NFL Execs See Two Tight Ends Going in First Round of 2026 Draft

Much of the first-round hype regarding tight ends in the upcoming draft has focused on Oregon’s freakish prospect Kenyon Sadiq, with some trusted evaluators believing he will be among the top 10 picks off the board. 

However, deeper conversations with top evaluators has revealed the gap between him and other top tight end prospects might not be nearly as steep as mock drafts and pre-draft reports have indicated.

This wide receiver class is not special, and in the spread era of the college and NFL game, the differences between receivers and tight ends, especially tight ends who are not superior blockers, continue to fade. 

If you are looking for a downfield target who can run and has size, tight ends, beyond just Shadiq, stand out as great value plays to execs from several teams and there is an expectation among some of them that more than just Sadiq will hear his name called in the first round.

Did Vegas Get It Wrong?

Currently, early-forming gambling markets on the draft are heavily weighted to just one tight end going in the first round (+850 at DraftKings over 1.5 TE in first round). That might be more than a little off. 

Multiple executives who have no reason to mislead me about their evaluations, and who have been trustworthy over the years, indicated that Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers absolutely has a first-round grade for them, and they prefer him all things considered to many of the receivers who are widely expected to go in the first 32 picks. 

Ohio State’s Max Klare and Baylor’s Michael Trigg seem to be generating more buzz in the scouting community than is being reflected in mock drafts and he could also end up going much higher than most are suggesting.

“Sadiq is going in the top 15 picks, but I don’t see a huge drop-off between him and Stowers and Trigg,” one personnel executive, who will not be drafting a tight end high in this process but is keenly aware of them, told SportsBoom. 

“They’re all move guys, some of them are more slot receivers than others, but I really like Stowers, man. That’s a first-round talent to me. And Trigg, you have to get comfortable with him and do some work on the character, but he’s another one I have my eye on. I like this tight end class.”

Another evaluator exclusively told SportsBoom he too believes Stowers carries enough athletic prowess and upside to merit a first-round selection. His past as a former top quarterback helps him see the game well. 

“Stowers has blue chip potential,” he said.