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2026 NFL Draft: Day 2 prospects at tight end

Nobody’s a complete player, but potential remains

Ohio State TE Max Klare
Ohio State TE Max Klare

With Green Bay not owning a first-round pick in the upcoming draft, this year's Prospect Primer series will take a position-by-position look at players projected as Day 2 selections (Rounds 2-3) potentially available to the Packers, who have the No. 52 and 84 overall selections on the second day of the draft.

Here's a trio of tight ends:

Michael Trigg, Baylor

Ht/Wt: 6-4, 240

News & notes: Played one year at USC and two at Ole Miss before transferring to Baylor for his final two seasons … Was limited by injuries at his second stop but broke out at Baylor, catching 30 passes for 395 yards and three TDs in 2024, then following up with 50 catches for 694 yards and six TDs last season … Named second-team All-Big 12 in '24, then first-team All-Big 12 and third-team AP All-America in '25 … Considered a matchup problem due to his size and massive catch radius, as his wingspan measurement of 84 3/8 inches set a new combine record for tight ends … More a receiving and yards-after-catch threat than in-line blocker but could still grow into his frame … Also played basketball in high school in Florida.

Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

Ht/Wt: 6-4, 239

News & notes: Four-star recruit as a quarterback transitioned to tight end in college and wound up a Mackey Award winner as the nation's best tight end … Texas native spent two years at Texas A&M and one at New Mexico State before his final two at Vanderbilt, where he caught 111 passes for 1,407 yards and nine TDs over the 2024-25 seasons … Wrapped up his college career as a first-team All-SEC and first-team AP All-America selection, along with the Mackey Award and William V. Campbell Trophy, also known as the "Academic Heisman" … Impressive athlete who recorded a 4.51-second 40, 45½-inch vertical jump and 11-3 broad jump at the combine … Major receiving weapon with after-catch skills and a long way to go as a blocker, but given recent position switch and body type, can develop and add strength there … Also a state champion high jumper in high school.

Max Klare, Ohio St.

Ht/Wt: 6-4, 246

News & notes: Indiana native spent three years at Purdue before his final season at Ohio State … Actually had his best pass-catching year, statistically, in 2024 at Purdue with 51 receptions for 685 yards and four TDs, finishing top three among TEs in the conference in catches and yards to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors … Caught multiple passes in 17 straight games for the Boilermakers … Elevated to first-team All-Big Ten in 2025 despite a drop in receiving production, in part due to Ohio State's offense, to 43 catches for 448 yards and two scores … Shows more effectiveness as a blocker than some other tight end prospects in this draft, but could've potentially boosted his stock by staying in college for his final season of eligibility … Comes from a football family, as his dad, grandfather, cousin and two uncles all played college football, and his brother, Luke, is a tight end at Purdue.

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2026 Prospect Primers

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