The Miami Dolphins are looking to fill the tight end position in the 2026 NFL draft after losing Darren Waller. They may target one tight end in each round of the draft, starting with Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon in Round 1.
Key points
Dolphins lost tight end Darren Waller
Team signed Ben Sims and re-signed Greg Dulcich
Dolphins targeting tight ends in the 2026 NFL draft
Seven tight ends considered for each draft round
Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon is a top prospect
Darren WallerBen SimsGreg DulcichKenyon Sadiq
The Miami Dolphins may have signed free agent Ben Sims and re-signed Greg Dulcich, but the loss of Darren Waller has left the team with a giant hole at tight end that they still need to fill.
At this point in the offseason, the Dolphins probably won't sign or trade for a veteran that will make much of an impact at tight end, but they could still grab one in the 2026 NFL draft.
With just days until the three-day event, here are seven tight ends the Dolphins could consider taking in the draft, one for each round.
Round 1: Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Stats: 80 receptions for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns
NFL.com draft profile: "A versatile tight end with a shredded physique and alluring potential as a volume target, Sadiq’s route tree will be full of branches. His athleticism and break quickness should allow him to uncover against man coverage on all three levels. He’s talented after the catch, with the ability to make things easier for play-callers and quarterbacks looking to move the sticks. He has the body control and hand strength to win contested catches but will occasionally allow balls to hit the ground on lower-difficulty plays. He’s adequate as a blocker, giving good effort in-line and locating and landing on linebackers as a move blocker. Teams looking to diversify their passing game options with a talented pass-catching tight end could make Sadiq a priority.'
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NFL.com draft profile: "Stowers is an explosive quarterback convert with just three years at the tight end position. He’s an excellent athlete with long arms but needs to keep filling out his frame. He’s a natural pass catcher with an outstanding catch radius and massive run-after-catch talent. While his route-running and contested-catch ability need work, he excels at moving the chains on screens/short catches. He has the speed to threaten downfield against linebackers. His run-blocking ceiling might be low, but his traits create above-average potential as a pass-catching 'F' tight end, fitting the growing trend of utilizing two- and three-tight-end sets more heavily."
Round 3: Max Klare, Ohio State
Stats: 116 receptions for 1,329 yards and six touchdowns
NFL.com draft profile: "Highly athletic, pass-catching tight end capable of earning volume targets on the pro level. Klare can live beyond the typical targeted depth for most tight ends thanks to his route inventory and ability to generate separation across the field. He’s best from the slot but can widen out when a matchup presents itself. Hands and ball-tracking are below average but his production could make teams forget the drops. He improved as a run blocker as the season progressed, but 'functional' might be the finish line there. In a league craving impact tight ends, Klare has a chance to inject life into an offense hunting mismatches."
Round 4: Justin Joly, NC State
Stats: 166 receptions, 1,978 yards and 15 touchdowns
NFL.com draft profile: "Undersized pass-catcher with the ability to expand the route tree and challenge man coverage around the field. Joly still needs to polish his route-running but he has the footwork and athletic traits to uncover. He doesn’t catch with much hand extension and fights throws on occasion but he makes up for it with impressive body control/catch toughness. His effort and strain as a blocker need to improve. Joly has the ability to contribute as a moveable 'F' tight end."
Round 5: Jack Endries, Texas
Stats: 124 receptions for 1,376 yards and seven touchdowns
NFL.com draft profile: "Endries is a quarterback-friendly 'F' tight end who still needs time in the weight room. His route-running can be monotonous and short-area separation uninspiring, but he’s tough, has a rebounder’s feel for boxing out defenders and is a consistent ball-winner even when coverage is draped all over him. He builds speed and is tougher on man coverage when allowed to stretch his legs on longer routes. Run-blocking is a roller-coaster ride of bad losses and quality wins. He lacks the play strength to block ends and whiffs in space on occasion, but he also gets his share of wins on split-zone, lead pulls and combo climbs to the linebacker. Endries should develop into an NFL starter."
Stats: 237 receptions for 2,234 yards and 24 touchdowns
NFL.com draft profile: "Long, angular pass-catching tight end with impressive production throughout his career. Koziol’s monotonous route-running and average play speed lead to an excessive number of contested catches, but his soft hands and overall ball skills help to bring them in at an impressive rate. He appears to lack the technique and toughness necessary to become a functional run blocker against pro competition. Koziol has a chance to become a TE3, but he needs to fine-tune his route-running and play with better short-area quickness to stick around as a catch-only option."
Round 7: Matthew Hibner, SMU
Stats: 57 receptions for 819 yards and eight touchdowns
NFL.com draft profile: "Sixth-year senior who broke out at SMU in his final two seasons after four quiet years with limited snaps and production. Hibner’s ankle tightness limits his change-of-direction quickness and ability to uncover underneath. He builds speed when working the seams and as an open-field runner. He has adequate hands and ball skills to make catches when contested. Hibner has the demeanor and tenacity for pro-blocking duties. However, he’s undersized and needs to work on his hand placement to improve his consistency of results. Hibner is a Day 3 talent with roster potential as a move tight end or true H-back."
