2027 NFL Draft tight end rankings: Top 10 before 2026 college football season

Tight end is shaping up to be one of the deepest and most fascinating position groups in the 2027 NFL Draft class, loaded with dual-threat blockers, vertical mismatches, and a few international wildcards. Before a single snap of the 2026 college football season, here’s how the position sorts out heading into fall camp.

1. Trey’Dez Green, LSU

Green headlines this class as the most physically gifted tight end prospect in years, standing 6-foot-6 and 237 pounds with rare movement skills for the position. He’s a former LSU basketball player whose length and catch radius create matchup nightmares against linebackers and safeties alike. Green’s blend of size, speed and ball skills gives him true first-round upside if he continues developing as a route runner and route-tree diversity in 2026.

2. Jamari Johnson, Oregon

Johnson enters the season as the most complete, NFL-ready tight end in the class, praised as the “most NFL-ready” prospect at his position. He’s picking up where former teammate Kenyon Sadiq left off in Oregon’s offense, and evaluators view him as a true Y/F hybrid who can line up in-line or out wide. Many boards actually flip him ahead of Green depending on positional need emphasis.

3. Lawson Luckie, Georgia

Luckie brings a proven pedigree from Georgia’s tight end factory, an offense that has churned out NFL producers at the position for years. His blend of blocking toughness and reliable hands fits seamlessly into pro-style systems that ask tight ends to do a bit of everything. Expect his 2026 target share to grow as Georgia leans on him in critical third-down and red-zone situations.

4. DJ Vonnahme, Iowa

Vonnahme represents the traditional in-line archetype NFL teams still covet, checking in at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds with strong blocking instincts. Iowa’s offense historically develops disciplined, technically sound tight ends, and Vonnahme fits that mold as both a security-blanket receiver and a reliable point-of-attack blocker. His floor as a versatile TE2 in the NFL gives him a strong developmental profile.

5. Brett Norfleet, Missouri

Norfleet stands out physically at 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, giving him ideal size to bully smaller defenders after the catch. He’s built more as a big-bodied red-zone weapon than a pure route technician, but his combination of size and athleticism creates real upside if Missouri expands his route diversity this fall. Scouts will watch closely for improved consistency as a blocker.

6. Dorian Thomas, Cal

Thomas is one of the class’s rising sleepers, praised for athletic traits that outpace his current consensus ranking. Cal’s expanding passing offense should give him more opportunities to showcase his catch-and-run ability against Pac-12-caliber, now ACC, competition. A strong 2026 season could vault him significantly higher on updated boards by midseason.

7. Benjamin Brahmer, Penn State

Brahmer offers prototypical size at 6-foot-7 and 252 pounds, giving Penn State a legitimate big-bodied red-zone target. His length allows him to win contested catches over smaller defensive backs, and his blocking has steadily improved within James Franklin’s pro-style scheme. Continued refinement of his route running could push him into true top-five consideration by year’s end.

8. Luke Hasz, Mississippi

Hasz transferred into a high-powered Ole Miss passing attack that should maximize his receiving skill set, praised as one of the class’s best pure pass catchers. He lacks ideal bulk relative to some peers, but his hands and separation ability off the line make him a matchup weapon in the slot. His 2026 tape will be pivotal in cementing a first-round trajectory.

9. Garrett Oakley, Kansas State

Oakley combines solid size at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds with reliable blocking chops that fit multiple offensive schemes. He’s viewed as a steady, high-floor prospect rather than a flashy playmaker, which appeals to teams seeking a dependable two-way tight end. Another productive season in Manhattan should keep him firmly in the top-10 conversation.

10. Brody Foley, Louisville

Foley rounds out the top 10 with excellent size at 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, giving Louisville a physical presence in both the passing game and as an in-line blocker. Some models actually view him as a significant riser given his athletic testing potential. A featured role in Louisville’s 2026 offense could see him climb into the top five by season’s end.

Next five: Cole Rusk (Arizona), Decker DeGraaf (Washington), Terrance Carter Jr. (Texas Tech), Peter Clarke (Temple), Luke Reynolds (Virginia Tech)

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