Lazar’s Tight End Tiers: Ranking the Best Patriots Fits at Tight End in the 2026 NFL Draft

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Lazar's Tight End Tiers: Ranking the Best Patriots Fits at Tight End in the 2026 NFL Draft

Having said that, Sadiq is a rare athlete who should flourish in an offense equipped to unlock his mismatch potential. The 21-year-old’s elite athletic profile (9.58 RAS) and straight-line speed (4.39s 40) translate on his vertical routes (wheels), seam runs, and crossers, while flashing some separation quickness on skinny posts out of the slot. He also has great contact balance and open-field speed, making him a YAC monster. Despite his size, Sadiq can block. He has great body control and runs his feet through contact to crack the ends, seal edges, and block on the move. Sadiq has the potential to be a high-impact playmaker, but it seems like a pipe dream that he’ll be available when the Patriots are on the clock (No. 31 overall).

Tier Two – The Intriguing Day-Two Cluster for the Patriots

Assuming Sadiq is off the board before they pick at the end of the first round, the Patriots will likely be picking from this tier if they prioritize tight end on day two of the draft.

2. Oscar Delp, Georgia (6-5, 245)

Consensus Ranking – 91, Pro Comparison – Sam LaPorta

With Delp, the team that drafts him inside the top-100 will be betting on his athletic upside leading to more receiving production at the pro level. The Georgia product is an elite athlete (9.83 RAS) with 4.49 speed. His explosiveness flashes in his seam runs, crossers, and as a ball carrier, where he simply has too much speed for second-level defenders to keep up. There’s an impressive playmaking gear to his movements, and he has the competitive toughness to block at the point of attack or on the move, where his athleticism shines again. Delp has the high-end flashes of an elite tight end prospect, but with only 70 career catches over four collegiate seasons (20 receptions for 248 yards in 2025), we are projecting that his production will take off in the pros. It’s not unheard of for this position.

3. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt (6-4, 239)

Consensus Ranking – 52, Pro Comparison – Oronde Gadsden II

Stowers is an explosive athlete (9.49 RAS) who creates separation at the top of routes and is an impressive ball carrier, possessing running back-like burst, contact balance, and nimbleness to weave through the defense. Those movement skills helped him catch 62 passes for 769 receiving yards while averaging 2.55 yards per route run last season. Stowers’s receiving profile is elite, but he brings next to nothing as a blocker, so you have to ask yourself this: Do you like him for receiver or tight end reasons? As a slot receiver, he’s a mismatch, but it’s hard to envision him having a three-down role because he’s not a competent run blocker. Some teams view Stowers as a receiver, which makes sense, seeing that nearly 65% of his snaps came as a detached receiver last season.

4. Max Klare, Ohio State (6-4, 246)

Consensus Ranking – 74, Pro Comparison – Hunter Henry

Klare is a move tight end with good straight-line burst and a knack for creating separation within the framework of the offense. Although he opted out of athletic testing, which is a bit concerning, Klare has enough juice on tape to separate on crossers, find soft spots in zone coverages, and flashes release quickness out of the slot to find leverage wins. Although it’s not his strong suit, he competes as a run-blocker and has enough body control and power to stalemate his assignment. Klare will make his money as a receiver, where his ability to use rubs, stacks/bunches, and delayed releases helps him take chunks out of the defense, while his feel for the passing game suggests he’ll be a reliable chain-mover.