Race For CB1 In 2026 NFL Draft Between Two Prospects
There appears to be a very clear duo atop the 2026 NFL Draft’s crop of cornerback prospects. What’s unclear at the moment is which one of the two defenders is CB1 in the class. Complicating the matter is the fact that one of them didn’t play at all in 2025.
Jermod McCoy missed his entire junior year at Tennessee with a torn ACL. It was a much-anticipated season after McCoy broke out as a second-team All-American in his first year of SEC play. Lost in the sea of high school talent in Texas, McCoy was a three-star recruit coming out of Whitehouse HS. Clearly a bright student, McCoy held a couple Ivy League offers from Columbia and Penn, but he chose to commit to the only Power 5 school to offer him a scholarship, departing Texas for Oregon State.
As a true freshman, McCoy came off the bench for his first few games as a Beaver. By the midpoint of the season, though, he earned his first start and made the most of that opportunity with his first collegiate interception. Over the rest of the season, McCoy showed several bright spots of his game while striving to keep his spot on the first-team defense. Still, some rough road outings at Arizona and Oregon left plenty of room for improvement for the young defender.
He showed enough success, though, that when he entered his name in the transfer portal at the end of the year, the offers came rolling in, this time with far more Power conference schools throwing their hats in the ring. Over offers from the likes of Auburn, Oregon, and Texas A&M, McCoy opted to visit Tennessee and committed a week later. The true sophomore earned a full-time starting role by the start of the season and put forth a phenomenal 2024 season. McCoy locked down his side of the field for the Volunteers, notching four interceptions and six passes defensed.
With a good frame, McCoy’s quick feet and body control have given him the ability to stick close to his assignments, and strong ball skills allow him to compliment great coverage with pass breakups and interceptions. He had some periodic inconsistency at times, though, which one might have hoped to see improvement on had he gotten to play this year. He also isn’t a great tackler, often throwing his weight around down low in a way the NFL tends to look down upon as of late. His recent injury and long recovery time are certain to throw up some red flags in some front offices, but the fact that he still may be the top cornerback selected in the draft speaks volumes about his assets as perhaps the best man-coverage corner in the class.
McCoy’s competition for that spot is LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. Like McCoy, Delane wasn’t a top recruit, coming into college as a three-star prospect out of Archbishop Spalding HS (MD). Graduating a year before McCoy, Delane committed to Virginia Tech after taking official visits to Illinois, Minnesota, and Maryland. He didn’t make his first collegiate appearance until Week 5 of his freshman season, and after stepping up with a big performance against the Hurricanes in only his third game, Delane was named a starter for the rest of the season.
Delane started every game for the next two years breaking out in 2024 with four interceptions and four passes defensed. For as many big plays as he made, though, he gave up quite a few, as well — Pro Football Focus (subscription required) assigns him responsibility for seven touchdowns that season. Still, when he entered the transfer portal, he became a hot target, committing five days later to the Tigers. His struggle giving up big plays disappeared in Baton Rouge. Per PFF, Delane didn’t give up a single touchdown while recording two picks and seven passes defensed. PFF graded Delane as the third-best cornerback in the NCAA for 2025, and he earned unanimous All-American honors.
Delane isn’t quite as good as McCoy in isolated man-coverage, though he’s still quite good. He’s a much more well-rounded, versatile defensive back, though. Delane works with elite instincts, and even though he doesn’t have the best hands, he plays the ball more than the receiver and disrupts a ton of passes as a result. His hips are quick, but he helps himself in coverage by making it difficult for receivers to get behind him. Like with some other defensive prospects in this draft, there are some concerns around Delane’s arm length, but his level of effort in coverage and when tackling tends to overcome any physical shortcomings.
In most draft pundits’ rankings, Delane is slotting in ahead of McCoy as CB1 at the moment. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network slots Delane in as CB1 and No. 8 overall prospect and CB2 McCoy at No. 15. Over at ESPN, Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates have McCoy at CB1 and Delane at CB2, while Matt Miller and Jordan Reid have it the other way around. Yates reports that scouts have been “getting positive reviews about McCoy’s recovery,” and that may be boosting his draft stock up towards Delane’s here, down the stretch. Regardless, both cornerbacks are expected to hear their names called in the the first half of Day 1’s selections. All that remains to be seen is which name gets called first and which teams claim them.
David Bailey Visits Cardinals, Chiefs, Cowboys, Jets
6:35pm: Bailey also visited the Jets, Rapoport adds. They are looking for a young edge rusher to pair with 2023 first-rounder Will McDonald after trading Jermaine Johnson to the Titans. New York holds the No. 2 pick, which is the earliest Bailey could be drafted with the Raiders all but certain to select Fernando Mendoza first overall.
5:03pm: Texas Tech edge rusher and projected first-round pick David Bailey has made his rounds around the NFL during the pre-draft process. He first visited the Cardinals in early March with trips to the Chiefs and the Cowboys this week, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Bailey, 22, is widely expected to be selected in the first 10 picks of April’s draft. He began his college career at Stanford with solid production from 2022 to 2024. In 2025, he transferred to Texas Tech and mounted an All-American campaign in Lubbock with an FBS-high 14.5 sacks and a Big 12-high 19.5 tackles for loss.
That production, combined with an excellent performance at the Combine, vaulted Bailey to the top of a strong draft class at his position. Among edge rushers, his 4.50-second 40-yard dash trailed only fellow projected top-10 pick Arvell Reese, and his 10-foot-9 broad jump ranked third.
With BJ Ojulari and Baron Browning in the last year of their contracts, the Cardinals could use a foundational edge rusher to build their defense around. Bailey is arguably the best one available, and the shorter-than-average arms of his primary competition, Rueben Bain, might scare Arizona away from using the No. 3 pick on him. Bailey brings no such length concerns, though his slim frame and lack of elite power are knocks on his game.
The Chiefs, who hold the ninth overall pick, could also use another high-upside edge rusher opposite 2022 first-rounder George Karlaftis. Bailey’s speed-rushing capabilities could complement Karlaftis’ power and ensure that Kansas City’s pass rush continues to thrive even if Chris Jones retires in the next few years.
The Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Packers just before the 2025 regular season, and his absence loomed large all year long. Dallas has built some depth off the edge with Rashan Gary joining Sam Williams and 2025 second-rounder Donovan Ezeiruaku, but none can match Bailey’s long-term upside. No one player can truly replace Parsons, but adding an explosive pass rusher like Bailey would be a good start.
Cardinals, Titans, Chiefs Meet With LB Arvell Reese
The lack of quarterback depth in this year’s draft class has minimized potential trade-up talk, as the Raiders are all set to select Fernando Mendoza to open the draft. But some interesting pass-rushing prospects check in behind the Heisman winner in this year’s prospect pool.
While others are more accomplished rushers, Arvell Reese carries perhaps the biggest upside. That has led the Ohio State hybrid performer to be mocked to the Jets at No. 2 overall frequently. If the Jets are to determine Reese’s developmental track is not for them, other teams in the top 10 would await. A few are doing research on the standout linebacker.
We already heard of Reese meetings with the Jets, Giants, Saints and Cowboys. He has now also met with the Cardinals, Titans and Chiefs, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. Reese would fill needs in Arizona, Tennessee and Kansas City. The three-year Buckeyes cog is far from the only high-end pass-rushing prospect available, but he is probably the most unique player among this group.
As our Ben Levine noted in January, Reese mostly played linebacker last season at Ohio State. He only logged 97 snaps at the EDGE position in 2025 but still ranked seventh in Division I-FBS pressure rate (18.5%). Reese, who joins linebacker mate Sonny Styles (an ex-safety) in having some positional versatility, has expressed a preference to work as a pass rusher in the NFL. Considering his limited reps there, teams will need a clear plan to develop a high-ceiling prospect. But Micah Parsons‘ ascent will undoubtedly be on teams’ minds when evaluating Reese; Abdul Carter also turned a linebacker background into a No. 3 overall draft selection after moving to an EDGE role.
The Cardinals have been regularly given Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa in mock drafts. The recent national championship game starter would fill a glaring right tackle need opposite Paris Johnson Jr., but the Cards could also use help opposite Josh Sweat on the edge. Arizona has a history of selecting hybrid linebacker types, though those choices came under previous GM Steve Keim. Still, the Cardinals drafted the likes of Deone Bucannon, Haason Reddick, Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins and used each at multiple positions.
A veteran evaluator recently informed SportsBoom.com’s Jason La Canfora that Reese will be at his best in a 3-4 EDGE role. Neither the Chiefs nor Titans use that scheme, creating some questions about his fit. Though, any team that drafts Reese — thanks to the proliferation of nickel and dime sets — will regularly use him as an edge rusher in a four-man front. The Chiefs and Titans will just use that as their base defense.
Kansas City finished with just 25 sacks last season and has Chris Jones going into an age-32 season. The team, which has not seen 2023 first-round defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah show much, needs help opposite D-end George Karlaftis. The Titans hired Robert Saleh as HC and have seen him bring in four former Jets defensive linemen this offseason. Tennessee may still need a rusher opposite trade pickup Jermaine Johnson, however.
Jets Meet With RB Jeremiyah Love
While the Jaguars and Seahawks respectively let Travis Etienne and Kenneth Walker leave in free agency, the Jets kept Breece Hall off the market via the franchise tag. Hall extension talks are slated for after the draft.
It would stand to reason the Jets will go just about anywhere but running back at No. 2 overall, and a few tantalizing options await the rebuilding team in that draft slot. New York has been primarily linked to pass rushers there. But the team is still doing its due diligence on the top prospects who will be available at 2.
[RELATED: Jets Hopeful About Hall Extension]
Running back Jeremiyah Love met with the Jets over breakfast recently, according to the New York Post’s Brian Costello. Saquon Barkley and Reggie Bush are the only running backs to be drafted in the top two over the past 20 years, and while Love’s floor may be the Commanders at No. 7 (with the Giants viewed as heavily in play at 5), it would be a near-shocking development to see him go to the Jets at No. 2.
A scenario in which the Jets trade down slightly from 2 and select Love could conceivably be in play, though a team with many needs doubling up at running back would be a questionable roster-building route. Then again, this Jets regime did not draft Hall. A tag-and-trade transaction would stand to be in play if the Jets made the unlikely decision to draft Love, but teams will have largely filled their running back needs by the time the draft ends. If the Jets were going to make such a move with Hall, striking before free agency would have been the better plan. But it seems likely an extension comes to fruition.
Scoring 40 touchdowns over the past two seasons, Love amassed 1,652 scrimmage yards in 2025 and 1,362 in 2024. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry in both seasons and exits South Bend with 433 carries, keeping his mileage relatively low for a prospect on this level (Barkley left Penn State with 671 career totes).
The Jets have been more closely tied to Arvell Reese or David Bailey at No. 2, with previous intel pointing to — especially after the Jermaine Johnson trade — New York going with an edge rusher with this premium draft slot. The Jets met with Reese last week. Love will be likely to follow Bijan Robinson as a top-eight pick, but if he is to head to the Big Apple, it will be more likelier he dons a blue uniform for his home games than a green one.
Jets Unlikely To Draft QB Ty Simpson; Cooper Rush On Team’s Radar
Since it was learned Dante Moore would be staying in college for the 2026 season, the Jets’ quarterback approach for the upcoming draft has been a question mark. New York owns two first-round selections, but it remains to be seen if strong consideration will be given to using one of them on Ty Simpson.
The one-year Alabama starter has drawn a wide range of opinions regarding his draft stock, but interest has been shown by a number of teams. That includes the Jets, as illustrated by the workout Simpson recently conducted with the them. At this point, though, it may come as a surprise if Simpson were to wind up in New York.
During his latest appearance on Jets Final Drive, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic predicted the Jets will not select Simpson given the risk involved with doing so. New York could elect to wait until next year’s draft to identify a long-term starter. That is an approach expected of other teams as well with next year’s class held in much higher regard than this year’s. As such, a veteran backup to trade acquisition Geno Smith will be a strong possibility.
On that note, SNY’s Connor Hughes confirms (video link) the Jets’ preference was to sign Carson Wentz in free agency. Doing so would have reunited him with new offensive coordinator Frank Reich, but Wentz wound up remaining in place with the Vikings. The list of remaining free agents has been thinned out since the new league year began, but there are still a few veteran passers on the market.
Of those, Hughes names Cooper Rush as one to watch closely. The longtime Cowboys backup joined the Ravens on a two-year deal last spring, but things did not go according to plan during his time in the lineup. Rush was expectedly released in March, and he has not previously been linked to any suitors. The 32-year-old has made 16 starts and 42 appearances in his career, and he would be familiar with a backup gig in the event he signed on to be New York’s QB2.
Hughes adds that Tyrod Taylor is still well-liked in the Jets’ building. Another deal for the Jets’ 2024 and ’25 backup will be something to watch for as a result. Taylor, 36, made four starts last season following Justin Fields‘ benching; he has totaled 62 in his career. A low-cost contract allowing him to remain in the QB2 role would give New York a bridge tandem under center in advance of the 2027 draft.
Smith is in position to start for the Jets, something which was the case for his first two years in the NFL. How the team approaches the quarterback position over the coming weeks will be something to watch for, with a stopgap veteran seeming to be more likely than a high-profile draft investment at this point.
RB Jeremiyah Love Unlikely To Last Beyond Commanders At No. 7?
Jeremiyah Love is widely understood to be one the most talented prospects in the 2026 class. Gauging where running backs will land in a draft is always difficult, but in this case a drop out of the top 10 order appears unlikely.
[RELATED: Love Could Be Giants’ Top Target]
The Commanders have frequently been mentioned as a logical landing spot for Love. The Heisman finalist would add an impact to any offense, but joining Washington would allow him to immediately contribute on the ground and in the passing game. Multiple personnel who spoke with SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora believe the Commanders – who own the seventh overall pick – are the floor in Love’s case.
“He’s exactly what that offense needs,” one evaluator said. “The draft is about supply and demand and who really needs a running back. The GM [Adam Peters] comes from San Francisco. They made the trade for [Christian] McCaffrey.”
Peters is indeed familiar with high-end running back acquisitions and the implications of building an offense around an elite player at the position dating back to his 49ers tenure. Washington’s backfield has undergone a number of changes so far this offseason, with Chris Rodriguez departing and the likes of Rachaad White and Jerome Ford being added. Drafting Love would leave the Commanders with other notable roster holes, but it would give the team a long-term offensive pillar if all went according to plan.
During each of his sophomore and junior campaigns at Notre Dame, Love averaged 6.9 yards per attempt. He topped 1,300 scrimmage yards in each season, totaling 40 touchdowns between 2024 and ’25. Love earned first-team All-American honors for his final college campaign and he will be counted on contribute early and often at the NFL level.
Peters’ team went from a surprise trip to the NFC title game to a 5-12 season in 2025. Rebounding will depend on factors such as the health of quarterback Jayden Daniels and the strength of his supporting cast. A receiver move will remain something to watch for, but interest in Love – though a top 30 visit or otherwise – could also develop in the near future.
WR Omar Cooper Jr. To Visit Panthers
Despite spending their past two first-round picks on wide receivers, the Panthers could go back to the well this year. They will host Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr. on a “30” visit, Jordan Reid of ESPN reports.
After redshirting as a freshman, Cooper finished with 18 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns in nine games in 2023. Like the rest of the Indiana program, though, Cooper found another gear under head coach Curt Cignetti from 2024-25.
While Cooper only had 28 receptions in 13 games in Cignetti’s first season, he averaged a jaw-dropping 21.2 yards per catch and hauled in seven touchdowns. The 6-foot, 200-pounder moved to the slot last year and played an integral role in the Hoosiers’ 16-0, national title-winning campaign. Teaming up with quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who transferred from California, Cooper finished with 69 catches, 937 yards (13.6 YPC) and 13 receiving TDs.
Both Mendoza, who is all but guaranteed to go No. 1 overall, and Cooper are riding high as the draft nears. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranks Cooper as the 18th-best prospect in this year’s class, writing that he “fits the exact model of wideouts finding immediate success in the NFL.”
With the Panthers holding the 19th pick, Cooper could be in their wheelhouse. The team has “done a lot of work on receivers” leading up to the draft, according to Reid. The Panthers have made big draft investments at the position in recent years, though they haven’t all worked out. Terrace Marshall (2021) and Jonathan Mingo (2023) are out of the organization after flopping as second-rounders under previous general manager Scott Fitterer. Dan Morgan, then a rookie GM, traded into the first round in 2024 to take Xavier Legette 32nd overall. Legette has since posted unspectacular numbers, though 2025 eighth overall selection Tetairoa McMillan had a tremendous first season en route to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
The Panthers also have a young slot receiver in two-year veteran Jalen Coker, but there is room to add another talented pass catcher like Cooper to aid quarterback Bryce Young. While the Panthers will exercise Young’s fifth-year option, they will need to see more from the 2023 No. 1 pick before doling out an extension.
Cowboys Meet With Arvell Reese, Schedule Visits With Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles
Ohio State is expected to be the most represented school in the first half of this month’s first round. As many as four Buckeyes are squarely on the radar to become top-10 picks. The Cowboys are meeting with three of them.
Dallas completed a “30” visit with hybrid linebacker Arvell Reese, according to All DLLS’ Clarence Hill, who adds the team has scheduled pre-draft meetings with safety Caleb Downs and linebacker Sonny Styles.
All three Ohio State defenders reside in the top nine of Daniel Jeremiah’s latest NFL.com big board, which slots Styles third, Reese fifth and Downs ninth. This would make it unlikely any member of the trio reaches the Cowboys at No. 12, but that is not a certainty. Both Styles and Downs play non-premium positions, while Reese is considered a high-ceiling project who has drawn some Micah Parsons comparisons due to his potential as an edge rusher and experience as an off-ball LB.
Styles, though, may be the cleanest of these prospects. As our Adam La Rose noted this week, Styles spent two seasons as a safety in Columbus. He moved to linebacker in 2024 and combined for 182 tackles and seven sacks over the past two seasons. The all-around talent drew a Jeremiah comp to All-Pro Fred Warner; Styles’ Combine work gives him a chance to become the first off-ball linebacker selected in the top five since Devin White in 2019. One GM and a separate longtime evaluator told SportsBoom.com’s Jason La Canfora that Styles is the best overall talent in this year’s draft.
As other positional markets have soared in recent years, ILB has not climbed much. Warner and Shaquille Leonard secured deals reaching or exceeding $19MM per year in 2021; the market is now topped by Warner’s $21MM-per-year 49ers extension. Neither Devin Lloyd nor Quay Walker required a top-five ILB deal to sign last month; the position is not viewed similarly to edge rusher, where Reese is hoping to campaign. White (for the most part), Isaiah Simmons, Rolando McClain and Aaron Curry underwhelmed as top-10 picks. Though, Luke Kuechly and Roquan Smith delivered as top-10 options in that span.
Downs also plays a position that teams regularly devalue, though the safety market has changed more than the ILB landscape in recent years. The Giants (No. 5) have been linked to both Styles and Downs, while the Commanders (No. 7) have also met with Styles. Only two safeties — Jamal Adams (No. 6, 2017) and Eric Berry (No. 5, 2010) — have been drafted in the top 10 over the past 18 years. Downs will be a good bet to join them, but if he slips, a Cowboys team in dire need of defensive help could be lurking.
Considering how clean Styles and Downs are viewed as prospects, these visits are interesting. This is prime smokescreen season, but teams seeing the Cowboys meeting with this duo could influence another club to trade up to outflank Dallas in the event one is still on the board as No. 12 nears.
Reese has been mocked frequently to the Jets at No. 2, but he played fewer than 100 EDGE snaps in 2025. Reese wants to play that position as a pro; that makes sense given the tremendous value gap between ILBs and OLBs. A GM informed La Canfora Reese should be viewed as a 3-4 OLB in the pros. The Cowboys are installing that defense under new DC Christian Parker, but Reese will not be expected to be available by the time Dallas’ first pick comes around.
Teams Viewing Miami DE Akheem Mesidor As Better Than Teammate Rueben Bain?
After a run to the College Football Playoff Championship game, the Hurricanes are primed to send several standout players to the league. Two names in particular have frequented top-10 projections as draft pundits offer opinions on offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. A third player has frequently been linked to first-round mock drafts, and according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, some in the league believe he’s better than one of those other two.
That player would be none other than Bain’s fellow pass rusher Akheem Mesidor. Mesidor began his college football journey at West Virginia, where he made a big impact on the edge as a true freshman, recording five sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. In Year 2 with the Mountaineers, the team opted to shift Mesidor inside to more of role on the interior line. Mesidor still produced, logging 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss, but opted to transfer and ended up in Coral Gables.
With Miami, Mesidor returned right back to a role on the edge, and he was impressive in doing so, leading the team with seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. In 2023, Bain arrived as a true freshman, and when Mesidor was shut down with injury, missing all but three games, Bain asserted himself as a difference maker with 7.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. The next year, it was Bain’s turn to deal with injury, and though he played in nine games, he looked like a shell of his freshman self, logging only 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss while clearly limited due to injury. Mesidor didn’t fare too much better that year, registering only 5.5 sacks with nine tackles for loss.
Bain came back healthy this past season, and the duo immediately put NFL scouts on notice as they disrupted a top Notre Dame offensive line early and often to open the year, notably sealing the Hurricanes’ Week 1 matchup by meeting at the quarterback twice in the final two plays before a Fighting Irish false start ran the final seconds off the clock. Both pass rushers would go on to enjoy the best production of their careers, shining especially bright on the biggest stage. In four CFP games against Texas A&M, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Indiana, Mesidor recorded 5.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss while Bain delivered five sacks and eight tackles for loss.
There’s certainly a case to be made for Mesidor, who hasn’t received as much love as Bain in early draft talks despite never being outshined by him on the field. Mesidor’s final 2025 figures (12.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss) did outpace Bain’s (9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss). So why isn’t he up in the top 10 with Bain? One theory might be drawn from looking at their time not playing together. When Mesidor was hurt, Bain stepped up and stood out as a true freshman. When Bain was hurt, Mesidor reverted back to his old West Virginia production despite being a fifth-year athlete.
Additionally, when they did play together, one could argue quite a bit of Mesidor’s success came as a result of the disruption or extra attention being paid to Bain on the other side. The same concept could certainly be attributed to Bain, too, but Mesidor drew fewer double teams throughout the season. That’s not to say that Mesidor can’t get it done on his own, though. Mesidor is seen as more of a pure pass rusher, with a full arsenal of attack moves and an effective plan of attack. Teams looking for the more talented pass rusher will see Mesidor as the superior talent, whereas Bain gains the edge with overall disruption.
Bain offers greater versatility along the line, though both have played both edge and interior snaps. Less reliant on an arsenal, though he still has one, Bain’s methods are violent, quick, and powerful. His ability to bring the fight to his opponent often overcomes the concerns over his shorter arm length while his incredible bend for his frame help him to evade and finish. Even without the pass rushing prowess, Bain’s 83 pressures in 2025 were the most in a season since 2014.
Both defensive ends do have flaws that draw the ire of some scouts and teams. Bain’s arms are seemingly a big concern, though it increasingly appears to be more of an issue in the media than in the actual NFL. Mesidor, after six years of college (thanks to COVID-19 and an injury redshirt), will be 25 years old when he’s drafted. Regardless, some teams will overlook these flaws and take a chance on the upside both players displayed at the college level of the game, and while some may view Mesidor as the more talented pass rusher, Bain is currently in line to hear his name called a bit earlier on in the evening.
Two First-Round Tight Ends In 2026?
For much of the pre-draft process, a single tight end prospect has frequented first-round mock drafts. Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq has widely been considered the TE1 of the 2026 NFL Draft class with a stellar junior campaign and a promising build. According to Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom, another name may just sneak into the mix for Day 1 consideration. 
La Canfora relayed yesterday that multiple executives “absolutely” have a first-round grade on Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers. Behind Sadiq, there’s really not been any consensus on ordering the hierarchy of the next tier of top tight ends. Ohio State’s Max Klare and Baylor’s Michael Trigg are also considered top players at the position.
Sadiq led all NCAA tight ends with eight receiving touchdowns on 51 catches for 560 yards. Stowers led the position group with 769 yards on 62 catches with four touchdowns. Limited to 11 games, Trigg enters the picture when you bring yards per game into account, finishing second at the position behind Stowers thanks to 50 receptions for 694 yards and six touchdowns. Houston tight end Tanner Koziol joins the party with a position-leading 74 catches that went for 727 yards and six touchdowns. Klare shined more during his tenure at Purdue but made several big plays for the Buckeyes this year.
Per La Canfora, one source saw Sadiq as everyone else did, a top-15 pick, but didn’t “see a huge drop-off between him and Stowers and Trigg. Another had concerns about whether some would last as tight ends or have to shift out to slot wide receivers, indicating Stowers posed no such dilemma. That source liked Trigg, too, but noted some character issues may hurt his stock.
There is certainly some talent available at the tight end position, but the distance between TE1 and TE2 — and the identity of TE2 — are still very much up for debate. Stowers, though, is bidding to join Sadiq in the first round.