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2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Michigan Te Marlin Klein

From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Michigan TE Marlin Klein.

No. 17 MARLIN KLEIN/TE MICHIGAN – 6060, 248 POUNDS (REDSHIRT JUNIOR)

MEASUREMENTS

Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan

Marlin Klein 6060/248 9 1/4 32 3/8 80 1/8

40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone

4.61 1.64 N/A 7.42

Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press

9’9″ 36 N/A

THE GOOD

– Above-average in-blocker

– Ideal size, length, and play strength to function as an in-line Y tight end

– Strong initial pop at the point of attack

– Converts his first step into power

– Consistently creates movement on down blocks and double teams

– Effective on the move, showing good angles to the second level, the ability to seal defenders, and enough range to cut off linebackers in space

– Has a composed pass-protection technique against edge defenders

– His effort level is consistently high

– Works to sustain blocks through the whistle

– A better pass-catcher than his production suggests, with strong hands and a wide catch radius

– Above-average straight-line speed and burst

– He can threaten defenses vertically up the seam and is effective on linear routes like crossers, rails, and play-action releases

– Has soft hands, adjusts well to throws outside his frame, and transitions upfield quickly after the catch

– While not refined, he flashes enough route diversity (seams, double moves, crossers) to suggest he could grow into a more complete pass-catching option with development and better QB play

THE BAD

– Tight-hipped, struggles to change direction efficiently, and lacks the nuance to consistently separate at the top of routes

– His upright, long-legged build makes it difficult for him to throttle down or sink into breaks, which limits his effectiveness against man coverage

– Largely a linear athlete, and that shows both as a receiver and in space as a blocker

– When asked to mirror quicker defenders in space, he can struggle to stay attached

– At the catch point, he doesn’t always play to his size

– He’s not a dominant contested-catch player and can look uncomfortable tracking the ball downfield, occasionally fading away and allowing defenders back into the play

– After the catch, he offers limited creativity or tackle-breaking ability

– Blocking technique can be inconsistent, as he tends to dip his head before contact, leading to whiffs or lost leverage

– Play strength is solid but not overwhelming, and when his pad level rises, he can struggle to generate push against stronger defensive linemen

– Production is very modest, raising questions about how much receiving upside will realistically translate

STATS

– Had 12 starts and appeared in a total of 34 games in his 4-year career at Michigan

– 856 total offensive snaps with 308 as the receiver (135 slot, 132 inline, 41 out wide), 468 as a run blocker, and 80 as a pass blocker

– 21 special teams snaps (10 FG kick, 8 kick return, 3 punt return)

– Career: 364 total yds., 38/64 targets caught (59.4 percent), 9.6 y/rec., 1 TD, 4.7 YAC, 1.21 Y/RR, 8.7 ADOT, 4 drops, 3/10 contested catches, 1 missed tackle forced, 15 first downs, 5 penalties

– 2025: 248 total yds., 24/41 targets caught (58.5 percent), 10.3 y/rec., 1 TD, 5.5 YAC, 1.53 Y/RR, 8.6 ADOT, 3 drops, 2/5 contested catches, 1 missed tackle forced, 10 first downs, 2 penalties

– PFF: 65.3 receiving grade, 73.9 pass blocking grade

– 59.9 run blocking grade (63.3 zone run blocking grade on 83 snaps, 49.8 gap blocking grade on 92 snaps)

INJURY HISTORY

– September 2025: Suffered a right ankle injury in practice and missed the Week 2 game against Oklahoma.

– October 2025: Missed the Week 8 Washington game due to an undisclosed injury

BIO

– DOB: 9/17/2002 (23 years old)

– Hometown of Cologne, Germany, and attended Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School

– 2025 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection and a team captain

– 2024 named the team’s Most Improved Player on offense

– Three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2023-25)

– Four-star recruit according to 247Sports

– Part of a team that played for the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) state title in 2021

– Totaled 936 receiving yds. and 12 TD’s in three seasons of playing H.S. football

– Transferred to play and go to school in Georgia ahead of his junior year after beginning his career with the Cologne Crocodiles in his native Germany, moving 4,000 miles to do so

– Originally was a basketball and soccer player in Germany

– Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, majoring in General Studies

– Connected to the U.S. through Björn Werner’s Gridiron Imports Foundation, which helps international players play in the United States

TAPE BREAKDOWN

Michigan University has sent quality tight ends to the NFL for decades now. Marlin Klein may seem, on the surface, like an underwhelming prospect based on historical precedence for positional production. But there is a lot more to him than meets the eye once you study his film. He has an appealing combination of size, in-line blocking ability, athleticism, and receiving upside. You have to dive deeper to see his receiving upside because of underwhelming QB play this past season, and his lack of route diversity in the offense. He is still learning the nuances of route running and recognizing defensive schemes, but his receiving flashes and really good in-blocking ability suggest starter-level potential down the line.

This guy is reliable up the seam and finds the soft parts of zone coverage, getting open well. He isn’t afraid to go over the middle on crossing and in-breaking routes. Where I hope an NFL team tries to utilize him more is by giving him more post, fade, and vertical routes because he has much better athletic skills than he really got to use and showcase at Michigan.

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