Preseason Top 10 Tight Ends for the 2026 NFL Draft

1. Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt)

Stowers is a former 4 star Texas A&M quarterback, in 2023 he transferred to New Mexico State. At NMSU he began the switch to Tight end, where he had 35 receptions, 366 yards and 2 touchdowns. In 2024, he transferred to Vanderbilt, where he was Deigo Pavia’s top target. He had 49 catches with 638 yards and 5 touchdowns. Stowers is a faster tight end, as well as a good route runner and very reliable target.

2. Max Klare (Ohio State)

Last year on Purdue, Klare was the main target on a very bad offense. Leaving Purdue to go to Ohio State, Klare joins a high powered offense. In 2024, the sophomore had 51 catches for 685 yards and 4 touchdowns. This upcoming year, expect Max Klare to be the young Quarterbacks best friend on the young Buckeyes offense.

3. Jack Endries (Texas)

Transferring from Cal this past spring, Jack Endries is the new Tight End 1 for the longhorns. He had 56 catches, 623 yards and 2 touchdowns this past year. Endries is a big body tight end, standing at 6’4 240 pounds. He is a reliable receiver, as well as a mauler in the run game. Joining the talented Texas offense with Arch Manning, watch out for Jack Endries to explode this season.

4. Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon)

Sadiq becomes TE1 now after sitting behind Ferguson for 2 years. He is an athletic freak who has the ability to take the top off of defenses. He can stretch the field, jump over defenders, and is a smooth player for his 6’3 245 body. In 2024, Sadiq had 25 catches for 308 yards and only 2 touchdowns. As he rises as a top target for the Ducks, he is poised to have a big season and catch NFL teams attention.

5. Matt Lauter (Boise State)

The first team All Mountain West Tight end had 47 catches with 619 yards and 7 touchdowns. He is a after the catch beast, he has the size and speed to dominate secondaries and beat linebackers. Lauter also excels as a blocker, being a dominant force in the Boise State run game this past season.

6. Justin Joly (NC State)

Joly is a elite tight end for the wolfpack this year, he has size, speed and spiffy route running to separate. What makes Joly different from other tight ends is his contested catch ability, in 2024, he had 11 contested catches. Along with that, he is a beast after the catch, forcing 12 tackles. 2024 was his first season with NC State, as he transfered from Uconn where he had 74 catches, 828 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2 seasons. In 2024 with NC State, he had 43 catches for 661 yards along with 4 touchdowns. With the lack of elite wide receivers on NC State, Justin Joly will be an elite threat in the acc this year.

7. Terrance Carter Jr (Texas Tech)

The Louisiana Rajun’ Cajun transfer was an elite weapon last year. In 2024, he had 48 catches for 589 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 3 TDS the year prior. He is not the biggest tight end, standing at 6’2 and 240 pounds. Similar to Joly, he is a 50/50 ball receiver, and a bulldozer after the catch. He has the ability to out run defenses, run in between the tackles and make people miss. Transferring to a developing Texas Tech roster, expect Carter Jr to have a huge impact for the Red Raiders.

8. Dorian Fleming (Maryland)

Dorian Fleming is one of the most underrated players in all of college football this year. Transfering over from Georgia State, he had 50 catches for 558 yards and 6 touchdowns. Fleming is a big and quick route technitian. He can run the seam and is a elite red zone threat. While it is a question whether he will declare or not, Dorian Fleming will become a star for the Terps this season.

9. Jack Velling (Michigan State)

Velling is a large, safe target for any QB. In 2023, he set the Oregon State single season Td record for a tight end, scoring 8 touchdowns. Transferring to MSU his productive was not the same, as he had 36 catches for 411 yards and only 1 touchdown. Entering year 2 along Aidan Chiles, Velling is expected to take a step up and become a difference maker for the Spartans, and hopefully rise his draft stock.

10. Tanner Koziol (Houston)

Koziol is a difference maker player in the red zone, in 2024 for Ball State, he had 94 catches for 839 yards and 8 touchdowns. In 2022 and 2023, he combined 70 catches for 666 yards and 10 touchdowns. This off-season, he first transferred to Wisconsin, then again to Houston. He is 6’7 and 240 pounds, which makes him unstoppable at the catch point and after the catch. This season, Tanner Koziol will be a force to be reckoned with and make a huge difference for the Cougars this year.

By: Harry Lewis

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