Wrapping up the 2026 receivers: The TEs … The 2025 draft was something of a high point for TEs as two – Colston Loveland of Michigan who went 10th overall to Chicago and Penn State’s Tyler Warren who was selected with the 14th pick by Indianapolis – were chosen in the top half of the opening round. In fact, it was the 1st time since 1992 and just the 3rd time in the modern draft era (starting in 1967) that more than one TE was selected in the top half of the first round. And it would probably be a stretch to try and predict that it could happen again next April, but there are several collegiate TEs including Eli Stowers of Vanderbilt, Jack Endries of Texas and Ohio State’s Max Klare each of whom have interesting stories in their own right, are coming off breakout seasons last fall, and are generating some buzz from pro scouts. Stowers, for example, is a 5th year senior who was originally recruited as a dual-threat QB at Texas A&M and only switched positions after transferring to New Mexico State in 2023. However, he went on to be named to the All-SEC team after moving over to Vanderbilt last fall when he averaged over 13 yards per on 49 receptions while posting 5 TD catches. For his part, Endries is a 4th year player who originally walked on at California and blossomed into an outstanding receiver who had 56 receptions for the Bears last fall and figures to build on that catching passes from Arch Manning at Texas this season. Meanwhile, Klare comes to the Buckeyes after posting 51 catches for almost 700 yards and 4 scores at Purdue last fall.
The one thing to note, is that all three of those guys are pretty much pure receivers who aren’t all that bulky with Stowers listed at 230 and the other two at 240. In fact, that’s pretty much the story at the position this year as only a couple of the dozen or so TEs on our list of top prospects at the position for 2026 are even over 250 (and none is over 255) as the position is clearly evolving in the college ranks. Meanwhile, other TEs around the country who should get some mid-to-later round consideration include Oscar Delp of Georgia, Cincinnati’s Joe Royer, Tanner Koziol of Houston, Jack Velling of Michigan State, Michael Trigg of Baylor, SMU’s RJ Maryland and Justin Joly of North Carolina State.
