The Green Bay Packers may well be looking for a tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft, with Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave entering contract years, and the former recovering from a torn ACL.
There are plenty of prospects who might be of interest based on what Green Bay has historically looked for in their tight ends, in what is a deep draft at the position.
11 tight ends have been drafted by the Packers since 2008. On average they have been around 6-3 ⅔, 251 pounds with 32.5” arms. The lowest marks have been 6-2 ⅛, 242 pounds with 31.5” arms.
On the athleticism front, the average 40 time has been 4.70, which is an 81st percentile score. The average 10-yard split is 1.65 (72nd percentile) and the worst by a player taken in the first three rounds has been 1.69 (51st percentile).
The average 3-cone time has been 7.18, with the lowest at 7.29, which is a 50th percentile score. The average broad jump has been 9-9, a 71st percentile score. This all speaks to the Packers’ desire for well-rounded athletes at tight end.
Factoring in the averages and floors, here are the closest fits to what the Packers are likely to be looking for, between No. 30 and 350 on the consensus big board, along with their ranking:
Delp has boosted his stock tremendously by running an eye opening 4.49 40 at 245 pounds. He was under-utilized in the Georgia offense, and his best football could be ahead of him. The former Bulldog is the only likely Day 2 option at tight end for Green Bay.
Bentley is the only tight end who hit the average Packers benchmark in every single measurement and athletic testing. He is already 25 years old but had a breakout season this year with 620 yards and six touchdowns. Bentley did not drop a single pass on 76 targets.
Eli Stowers of Vanderbilt (51st) is not really Green Bay’s type at under 240 pounds, but he might not be completely out of the question. He did get up to 242 pounds at his pro day and is an exceptional athlete, running a 4.51 in the 40, 45.5” in the vert and 11-3 in the broad. Some teams are reportedly viewing him as a wide receiver, and he certainly has the testing for it. As a tight end though his lack of blocking ability is likely to be a bit of a dealbreaker for the Packers.
Ohio State’s Max Klare (73) and Cincinnati’s Joe Royer (147) opted not to do any testing, while NC State’s Justin Joly (117) and Baylor’s Michael Trigg (123) did very limited testing and didn’t perform well.
Sam Roush of Stanford (109) would be ideal as his testing was top tier, but he has unusually short arms, measuring in under 31” despite being 6-6, 267 pounds. It does show up at times on his tape, but perhaps the Packers would be willing to overlook it due to his elite athleticism.
The vast majority of the Packers types are projected to go on Day 3, and given what they are likely to be searching for is long-term, cost controlled depth behind Kraft, who will surely be handed a contract extension, it seems to line up pretty well.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers prospects: 11 best tight end fits in 2026 NFL Draft