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, all the way to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Alabama TE Josh Cuevas.
No. 80 Josh Cuevas/TE/Alabama – 6033, 245 pounds (RS-Senior)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Josh Cuevas 6033/245 9 5/8 30 5/8 N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.65 1.65 4.38 7.37
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
9’10” 34″ 19
The Good
– Versatile, positionless player; played TE, H-back, Fullback at Alabama
– Solid blocking fundamentals; competes until the whistle
– Works himself open when plays break down
– Good mental processing
– Solid speed and change of direction at his size
– Good hands above and away from his frame
– Solid short-area burst
The Bad
– Struggles catching close to his frame or underneath the waist; traps balls against body
– Limited YAC; pure north-south runner with zero elusiveness
– Can get overwhelmed by size and power as blocker; questionable anchor
– Just adequate in contested catch situations
Stats
– Career: 118 receptions, 1,471 yards, 12 TDs in 55 games
– 2025: 37 receptions, 411 yards, 4 TDs in 12 games
– Career Snaps: 1,656 on offense; 457 special teams (5 units)
– 2025 snaps: 582 offense (27 backfield, 344 inline, 151 slot, 55 wide, 5 OL); 1 special teams (kick return)
– Third-team All-Big Sky in 2022 at Cal Poly; FCS Freshman All-American
– PFF: 77.9 blocking grade, 6.6 YAC/Rec., 3 drops, 50% contested catch, 1 penalty in 2025
Injury History
– Broken foot in Nov. 2025, returned to play a month later
Bio
– 22 years old, turns 23 in September
– Originally an unranked prospect out of Campbell Hall HS in Los Angeles
– Spent two years at Cal Poly, one at Washington, and two at Alabama
– Star WR and OLB in high school
– Also played baseball and basketball
– Second-generation American; father born in Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico
– 2026 Senior Bowl participant
Tape Breakdown
Projecting as a versatile FB/TE at the next level, Cuevas’ blocking skills are important. He competes hard in that area and can block anywhere on the field (in-line, lead blocker, out wide, downfield). His technique is solid, with good use of his hands, and his play strength is sufficient to get the job done against most competition.
It isn’t always perfect, as he can get overwhelmed by superior size and strength.
Tight ends and fullbacks are often asked to chip pass rushers before releasing into routes. Cuevas does a nice job delivering a meaningful pop before running his routes.
His hands are up and down, but very solid when catching away from his frame above the waist. He has soft hands when he uses them.
The issue the many times the ball is low or slightly behind him. He has a habit of trapping the ball against his body, which leads to drops.
He isn’t as good in contested catch situations as you would hope, either.
Overall, he’s a smart player who understands his role on the team. I wanted to highlight this play in particular. He varied his route speed, sat in the zone for a checkdown opportunity, and then broke outside when he saw the QB scrambling with his legs. He forced the linebacker to either follow him and clear room for the QB run, or crash on the run and risk leaving a wide-open catch. That kind of backyard football is valuable for a TE/FB to understand.
Conclusion
Cuevas doesn’t have the body type or skills to be a starting TE1 in an NFL offense, but he has plenty to like as a rotational TE2. His blocking skills are above average, and he’s smart with some things to like in the passing game. If he can figure out a way to improve his YAC with better contact balance and shore up some of his catching issues below his frame, he should carve out a nice career in the NFL.
He could carve out an Alec Ingold-like role at the next level as a FB with some H-back and TE responsibilities.
NFL Projection: Mid-Late Day 3
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 7.2 (Spot Starter)
Grade Range: 6.9-7.6
Games Watched: at Florida State (2025), vs LSU (2025), at Georgia (2025), vs Wisconsin (2025)
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