Rob Rang's Top 5 Tight Ends
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**Overview:** Along with quarterback and cornerback, tight end is one of the few positional groups in this year's draft in which there is a wide, wide gulf between the top prospect and everyone else. Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq is one of the exceptional athletes of this class and he's both powerful and aggressive, making him a true matchup nightmare – at least for teams that don't boast a similarly freakish talent on defense like the Seahawks' Nick Emmanwori. I like the potential of several of this year's tight ends but many of them are better pass-catchers than blockers who could struggle with the greater physicality of the pro game. It isn't often that prospects from blue-blood programs like Notre Dame and Georgia can be characterized as truly underrated, but I think that Eli Raridon and Oscar Delp, respectively, are going to be selected earlier than their relatively little pre-draft hype suggests.
**1\. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon, 6-3, 241, First Round**
One of the freakier athletes of this draft class, Sadiq posted a ridiculous 4.39 second time in the 40-yard dash with a 43.5" vertical jump and 26 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press. He lacks ideal height but he's a bully as a blocker and is difficult to tackle in the open field. He still needs to iron out some wrinkles to his game to reach his full potential, but he offers an All-Pro ceiling.
**2\. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt, 6-4, 239, Second Round**
A former quarterback who, along with Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavila, helped Vanderbilt become one of the darlings of the 2025 season, Stowers looks more like a big receiver than a traditional tight end. He shattered misconceptions of his athleticism in Indianapolis, clocking a 4.51-second 40-yard dash and setting a new Combine record for tight ends with a 45.5" vertical jump that led all participants this year. His soft hands and knack for creating after the catch warrant comparisons to the Seahawks' Elijah Arroyo, as each seem to be just scratching the surface of their potential.
**3\. Sam Roush, Stanford, 6-6, 267, Third Round**
In a draft class full of receiver specialists, Roush is one of the true and traditional "Y" tight ends, capable of becoming a quarterback's best friend as a short and intermediate target or fulfilling the role as a 6th offensive lineman. He's powerful and technically-sound as a blocker and turned heads with his underrated athleticism at the Combine. If the aforementioned Stowers reminds me of Arroyo, don't be surprised if Roush outplays his draft slot, ala Seattle's AJ Barner.
**4\. Max Klare, Ohio State, 6-4, 246, Third Round**
In a case of the rich getting richer, Klare left Purdue to sign with Ohio State and feasted upon the loose coverage he saw there with defenses understandably focusing their attention on the Buckeyes' star receivers. He's a smooth athlete with soft hands, possessing the acceleration and change-of-direction to quickly become a favorite target in the NFL.
**5\. Michael Trigg, Baylor, 6-4, 240, Third Round**
The NFL is all about projecting what a player _could be_ and Trigg's combination of athleticism and long arms (34 ¼") suggest that - with some fine-tuning – he could develop into quite the weapon at the next level. He has some "make you sit up and take notice" moments on tape with some remarkable grabs.