight end option with their second-round selection last year in Mason Taylor. Sadiq looks like the move piece for this passing attack and easily could see Isaiah Likely type usage where he’s a better weapon for the Jets than an option for us in dynasty and fantasy circles. It’s fair to wonder how many weapons Geno Smith can support in 2026, what the Jets quarterback situation and coaching staff look like in 2027, and what Sadiq’s route and snap shares look like for 2026. This all leaves him as a player whose stock was crushed badly by this landing spot. He’s an option in rookie drafts in the late first round that I’m probably bypassing and looking to trade for during the 2026 season or after it. I don’t see his stock improving in the 2026 season, so he’ll likely be cheaper during the season or after it than he will be during rookie draft season.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 2
Oscar Delp (TE – NO)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 78th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 107th
- MTF: Zero
- YAC/Reception: 10th
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 87th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 86th
- MTF: 57th
- YAC/Reception: 23rd
- 2025: 73.9% inline
Scouting Report:
- Oscar Delp is an athletic freak with a 4.49 40-yard dash, a 96th percentile vertical jump and a 96th percentile broad jump. He’s a fluid athlete whose speed immediately jumps off the film. Delp has the raw speed to house call any screen pass. Delp’s 2025 season was impressive, especially considering that he played the entire year with a hairline fracture in his foot. He didn’t go through combine drills as the fracture was discovered during a routine X-ray leading up to the combine.
- Delp is a ball of clay who could develop into a top-shelf tight end in the NFL. He’s at his best when operating against zone coverage and as a dump-and-run tight end right now. Delp has to continue to develop his release package and route-running chops if he’s going to hit his ceiling as a player, but he has the raw talent to do so. He was heavily utilized on seam shots, flats and crossers, which made up 70.3% of his route tree in 2025.
- Delp can chew up yards after the catch. He ranked 10th and 23rd in yards after the catch per reception over the last two seasons. He’s not a tackle-breaking behemoth, but that’s not to say he could develop into a better one with his athletic traits. Delp forced only nine missed tackles in college (94 targets). Delp relies upon his immediate and lightning-quick speed to produce YAC at this juncture.
- Delp could easily put on another 10 pounds to his frame and likely not compromise his speed and fluidity. He displays good body control in the air with fluid hips to adjust to targets behind him and easily convert into a runner without losing a beat.
- Delp also has to clean up his blocking technique. He has a solid first punch but doesn’t sustain his blocks. He has the lateral agility and lower body strength to recover during the play when initially beaten. He has the physical talent to become at least a league-average blocker. I will say, though, he is more consistent as a run blocker. He can displace defenders when needed, but during many reps, he’s simply locking down his patch of grass.
Player Comp: Jared Cook
Dynasty Outlook: Whoa, baby! We are off to the races. The Saints drafted Oscar Delp in the third round of the NFL Draft. Delp could have a quiet rookie year behind Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant, but I expect him to walk into 2027 with a shot to be the team’s starting tight end. Fant is on a two-year deal that is basically a puffed-up one-year deal. Johnson is entering his age-30 season and is a free agent after the 2027 season. The runway could clear quickly for Delp. I want to bet on his upside in the second round of rookie drafts.
Eli Raridon (TE – NE)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 11th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 39th
- MTF: 27th
- YAC/Reception: 64th
- 47.9% slot/46.4% inline
Scouting Report:
- Eli Raridon’s medicals will lead many conversations. He has torn his right ACL twice (2021, 2022). The knee was sound this season as he was immensely productive and tested well. He has a 4.62 40-yard dash time with an 81st percentile vertical jump and an 88th percentile broad jump.
- Raridon has immediate juice with the ball in his hands. He isn’t a monstrous tackle breaker, but he can slip the loose wrap or run through a player attacking at an off-angle. He does have the ability to create with his lateral agility in space to earn a few more yards.
- Raridon’s footwork and suddenness in his route breaks need to continue to improve. He can operate well right now against zone coverage, but he needs to improve his route nuance and in-route footwork if he wants to hit his ceiling in the NFL.
- Raridon can get deep with seam shots (13% go in 2025) and the occasional post (5.2% of his routes in 2025). He displays good ball tracking.
- Raridon has fluid body control and play strength at the catch point. With only nine contested targets in college, he secured 66.7% of them. He works through physical coverage well with good late separation.
- Raridon’s play strength shows up in his blocking. He holds up well in pass protection, sustaining his blocks well. He will occasionally drive a defender into the dirt. He’s tenacious. Raridon looks comfortable climbing into the second level when uncovered.
Player Comp: Tyler Higbee
Dynasty Outlook: Eli Raridon arrives in New England after getting drafted in the third round. He has a shot to be the immediate TE2 on the roster behind only Hunter Henry, with only Julian Hill and CJ Dippre as his main competition. Hunter Henry is a free agent after the 2026 season, so the runway is clear for Raridon to get substantial playing time in 2026 and walk into 2027 as the team’s unquestioned starter. I’ll be drafting him heavily in the second round of rookie dynasty drafts.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 3
Max Klare (TE – LAR)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 52nd
- PFF Receiving Grade: 61st
- MTF: 43rd
- YAC: 27th
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 11th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 8th
- MTF: 23rd
- YAC: 11th
Scouting Report:
- Max Klare can operate as a dump-and-run option for a passing attack. He isn’t a missed tackles forced maven, but he can power through weak wraps and create off-angle attempts. Klare can throttle down and sink his hips with comebacks and curls. I don’t know if he has the upside to become the number two option in an NFL passing attack, but he could easily function as a solid number three or stellar fourth.
- Klare has fluid movement skills with good change of direction and the raw speed to threaten down the seam when he’s asked to do so. He flashes solid body control with targets outside of his frame and can win the catch point battle with a 57.9% contested catch rate in college.
- Klare’s best work is against zone coverage. He was utilized heavily as an underneath receiving option with 57.8% of his routes being hitches, flats or crossers. A whipping 69.1% of his targets game within nine yards of the line of scrimmage or behind it.
- Klare struggles with physicality in his routes. Physical defenders who can run with him can present a problem. He lacks the extra juice or route nuance to shake free from physical coverage.
- Klare is a competent blocker. He was utilized as a puller by Ohio State, which wasn’t amazing in many spots, but he has the functional play strength to do so. He doesn’t play with consistent pad level with blocking, though. Defenders can get the best of him at times and upend him.
Player Comp: Greg Dulcich
Dynasty Outlook: Klare was drafted by the Rams in the second round of the NFL Draft. He’s the clear TE4 for them this year behind Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, and Terrence Ferguson. The path to relevance gets easier next year with Higbee and Parkinson hitting free agency, but he will still have to contend with Ferguson for the starting job. Ferguson had the better production profile in college and is more athletic. If I’m betting on one of the two of them, it’s Ferguson. That doesn’t mean that Klare isn’t worth drafting in the late second/early third round of rookie drafts. I easily could be wrong, and Klare beats out Ferguson for the job in 2027.
Matthew Hibner (TE – BAL)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 65th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 104th
- YAC/Reception: 27th
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 50th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 103rd
- YAC/Reception: 4th
Scouting Report:
- Matthew Hibner has a solid set of mitts. Over the last two years, he has had a 56.2% contested catch rate. He’ll lose a few at the point of contract, but he has the athleticism to continue to grow in the area. Hibner dropped only two of his collegiate targets, and both were of the concentration variety.
- Hibner has a 9.25 relative athletic score (RAS score), a 94th percentile vertical jump, a 4.57 40-yard dash time and a 72nd percentile shuttle. His big-time athleticism shows up on his film. He was 27th and fourth in YAC/reception over the last two years.
- Hibner isn’t a mauler after the catch, but he has the speed to outrun defenders in the open field, on crossing routes and up the seam. He’s a legit vertical threat down the seam and on deep over routes. I question how high his target earning ceiling is, but he should post nice per-route metrics in the NFL, as he’ll get chunk plays when he is targeted.
- Hibner is a linear athlete. You won’t see many players where Hibner is juking someone out, but he can easily burn them to the sideline and scorch them.
- Hibner has fluid hips and the ability to adjust in the air and to targets outside of his frame.
- Hibner has a good initial punch as a blocker. He’s tenacious. He’ll re-establish his feet during a snap with a good second effort. He will dip his head and lunch at defenders. He’ll get crushed in the NFL if he doesn’t get out of his habit.
Player Comp: David Njoku
Dynasty Outlook: I’m officially a part of the Hibner hive. Hibner landed with Baltimore in round 4 of the NFL Draft. He easily could be the TE2 on the roster by the end of the 2026 season, with only Durham Smythe to beat out for the spot behind Mark Andrews. Andrews could be gone after the 2027 season, and Hibner could be the team’s every-down starter. With his athleticism and field-stretching ability, he has pretty big upside. I’ll be drafting him in the early third round of rookie drafts.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 4
Tanner Koziol (TE – JAC)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 8th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 3rd
- YAC/Reception: 127th
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 15th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 5th
- 2025: 50.9% slot (7.6% out wide)
Scouting Report:
- Tanner Koziol is a tall drink of water. His thinner frame doesn’t impact him from a physicality standpoint. He’s a dependable blocker in both the run and passing games. Koziol can set the edge, operate as a lead pulling blocker and hold up with strong hands and good anchor in pass protection.
- Koziol has smooth hips and good bend in his routes. He uncovers quickly and is physical through his routes. He has soft, dependable hands and is a ball winner at the catch point. He finished college with a 2.6% drop rate in his final season and a 61.3% contested catch rate overall.
- Koziol’s biggest limiting factor as a player, as far as his ceiling goes, is that he isn’t an explosive mover. He doesn’t have the raw speed or explosive lateral agility to line up on the perimeter or be asked to operate as a man coverage beater. He’ll be at his best against zone coverage and linebackers/nickels in coverage.
- Koziol isn’t a rugged YAC player. He can generate YAC, but his lanky size allows him to get cut down by defenders easily. He forced only two missed tackles in his final collegiate season.
Player Comp: Cade Otton
Dynasty Outlook: Koziol’s analytical profile is better than his fifth-round NFL draft capital that landed him with the Jaguars. He profiles as the receiving part of the tandem that Jacksonville drafted this year while selecting Nate Boerkircher (round 2). I’ll draft Koziol in the fourth round of rookie drafts where I’m thin at tight end. Brenton Srange is a free agent after the 2026 season. Koziol could compete for the starting job in 2027.
Marlin Klein (TE – HOU)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 45th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 71st
Scouting Report:
- Marlin Klein spent 53.8% of his snaps in 2025 inline (38.6% in the slot). He has decent burst off the line. Klein will flash solid route salesmanship with in-breakers and out and ups. He has to continue to hone his game against zone coverage. He’ll drift with his routes at times and lack spatial awareness.
- Klein isn’t a beast after the catch. He had only 5.5 yards after the catch per reception in 2025 while forcing only one missed tackle in college.
- Klein’s athletic limitations show up when he’s asked to adjust to targets outside of his frame. He has a hard time gearing down with routes breaking back toward the quarterback. He’s a linear player, which will likely limit his usage and versatility in the NFL.
- Klein can hold his own as a pass protector and as a combo block and chip option. I wouldn’t suggest an NFL team line him up against an EDGE rusher 1-on-1 in his rookie season, though. Those are battles that he isn’t likely to win consistently. He does keep a strong base and solid punch, so there’s upside here with Klein as a blocker.
Player Comp: Jared Wiley
Dynasty Outlook: Klein was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. I’m not overwhelmed by any part of Klein’s game, but the draft capital married with the fact that Dalton Schultz is a free agent after the 2027 season makes him a decent fourth-round rookie draft dart.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 5
Seydou Traore (TE – MIA)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 113th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 96th
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 76th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 100th
Scouting Report:
- Seydou Traore is a top-shelf athlete. He had a 9.42 RAS score while running a 4.59 40-yard dash. He also managed a 40-inch vertical jump (99th percentile), a 10-foot-7-inch broad jump (98th percentile) and a 4.25 shuttle (89th percentile).
- Traore was utilized in the slot with 49.9-51% of his snaps in his final two seasons in college coming from the slot.
- Traore’s speed immediately jumps off the page. He has a wonderful burst off the line (93rd percentile 10-yard split) as he moves like a big wide receiver. His fluidity during his routes is quite nice, with subtle changes of direction without losing much speed (if any).
- Traore has the raw speed and second gear to be a field-stretching option at tight end up the seam. The quarterback play he had to deal with in 2025 left so many big plays on the field with poor ball placement and accuracy. Traore was open on plenty of seam routes and slot fades, and the quarterback would brain-fart and air-mail him.
- Traore’s play strength issues crop up at the catch point. He can get bullied at the catch point by linebackers and corners. He has the play strength to improve (25 bench reps) in this area, but right now it’s subpar. He finished college with a 40% contested catch rate across his final two seasons. He can easily add another 10 pounds to his frame in the NFL to help alleviate the play strength concerns.
- Blocking is an adventure for Traore at this juncture. He’ll drop his eyes and pad level at times and lunge at defenders at the attack point. He’s late to diagnose free rushers at times, especially interior pressure. He can get easily turned around and redirected by power/speed off the edge. He’s a better run blocker at this juncture. In that realm, Traore has solid leg drive and sustain as a puller or edge setter.
Player Comp: Chigoziem Okonkwo
Dynasty Outlook: The Dolphins drafted Traore in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Greg Dulcich is a free agent after this season. Traore could be the heir apparent to the receiving/move tight end role in this passing offense for the 2027 season. Traore is a solid fourth-round rookie draft dart.
Sam Roush (TE – CHI)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 56th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 122nd
- YAC: 7th
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 93rd
- PFF Receiving Grade: 100th
- 58.5% inline during his collegiate career
Scouting Report:
- Sam Roush is a fluid mover without the high-end athleticism to take his game to the top-shelf level. He has solid footwork off the line and at the top of the stem to earn separation, but he lacks top-end speed to threaten the seam or explode with the ball in his hands.
- Roush has functional strength limitations that show up in his blocking. He is a tenacious, high-effort blocker, but he can get blown back by powerful defenders. He’s best utilized when asking him to combo block with a lineman or chipping before he gets into his route.
- Roush isn’t a dynamic YAC threat with only 5.3 yards after the catch per reception in his collegiate career, and only three missed tackles in his final season.
Player Comp: Charlie Kolar
Dynasty Outlook: The Bears surprisingly pulled the trigger and drafted Roush in the third round of the NFL Draft. Colston Loveland isn’t going anywhere. Cole Kmet isn’t a free agent until 2028, but Chicago could cut him after the 2026 season and save a little over 4 million against the cap. Roush is a decent fourth-round rookie dart, but this feels like the dollar store version of Isiah Likely’s situation previously with Baltimore. Roush could just be a decent TE2 for Chicago when they feature 12 personnel and nothing more.
Justin Joly (TE – DEN)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 27th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 14th
- MTF: 27th
- YAC: 48th
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 22nd
- PFF Receiving Grade: 28th
- MTF: 6th
- YAC: 22nd
- Career high 45% inline last year (47.4% slot)
Scouting Report:
- Justin Joly has a thick and muscular build. He plays with impressive physicality in all facets of the game, from his inline blocking to his YAC ability. Joly isn’t a burner, likely running in the 4.7/4.8 range for the 40-yard dash. He entered college as a wide receiver prospect and converted to tight end.
- Joly is a dump-and-run tight end best operating underneath against zone coverage. He has the route nuance to stretch the seam, but it is more selective. Joly’s lateral agility helps him separate on slants and outs, but his middling raw speed allows speedy defenders to regain their footing during the rest of the route.
- Joly can create with the ball in his hands due to his tackle-breaking ability, with 46 missed tackles forced in his four-year collegiate career. His lack of top-shelf raw speed and burst limits how much YAC he is able to generate.
- Joly is a strong blocking option in the running and passing games. He plays pissed off and has the upper and lower body strength to move players off the mark or hold them right where he wants them. He has plus pass protection grades of 71.4 and 74.4 over the last two seasons.
- Joly’s play strength bleeds over to his prowess at the catch point. He has a solid set of hands with a 2% drop rate in his final collegiate season and a 66% contested catch rate overall.
Player Comp: Cade Stover
Dynasty Outlook: Justin Joly was drafted by the Broncos in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He could compete with Adam Trautman in 2026 for the TE2 role on the Broncos. Evan Engram is a free agent after the 2026 season, so Joly could take his role in the offense in 2027. We have seen that the role isn’t very valuable, though. Joly is a late fourth-round rookie draft pick or taxi squad option.
Jack Endries (TE – CIN)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 115th
- PFF Receiving Grade (65% inline): 74th
- MTF: 65th
- YAC/Reception: 100th
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 13th
- PFF Receiving Grade (38.2% inline): 9th
- MTF: 57th
- YAC/Reception: 41st
Scouting Report:
- Jack Endries departed the Shrine Bowl with an undisclosed “minor” injury. He also dealt with some undisclosed injuries during the 2025 season, from what I can gather.
- Endries was mainly an underneath option with a more limited route tree. In 2025, 68.9% of his targets were within nine yards of the line of scrimmage or behind it. A total of 48.9% of his routes in 2025 were flats, crossers or screens. He can be a safe, dependable zone coverage option for a passing offense.
- Endries gets up to top speed quickly with average long speed (4.62 40-yard dash). He’s not an explosive area mover, though. He had 57th percentile or lower marks in the shuttle and three-cone.
- Endries flashes fluid hips up the seam. He can adjust to targets behind him and instantly turn back into a YAC threat. He doesn’t have the strength or raw speed to be a massive YAC threat. Endries finished college with only 13 missed tackles forced (124 receptions) and 5.3 yards after the catch per reception.
- Endries has solid hands with only one drop over his final two collegiate seasons and a 59.4% contested catch rate. His play strength shows up at the catch point more than with the ball in his hands. He made a nice contested catch in 2025 against Caleb Downs.
- Endries is a passable blocker at best. He’s not an explosive people mover, but he can redirect traffic in a pinch. He doesn’t seem to have that tenacity to put a defender in the dirt.
Player Comp: Tanner McLachlan
Dynasty Outlook: Endries was drafted in the seventh round by the Cincinnati Bengals. Mike Gesicki is a free agent after the 2027 season, but the team did draft Erick All in 2024. Who knows if All can stay healthy at this point, but he could compete with Endries for the TE2 role for Cincy this year. Endries is a solid taxi squad option in tight-end premium formats.
Joe Royer (TE – CLE)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 50th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 79th
- YAC/Reception: 4th (6.2 aDOT)
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 33rd
- PFF Receiving Grade: 40th
- MTF: 14th
Scouting Report:
- Joe Royer didn’t athletically test at the combine or at his Pro Day, as he has dealt with a hamstring injury.
- Royer has average burst off the line. He played 49.3-49.8% in the slot across his final two seasons in college. He was mainly a dump-and-run option for the Bearcats’ passing attack, where his main assignment was to chip on the line and leak out into the flat.
- Royer is a serviceable option against zone coverage as an ancillary piece to an NFL passing attack. He still needs to improve his pacing/spacing against zone, as he’ll drift at times with routes and fail to hit his mark with timing routes. Royer will need to continue to add nuance to his routes, as he wasn’t asked to run a full route tree in college. His hips are a little tight, which shows up when he’s asked to sink and gear down with comebacks, curls, hinge routes, etc.
- Royer has solid run-after-catch skills. He transitions from receiver to runner well, with the play strength to break some tackles in the open field. He’s not an overly dynamic or twitchy player, though. In 2025, he ranked fourth in YAC per reception, and in 2024, he was 14th in missed tackles forced among tight ends.
- Royer has a dependable set of hands with only two drops across his final two seasons in college. His hands and play strength serve him well at the catch point with a 52.6% contested catch rate in college.
- Royer wasn’t asked to handle inline “true pass pro” reps a ton. Across his final two seasons, he had only 91 pass-blocking snaps. He mainly combo-blocked on the edge or chipped and proceeded to get into his route. He’ll need to grow as a pass protector in the NFL. He’s a more accomplished run-blocking option. Royer is solid as a pulling option with good patience, punch and sustain at the point of attack. He climbs to the second level uncovered well.
Player Comp: Grant Calcaterra
Dynasty Outlook: Royer was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Royer will compete with Jack Stoll and Blake Whiteheart for the TE spot on the depth chart behind Harold Fannin Jr. Royer is worth a taxi squad spot in tight-end premium formats.
Dynasty Outlook: Jaren Kanak was drafted in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the Titans. He’ll have an uphill climb ascending this depth chart with Gunnar Helm, Daniel Bellinger, and at least Kylen Granson above him. Bellinger isn’t a free agent until 2029, so he’s entrenched behind Helm. Kanak is a former collegiate linebacker who transferred to tight end in his final season at Oklahoma. In that final season, he ranked 32nd in yards per route run and 12th in missed tackles forced (per PFF). Kanak has an 8.4 RAS score, a 4.52 40-yard dash, a 90th percentile vertical jump, and an 86th percentile shuttle. He’s worth rostering on a taxi squad in tight-end premium formats or deeper leagues.
Dynasty Outlook: Nate Boerkircher was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft. Yes, I’m as shocked as you. Boerkircher had decent athletic testing metrics with an 8.8 RAS score, a 4.78 40-yard dash time, and a 70th percentile 3 cone. His collegiate receiving profile is horrible, though. He finishes his collegiate career with only 0.99 yards per route run and no more than 198 receiving yards in any season (per PFF). I won’t be chasing the draft capital with him. I’ll be avoiding him in dynasty rookie drafts. With Brenton Strange a free agent after the 2026 season, he could be the starting tight end next year for Jacksonville, but Tanner Koziol, who was also drafted this year, could also beat him out for the starting gig in 2027.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings: Tier 6
Dae’Quan Wright (TE – PHI)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 16th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 21st
- MTF: 19th
- YAC/Reception: 2nd
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 36th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 26th
- MTF: 28th
- YAC/Reception: 33rd
- 2023 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 21st
- PFF Receiving Grade: 25th
- MTF: 7th
- YAC/Reception: 16th
- 2022 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 11th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 54th
- YAC/Reception: 9th
Scouting Report:
- Dae’Quan Wright has nice buildup speed, likely in the 4.5/4.6 40-yard dash range. He displays a nice second gear that he can hit in the open field. He has the speed and ball tracking to be a consistent seam threat in the NFL.
- Wright’s hips are a little tight, so we won’t see a ton of twitch with the ball in his hands, but he is a linearly explosive athlete. His athletic limitations pop up at the catch point with his body control and adjusting to targets outside of his frame at times or with contested situations (26.7% contested catch rate in college).
- Wright has a thick, muscular frame that can break some tackles in the open field. He has a wonderful combination of speed, play strength and nastiness. He’s a tank in the open field. Wright has ranked in the top 16 in YAC/reception in three of the last four collegiate seasons. In 2023, he was seventh among tight ends in missed tackles forced.
- Wright is a nice dump-and-run option to churn out easy yards in the passing game. He also had a varied route tree, hitting 14% or higher marks of his overall route tree with go routes (14.7%), out routes (14%), hitch routes (17.3%) and crossing routes (25%). Wright needs to improve his hip sink with comebacks and curls if he’s going to expand his route tree further.
- Wright shouldn’t be counted on as a league-average blocker entering the NFL. He’ll duck his head at times. He can get rag-dolled at times in pass protection. He is passable in chipping or combo block situations in the run game.
Player Comp: Ed Dickson
Dynasty Outlook: Wright went undrafted, but he signed a UDFA deal with the Eagles. He’ll start as the TE4 or TE5 on the depth chart if he can make the team. If he can make the roster, though, he could climb it to become the TE2 behind Eli Stowers. Grant Calcaterra, Dallas Goedert, and Johnny Mundt are free agents after the 2026 season.
John Michael Gyllenborg (TE – KC)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 91st
- PFF Receiving Grade: 82nd
Scouting Report:
- John Michael Gyllenborg is still a work in progress with a limited playing resume under his belt. In high school, he played only three games in his senior year (after converting from a basketball standout) before losing the rest of the season to an LCL injury. In 2024, he dealt with a high-ankle sprain. In 2025, he missed time with a hamstring injury.
- Gyllenborg is a solid athlete with a 4.60 40-yard dash, an 87th percentile vertical jump and a 98th percentile broad jump. He has decent build-up speed.
- Gyllenborg needs to clean up his catch technique. He finished college with a 9% drop rate, and he looks like he’s fighting the ball with many catches. There are also plenty of concentration drops in his film.
- Gyllenborg needs to continue to refine his footwork and movement skills. He can look lumbering off the line and clunky when getting in and out of his breaks. His hips are also a tad stiff with the inflexibility and lack of explosion showing up with short area routes (whips).
- Gyllenborg was tasked with a limited route tree as an underneath option in 2025. A total of 60% of his routes were outs, ins, flats and crossers. While 80% of his targets were within nine yards of the line of scrimmage or behind it. He’s a zone coverage option and a chain mover at this juncture. He had only 5.4 yards after the catch per reception and six missed tackles forced in college.
- Gyllenborg doesn’t deal well with physical coverage. He can be pushed off his line and bullied at the catch point. He needs to improve his play strength to match his raw athleticism. He finished college with a 46.7% contested catch rate.
- Gyllenborg is a raw blocking option. His feet can be a tick slow at times as he adjusts laterally to pass-rushers, as they have no problem clearing him with ease. His technique is all over the place. He flashes the strength to sustain blocks at times while getting pushed around easily during other plays. Some of it looks like an effort issue, but there will be a lot of work required in the NFL to get him up to league-average blocking standards.
Player Comp: Dan Arnold
Dynasty Outlook: Gyllenborg went undrafted, but he signed a UDFA deal with the Chiefs. Gyllenborg is a taxi squad option in tight end premium formats only.
DJ Rogers (TE – DAL)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 62nd
- PFF Receiving Grade: 24th
- MTF: 5th
Scouting Report:
- DJ Rogers is a move tight end with average speed/burst. He’s a YAC/dump-and-run option in the passing game. Rogers was regularly tasked with running to space versus zone, middle of the field, hitch routes and flat routes. In 2025, 80% of his target volume was within nine yards of the line of scrimmage or behind it. He had only one deep target.
- Rogers has enough speed to make some things happen after the catch, but he’s not an otherworldly threat to break tackles or outrun a defender. Rogers is savvy, though. He’ll deploy subtle jab steps and create off-angle tackling attempts for defenders while also displaying patience to allow blocks to set up in front of him.
- As a blocker, he pops up quickly, and defenders can get under his pads and move him easily at times. His power, leg drive and sustain with blocks are average, at best.
Player Comp: Brock Wright
Dynasty Outlook: Rogers went undrafted, but he signed a UDFA deal with the Dallas Cowboys. Rogers is a taxi squad option in deeper leagues and only in tight-end premium formats.
Will Kacmarek (TE – MIA)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 15 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 60th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 35th
Scouting Report:
- Will Kacmarek dealt with a left foot injury in 2025 (April) as he was spotted in a boot at one point. It’s unclear if it impacted his play last season.
- Kacmarek was sparingly used as a receiver over the last two years, with only 27 targets. He was a dependable receiving option, though, with soft hands over the last two seasons with zero drops.
- Kacmarek operated as an inline option with 73-77.3% of his snaps coming inline. Kacmarek is a linear athlete with a 4.74 40-yard dash time. His shuttle (49th) and three cone (42nd) were both below the 50th percentile.
- Kacmarek won’t give you much after the catch with only 5.7 and 6.4 yards after the catch per reception the past two seasons, and a total of two missed tackles forced.
- Kacmarek operated at Ohio State as an underneath option with an average depth of target (aDOT) of 5.5 and 5.3 the past two seasons. He displays good instincts and pacing against zone coverage. When he was utilized as a seam option, he had enough build-up speed to get the job done with solid ball tracking.
- Kacmarek is a solid blocking option who needs to continue to improve his lower-half strength. He has a solid first punch and sustain, but he can be moved backward against power. He should enter the NFL as a serviceable run blocker from the jump with 68.8 or higher grades in each of his last three seasons.
Player Comp: AJ Barner
Dynasty Outlook: Kacmarek looks to be the inline/blocking option for the Dolphins after getting drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft. I didn’t find much in his production profile or on his film to get excited about in the NFL. I’ll be avoiding him in dynasty rookie drafts.
Dallen Bentley (TE – DEN)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 17th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 9th
- MTF: 5th
- YAC: 15th
Scouting Report:
- Last season, Dallen Bentley ran 30.4% of his routes from the slot (55.5% inline).
- Bentley looks lumbering off the line at times (more than you’d expect considering his testing metrics). His play strength limitations show up at the catch point. He can get bullied there by smaller players with a 23.5% career contested catch rate.
- Bentley is an underneath option against zone coverage that offers some verticality. He was utilized on hitch routes a lot. When Utah wanted to sneak him upfield, they ran him on wheels most of the time. He has solid body control on back shoulder targets with the ability to adjust to the ball in the air. Bentley is mainly a dump-and-run option.
- Bentley has the play strength and build to break some tackles, but he’s not a twitchy player after the catch. He’s best viewed as a possession receiving option. Bentley isn’t offering a ton after the catch with 5.2 yards after the catch per reception in college.
- As a blocker, Bentley can pop out of his stance, and his pad level gets too high. He can be moved and manipulated at the attack point more easily than he should, considering his size. Speed rushers have little issues getting around him on the edge when he’s left on an island. His lateral agility constraints show up quickly.
Player Comp: Foster Moreau
Dynasty Outlook: Dallen Bentley was drafted in the final round of the NFL Draft by the Broncos. I’ll leave him on dynasty waiver wires. His production profile is more sexy than his film was. There are other, more intriguing tight end options that I’d rather put on a taxi squad over Bentley.
Michael Trigg (TE – DAL)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 13th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 17th
- MTF: 2nd
- YAC: 27th
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 20th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 23rd
- MTF: 10th
- YAC: 43rd
Scouting Report:
- Michael Trigg is a dump-and-run receiving first developmental tight end prospect. With his size (6-foot-4, 240 pounds), he moves like a big wide receiver, but he has a ton of development that is still needed to be a starting tight end in the NFL.
- Trigg lined up in the slot with 66.9% of his collegiate snaps. He’s a project as a blocker, and I have questions about his play strength. I wonder if he’ll ever reach a place in his career where he can be counted on as a league-average blocking option on run and passing downs. Any team drafting him will have to do so with a receiving-first focus and be willing to live with what he does and doesn’t offer as a blocker.
- Trigg is a fluid mover with good twitch and smooth hips, but he has a slender build despite his 240-pound weight listing. Trigg can be pushed around by physical defenders in his routes and at the catch point. He leaves college with a 45.2% contested catch rate while also flashing spotty hands with a 10.7% drop rate. Trigg will need to improve his play strength and technique at the catch point to become a red-zone threat, as his attempts to box out defenders in the paint fall flat on many plays.
- Trigg has high-end moments with some highlight reel spots, but he lacks consistency in his play. He lacks route nuance and salesmanship while sporting inefficient footwork on many routes. He’s just a manufactured touch, dump and run option against zone coverage.
Player Comp: Kenny Yeboah
Dynasty Outlook: Michael Trigg went undrafted, but he signed a UDFA deal with the Cowboys. I was never intrigued by him as a prospect, so it’s hard to be out when you were never in. Leave him on dynasty waiver wires.
Josh Cuevas (TE – BAL)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 81st
- PFF Receiving Grade: 37th
- MTF: 19th
- YAC: 18th
Scouting Report:
- Josh Cuevas projects as a solid all-around TE2 with low-end starting upside. He has a strong frame with a thick lower half. He’s not an explosive mover in his routes or after the catch, but he has the functional strength to break tackles with the ball in his hands.
- Cuevas is a solid inline blocker. He doesn’t have the lateral agility to deal with speed rushers on the edge consistently, but if you’re just asking him to chip, combo block defenders and sustain his patch of grass, he’ll get the job done.
- Cuevas has tight hips, which will prevent him from excelling in short area routes with suddenness, but he uncovers fairly well considering. Cuevas is mainly a dump-and-run tight end that can create enough separation against zone coverage to operate as a dependable option.
Player Comp: Tommy Tremble
Dynasty Outlook: Cuevas is an inline blocking option for the Ravens that they drafted in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Unless you’re in a point-per-pancake league, don’t roster Cuevas.
Lance Mason (TE – SEA)
Stats:
- 2025 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards Per Route Run: 25th
- PFF Receiving Grade: 32nd
- YAC: 50th
Scouting Report:
- Lance Mason operated as an inline tight end (52.9% of his snaps in 2025). He has a decent 4.71 40-yard dash speed, but he lacks explosive athleticism, with a vertical jump and broad jump failing to eclipse the 58th percentile.
- Mason has solid burst off the line, but his long speed is average. He doesn’t change directions or throttle down well. He can appear lumbering when he’s asked to run a whip route. Mason will allow his momentum to carry him out of bounds on crossing routes at times. If he were a better athlete, he could slow down and turn upfield and generate more yards after the catch.
- Mason was mainly a hitch route/flat route king operating as a chain-moving possession receiver in the Wisconsin offense. He had only one missed tackle forced in 2025, with 5.6 yards after the catch per reception.
Player Comp: Geoff Swaim
Dynasty Outlook: Mason went undrafted, but he signed a UDFA deal with the Seahawks. Leave him on the dynasty waiver wire. AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo look entrenched at the top of Seattle’s tight end depth chart for the next few years.
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