Each year since joining BTSC in 2024, Ryan Parish has put together a draft gems list. This series is not meant to predict who the Steelers will pick, but rather highlight players Ryan thinks will be viable NFL players, and should be available in Rounds 2-7. Looking for more? Check out Ryan’s picks this year at:
We’ve just about reached the end. The draft cycle feels like it has stretched on for a millennium at this point. The first round has been poured over and speculated ad nauseam, and our humble series has delved into the depths of this draft for all positions save quarterback (which is excluded from this series) and one other: tight end.
Tight end hasn’t been a huge need for the Steelers since I’ve started this series. Pat Freiermuth has been in town since 2021, and Darnell Washington was drafted in 2023, one year before I joined BTSC. Those two form a formidable top two, and give the Steelers a good mix of pass-catching weapon (Freiermuth) and blocking prowess (Washington). Under former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the depth chart also featured names like Jonnu Smith, Connor Heyward, and Mycole Pruitt in recent years. Now, though, it’s just Freiermuth and Washington who remain, meaning the Steelers are in need of at least one more tight end, maybe two.
That makes this the perfect position to finish our series with for this draft cycle. The Steelers are not likely to draft one of the top names at the position during the first two days, at least not in the first two rounds. This will be my first time doing a tight ends list, so I’m hopeful this will be a fruitful learning experience. With Freiermuth likely to slide back into a more involved role in the offense this season, we’ll be putting extra emphasis on players who can contribute as blockers.
Any player selected for this list cannot be commonly mocked as a 1st round pick. For a position like tight end, which typically has few first-round prospects, we’ll expand this out slightly to encompass the top-4 prospects on the Consensus Big Board.
I also avoid players who will have a profile written on BTSC. Paired with the previous rule, this year that disqualifies: Kenyon Sadiq, Max Klare, Eli Stowers and Oscar Delp.
If the Steelers are looking for a skilled blocker, Stanford’s Sam Roush would offer a top-shelf option as a player whose draft ceiling is the third round. Roush offers an intriguing blend of height, weight, and athleticism (94th-percentile broad and vertical jumps, 4.70 40-time). If there is one bugaboo in his physical profile, however, it is his short arms, which fall within the first percentile of tight ends. That limits his catch radius and can show up against defenders with significantly longer arms, but the good on his tape outweighs the bad.
Sam Roush (6’6 267) Stanford+ Ideal size for a tight end+ 9.94 relative athletic score+ 545 receiving yards in 2025+ Effort as a blocker+ 71.2 pass blocking grade in 2025+ Effective route runner+ Special teams’ experience+ Physical runner after the catch+ Finding soft… pic.twitter.com/bfqizIWvi4
— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) March 11, 2026
As you can see in the reel above, Roush is a feisty blocker, and he offers upside as a pass catcher, though I’ll note his drop rate (12.5% in 2025) can be frustrating, and he had a few head-scratching drops when I watched him during the Senior Bowl, both in practices and the game.
His expected draft cost might be a bit rich for the Steelers. However, if they do draft him, it would be because he contributes more as a blocker than Freiermuth.
One of the Steelers’ scheduled pre-draft visits, Kacmarek (pronounced Kaz-mare-ik) is in the running for the best blocking tight end in the class. If you hear a dull roar sometime around noon EST on Saturday, do not be alarmed; that’s just the sound of me pounding the table for the Steelers to select “KAZ” with one of their two fourth-round picks. The idea of Kacmarek and Darnell Washington both paving the way for the Black and Gold’s run game should be enough to whip any Steelers fan into a fervor.
Will Kacmarek Draft Profile Based on Film:Run Blocking: A+Pass Blocking: AAthleticism: B+Strength: A-Receiving: C+IQ: AFrame: A-Overall: A-Best Fits: Broncos, Patriots, Dolphins pic.twitter.com/ygKSWkzgdM
As a pass catcher, Kacmarek was never a focal point in his two years with the Buckeyes. He more than doubled his total targets in Columbus (27) during his first two college seasons at Ohio (58), but in his limited opportunities, he flashed that he is a strong hands-catcher who can pluck the ball out of the air away from his body. His 4.4% drop rate on 85 targets is encouraging as well. He’s a little stiff as a route runner, but he was clocked at over 18 mph at the Senior Bowl, so he could be utilized in the seam and as an underneath target, especially on routes where he is tasked with chipping a defender and then deploying on a delayed release.
Will Kacmarek (6’6 261) Ohio State+ One of the best blocking tight ends in this draft class+ 88.2% completion rate when targeted in 2025+ Physicality as a blocker and plays to the echo of the whistle+ Finishing mentality + Competitive nature+ 72.2 pass blocking and 71.0… pic.twitter.com/9rIXVqa2Nz
— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) April 1, 2026
A sixth-year senior with just 38 targets in his college career, Boerkircher is purely a projection when it comes to being a pass catcher. He’s shown flashes of being able to catch the ball away from his frame, and he’s shown some contested catch ability in limited opportunities. He’s had too little exposure to be overly confident in his ability as a route runner, but his hands do appear to be good. Here’s a Senior Bowl rep he took against Kyle Louis.
The #Patriots met with Texas A&M TE Nate Boerkircher at the Combine, per @TexAgs.The 6’5 245-pound senior is regarded as one of the best in-line blockers in the draft and he has impressive contested-catch ability.Boerkircher is a projected Day 3 pick.pic.twitter.com/DTXwTy3B70
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) February 28, 2026
He’ll also turn 25 years old as a rookie, which should play a significant role in him landing on Day 3 of the draft.