Ohio State has had a few tight ends end up in the NFL, but it is not known for them nearly as much as it is for wide receivers. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t solid NFL-ready players at the position sporting the scarlet and gray. Max Klare was a star in a bad Purdue offense before spending his final season in Columbus. As a possible mid-round pick, how much can he help out an NFL team?
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2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Max Klare
Measurables
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 246
Arms: 32.130″
Hands: 9.130″
40-yard: N/A
Vertical: N/A
Broad jump: N/A
RAS: N/A
School: Ohio State
Max Klare NFL Draft Overview
Coming out of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Klare was a three-star prospect in the 2022 class. He committed to Purdue over a handful of Group of 5 offers, as well as Cincinnati, Duke, and Georgia Tech. In his first season with the Boilermakers, Klare only appeared in two games and did not record any stats.
In 2023, Klare earned a role in the rotation as a redshirt freshman. Over the course of five games, Klare hauled in five passes for 22 yards. However, his season ended due to an ankle injury. The following season, his final with Purdue, was his breakout. Klare led the Boilermakers with 51 receptions (next closest had 25), 685 yards (next closest had 365), and four touchdowns. He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors for his play.
Then, he transferred to Ohio State to become a more complete tight end. His production took a dip in 2025, considering he was finally surrounded by real offensive weapons. In total, Klare finished with 43 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns. This time around, he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Strengths
Developed as a route runner with a full route tree
Has the speed and smoothness to be a big-play threat
Can line up anywhere from in-line to out wide against boundary corners
Great at reading zones and settling in soft spots
Is a legitimate YAC threat
While not polished as a blocker, he showed great promise and growth in Ohio State’s scheme
Weaknesses
Will need to continue developing blocking
All measurable stats took a dip at Ohio State after not being the go-to offensive threat
Can get out-physicaled at the line and the point of attack
Had drop issues at Purdue and dropped a few crucial passes at Ohio State
Is light for a tight end. Will need to fill out frame or else he runs the risk of getting worn down against NFL defenders
Projection: Third Round
Best Fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos
Bottom Line on Max Klare
Klare had hit his ceiling in his development as a true, well-rounded tight end at Purdue, so he transferred to a program that doesn’t feature its tight ends and primarily uses them to block. If anything, that shows his willingness to improve and his coachability. That alone wouldn’t make Klare going earlier than most expect to be much of a surprise.
He is a legitimate, bona fide tight end who is a pass catcher first and foremost. He can be a serious mismatch in the slot and can use his athleticism and speed to eat up the space allowed by defenders. He can overwhelm safeties in coverage and can turn a quick curl into a chunk play.
He is not going to be one of the trusted run blockers out of the gate, of course. Klare’s blocking is inconsistent, and his hand placement will need work. However, he showed growth at Ohio State, so there is an expectation that he could be serviceable at the very least in the NFL.
Some have likened him to Dawson Knox or Brenton Strange. Either way, Klare has a good opportunity to be a solid tight end at the next level.