The latest NFL tight end from the University of Cincinnati is Joe Royer, who was selected by the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, April 25 in the 5th round of the NFL draft.
The 6-foot-5, 247-pound former Elder Panther played two seasons for the Cincinnati Bearcats after starting his career at Ohio State.
His best season was 2024, when he surpassed the school record for touchdowns by a tight end previously held by Travis Kelce, a future NFL Hall of Famer with the Kansas City Chiefs. Royer had 50 catches and three touchdowns that season and had 29 catches with four touchdowns last season.
Royer now joins a notorious list of NFL tight ends from UC that includes two Super Bowl champions in Kelse and Brent Celek (La Salle High School). Another La Salle/UC product, Josh Whyle, is also in the NFL, along with former Bearcat Josiah Deguara. Leonard Taylor, Adrien Robinson and Rod Monroe are other former UC tight ends who had NFL experience.
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Royer is also the latest NFL tight end from Elder High School, joining Kyle Rudolph on that list. In Royer's senior season for the Panthers, he led the Greater Catholic League-South with 70 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Joe Royer drafted by Browns in 2026 NFL Draft