Will the New England Patriots find their next great tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Well, they may not view the draft as an opportunity to land the next Rob Gronkowski, but the draft does have a lot of depth at the tight end position. It is filled with players who have higher ceilings and could expand their potential at the NFL level.
Patriots eyeing tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft
In discussing the draft at the NFL Combine, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel sees a lot of potential and possibilities when discussing the team’s need at the position.
"Just looking across the board, I think there's volume at the tight end class," Vrabel said. "When you go and you evaluate other teams and you get ready to play them, there's a bunch of fourth-and-fifth-round tight ends that end up starting, playing, and contributing. So, wherever that value is, I just think that there are some names there."
With Hunter Henry on the other side of 30 and Austin Hooper leaving in free agency, the Patriots need to get younger and more athletic at the position. With the way Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels likes to utilize tight ends, finding big targets who can manifest down the seasons as options for Drake Maye will be ideal.
Here’s a look at potential targets for the Patriots at the tight end position in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Round 1, pick 31: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
2025 Stats: Rec: 62 | Yards: 769 | TDs: 4 | Yards Per Catch 12.4
Unless Kenyon Sadiq somehow slides to No. 31 in this draft, the Patriots next option as a potential late-first round pick at the position is former Vanderbilt star Eli Stowers. After electrifying scouts with an awesome NFL Combine performance, the John Mackey Award winner will give Maye a big receiver type tight end who can create havoc down the seams with his natural hands and leaping ability. Given where the Patriots are drafting, their best option to land Stowers would be at No. 31 or if they trade back into early-to-mid round 2.
Round 2, pick 63: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
2025 Stats: Rec: 43 | Yards: 448 | TDs: 2 | Yards Per Catch 10.4
A player who should be around when the Patriots select at No. 63, Max Klare is the classic move tight end who really haven’t hit his ceiling yet. Could he reach that ceiling catching the ball from Maye and learning behind a veteran like Hunter Henry? As a good route runner who can line up in multiple positions, the 6-foot-4, 246-pound Klare is a player to watch for the Patriots given he possess most of the attributes Josh McDaniels likes in a tight end.
Round 3, Pick 95: Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
2025 Stats: Rec: 50 | Yards: 694 | TDs: 6 | Yards Per Catch: 13.9
Another high upside move tight end, former Baylor star Michael Trigg is an intriguing option for any team drafting in the mid rounds. With a wingspan over 84 inches, Trigg provides a huge catch radius. Combined with his 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame and overall athleticism, he is a mid-round pick who could excel at the NFL level much like Harold Fannin Jr. did with the Browns in 2025 coming out of Bowling Green. A vertical threat with big-time physicality after the catch, Trigg would be a fascinating option for Maye in the Patriots’ offense.
Round 4, Pick 125: Jack Endries, TE, Texas
2025 Stats: Rec: 33 | Yards: 346 | TDs: 3 | Yards Per Catch 10.5
Jack Endries is another one of those tight ends who can line up in multiple positions. He doesn’t have the explosiveness of Stowers, Klare or Trigg, but he is an effective route runner with great hands and can go up and win contested catches. In transferring from the University of California to Texas, Endris didn’t break out as expected, but he is still a high-level pass-catching tight end who could fill the void of Austin Hooper and emerge as a TE2 in the Patriots’ offense.
Round 5, Pick 171: John Michael Gyllenborg, TE, Wyoming
2025 Stats: Rec: 24 | Yards: 217 | TDs: 1 | Yards Per Catch 9.0
John Michael Gyllenborg doesn’t have the numbers that jump off the chart, but don’t get it twisted. After showcasing his speed at the NFL Combine by running a 4.60 40-yard dash, the former Wyoming star is another athletic move tight end option for the Patriots who at 6-foot-6 can be a down-the-seams big target for Maye much like Henry. He will need some development, but the prototypical size, athleticism and blocking in space is there. A good late-round option for the Patriots.
Round 6, Pick 191: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
2025 Stats: Rec: 20 | Yards: 251 | TDs: 1 | Yards Per Catch 12.2
With the way the Oscar Delp hype is trending amongst Patriots fans, this Georgia product could be a higher round option. At 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, Delp is described as a “fluid athlete” who has quickness for his size and soft hands when it comes to catching the ball. He wasn’t utilized as much as he should’ve been while at the University of Georgia but has the skillset to flourish at the NFL level. The reason he could fall to Day 3 is his arm length and low volume of production.
Round 7, Pick 247: Jack Velling, TE, Michigan State
2025 Stats: Rec: 36 | Yards: 359 | TDs: 3 | Yards Per Catch 10.0
The 2026 NFL Draft is sneaky deep at tight end. There is a drop off in high-end talent, but there are a lot of tight ends like Michigan State’s Jack Velling that fall into that mid-to-late round area. Given his production at Michigan State, the seventh round seems a bit late for a player who has a great catch radius and presents as a red zone threat given his size (6-foot-4, 256 pounds) and overall football awareness. Where he lacks and why he may slide to the seventh round is his lack of elite speed, ability to separate and slender frame. If the Patriots do double-dip at tight end, a nice later round option.