Summer Scouting Positional Rankings: Stacking a talented crop of predominantly pass catchers

It's a different tight end class than the typical years, but there are fun names to discuss nonetheless. So how has this class shaped out through summer scouting?

The 2025 NFL Draft featured two tight ends taken in the top-15, with both Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren hearing their names called early. Will the 2026 NFL Draft class yield similar results?

There are no tight ends in the same tier as the likes of Loveland or Warren this year. However, there are some fun names nonetheless. If you are looking for a tight end with high-end blocking prowess, this will not be the class for you, but there are handfuls of dynamic play-makers in the passing game.

So, how did this class shake out for me through summer scouting? Let’s sort through this class.

Just missed the cut

Houston landed a tight end out of the transfer portal late, Ball State transfer Tanner Koziol. After initially committing to Wisconsin in the winter portal, Koziol then entered the portal again and landed at Houston without ever playing a down.

He was Ball State’s offense a year ago, but the translation to the NFL is a bit rough given his tools. He is a lumbering runner, stiff when getting in and out of breaks, and cannot leverage his size as a blocker.

SMU’s RJ Maryland also misses the cut here as a top-10 tight end. A big slot/H-back type, Maryland suffered a season-ending injury a year ago. However, I didn’t see a great athlete or a fluid mover for Maryland, who is already undersized.

Another SMU tight end, however, did make the cut here.