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.