For much of the pre-draft process, a single tight end prospect has frequented first-round mock drafts. Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq has widely been considered the TE1 of the 2026 NFL Draft class with a stellar junior campaign and a promising construct. Based on Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom, one other name could sneak into the combination for Day 1 consideration.
La Canfora relayed yesterday that multiple executives “absolutely” have a first-round grade on Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers. Behind Sadiq, there’s really not been any consensus on ordering the hierarchy of the subsequent tier of top tight ends. Ohio State’s Max Klare and Baylor’s Michael Trigg are also considered top players on the position.
Sadiq led all NCAA tight ends with eight receiving touchdowns on 51 catches for 560 yards. Stowers led the position group with 769 yards on 62 catches with 4 touchdowns. Limited to 11 games, Trigg enters the image if you bring yards per game under consideration, ending second on the position behind Stowers due to 50 receptions for 694 yards and 6 touchdowns. Houston tight end Tanner Koziol joins the party with a position-leading 74 catches that went for 727 yards and 6 touchdowns. Klare shined more during his tenure at Purdue but made several big plays for the Buckeyes this yr.
Per La Canfora, one source saw Sadiq as everyone else did, a top 15 pick, but didn’t “see an enormous drop-off between him and Stowers and Trigg. One other had concerns about whether some would last as tight ends or must shift out to fit wide receivers, indicating Stowers posed no such dilemma. That source liked Trigg, too, but noted some character issues may hurt his stock.
There may be actually some talent available on the tight end position, but the space between TE1 and TE2 — and the identity of TE2 — are still very much up for debate. Stowers, though, is bidding to hitch Sadiq in the primary round.