Our 2026 NFL Combine preview series continues as we inch closer to the NFL’s televised coverage of the event on Thursday, February 26.
So far, we have already previewed which quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers the Detroit Lions should be scouting. In this article, we wrap up the offensive skill positions by examining the tight end prospects that should be on general manager Brad Holmes’ radar. Of note: the tight ends will be the first offensive position group televised at the Combine, as they go through on-field drills on Friday, February 27.
Team need
The Lions are expected to return both Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright from injury this offseason, and both are under contract in 2026, meaning the Lions will likely have their top two tight ends back for next season. Historically, the Lions have typically carried three tight ends on their roster, but with the addition of offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and his preference toward running some 13 personnel packages, the Lions could be in the market to add a TE3 and TE4 this offseason.
When Petzing joined POD for an interview last week, we discussed his 13 personnel usage and the traits tight ends need in order to operate the formation properly:
“If you have three tight ends that don’t have a multiple skill set, you’re not going to do it. Because the key is the matchups. When you have guys that can do a lot of different things, you can start to dictate things based on what the defense wants to do.”
Essentially, Petzing isn’t looking for tight ends who are primarily pass catchers or blockers, but instead prospects who have balance to their game and can both catch and block.
What to watch for
The tight end position has evolved in recent years, and players are expected to do more each season. So when watching this group at the Combine, here are a few key things to focus on:
- When it comes to receiving skills, the same traits we identified for the WR group can also be applied here
- Keep an eye on things like explosion, crisp movements in routes, natural hands, and body control during on-field workouts
- Hand placement and drive skills during blocking drills with bags
- If sleds are utilized again, only those with proper technique can move the sled on the indoor turf
- Blocking: Can they sink their hips and drive? Do they bend at the knee or waist? Where do they place their hands in order to gain leverage?
Prospects
If the Lions elect to move on from Sam LaPorta, Klare is the closest comparable tight end to him in this draft class, and he’ll likely command the same price tag: an early second-round pick. After breaking out at Purdue in 2024, Klare transferred to OSU in 2025 to showcase his skills on a bigger stage. He’s a versatile athlete who can be a matchup problem for defenses. He’s a strong route runner but is not always smooth in his breaks, which forces him to rely on leverage and elite ball skills rather than technique. He attacks the ball in the air and gets upfield in a hurry, creating yards after the catch (YAC). As a blocker, Klare is willing and competitive, showing great effort, but he can struggle to displace defensive linemen due to average strength.
Roush is a balanced, plug-and-play TE-Y and is arguably the best prospect in this class to complement TE1 LaPorta. Roush is comfortable in all blocking schemes and operates as an extension of the offensive line. He runs to and through contact, keeps his hand inside properly, can execute combo blocks with ease, and is reliable in pass protection. As a receiver, he’s a zone beater who can struggle versus man due to average elusiveness. He’s effective in executing his routes, but he will telegraph his route plan and doesn’t always use his size to his advantage. That being said, there’s room to grow in this area. After the catch, he maintains good pad level and is tough to tackle, demonstrating above-average physicality across all aspects of his game. Lastly, he’s durable, playing in all 48 games available to him over the past four seasons.
After three seasons at Cal, Endries transferred to Texas in 2025. Endries is an intelligent tight end with the speed to be a vertical threat and the physicality to go over the middle. As a receiver, he doesn’t shy away from contact and regularly boxes out defensive backs. His hands are soft and reliable, making him a QB safety net for Arch Manning in 2025 and Fernando Mendoza in 2023-24. While more of a TE-F (slot-based) than TE-Y (inline), Endries is a reliable space blocker and initiates contact on blocks. However, he lacks the strength to sustain his assignments, leading to inconsistencies in his run blocking.
Hailing from Germany, Klein is a traditional TE-Y with pro-style offense experience and tremendous upside. While he could use a bit more weight/strength on his frame, he’s strong in all aspects of his game and demonstrates strong blocking technique, an understanding of leverage, and how to create advantages with inside hands. As a receiver, he’s more effort than technique at this stage of his development, but the promise is there. He covers ground quickly, can stretch the seam, is smooth underneath, and hits his marks, but he lacks elite speed, which limits separation and YAC.
Raridon is an every-down size-speed matchup TE-Y with developmental upside and the room to add more strength to his frame. He’s an explosive and fluid athlete with natural hands and an understanding of route concepts at all three levels. While he finds open space all over the field, he has built-up speed rather than an explosive burst, forcing him to fight through contested catches and limiting YAC. Fortunately, making contested catches is one of his best strengths. As a blocker, his technique is solid, and he shows determination when engaged, but his run blocking can be inconsistent. ACL surgeries in 2021 and 2022 will be important checks during medicals at the Combine.
Boerkircher is a blocker-first TE-Y, and yet another tight end with more potential than he showed in college. As a blocker, he initiates contact, shows a willingness to grind it out, consistently locates targets in space, drives defenders back once engaged, and clears out defensive backs on the regular. As a receiver, he’s comfortable working the middle of the field, consistently locating and moving in space to create QB-friendly targets. A contested catcher with solid hands, Boerkircher is not bothered by contact when securing the football. He lacks explosion, which limits his YAC and could reduce his role in the NFL. Special teams experience and the room to add to his frame are also pluses.
Cuevas has a range of roles he can play, but he’s best as an H-Back and reserve TE-Y. He shows good burst off the line of scrimmage and out of his breaks, which creates separation. He’s willing to go over the middle of the field, competes in traffic, settles in open pockets, and has reliable, soft hands. As a blocker, he’s sound overall, attacking assignments with effort and technique, helping offset average strength. Cuevas has the range to be a lead blocker out of the backfield and a contributor on special teams, making him a multi-role player on game day.
Another multi-positional TE/H-Back, Delp never fully realized his potential at Georgia. Delp has the speed to get vertical, route quickness to create separation vs. man, understands escape angles vs. zone, properly utilizes soft hands, and can create YAC with his after-catch burst. As a blocker, he has power in his hands and will drive defenders in the run game, but he is forced to outwork his opponent, as his strength is average and his footwork can get sloppy at times.
Nowakowski is a versatile H-Back with experience at tight end and fullback. As a receiver, he’s a reliable check-down outlet, has solid route timing, shows soft hands, and has the ability to gain YAC in space. He’ll need to polish his deeper routes to expand his range. As a blocker, he’s a drive finisher, wins with effort over strength, and leans on leverage and hand placement to secure wins as a blocker. Special teams experience and upside are appealing traits.
A former linebacker who switched to tight end/fullback/H-back in 2025, Kanak has very limited experience but appealing traits that could earn him a draft selection. Kanak’s transition to offense was smooth because of his natural hands (high school receiver), speed (high school track background), and ability to manipulate defenses; as a former linebacker, he knows where the soft spots are. Kanak is a hard worker with the desire to block, but he’ll need to improve his technique. A four-phase special teams role is in his future and should help him stick on an NFL roster while he rounds out his game.
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