During his press conference earlier this week in Indianapolis, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel turned the media's antennas up when he pointed out the tight end depth in the 2026 NFL Draft.

"Just looking across the board, I think there's volume at the tight end class," Vrabel said. "When you go and you evaluate other teams and you get ready to play them, there's a bunch of fourth-and-fifth-round tight ends that end up starting, playing, and contributing. So, wherever that value is, I just think that there are some names there."

Vrabel, of course, was a two-way player during his playing career, catching 10 career touchdown passes, mostly from Patriots Hall of Famer Tom Brady. As a former linebacker and part-time tight end, Vrabel probably knows a thing or two about evaluating the tight end position. To his point about the volume of this particular class, 27 tight ends were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine this year, well above the usual combine average of 19. The group broke several combine records on Friday night, including the best average 40-yard dash time of any tight end class since at least 2003 (4.63s).

Offenses are trying to create mismatches by using versatile tight ends, which is why personnel people want to see these tight ends work out in Indy. Last season, the league used multiple tight end sets on an average of 33.2% of offensive plays, with teams like the Rams popularizing the usage of three tight end packages such as 13 personnel (1 WR, 1 RB, 3 TE). New England used two-plus tight ends on just 29.6% of their offensive plays last season, in part because they ranked 29th in rush EPA out of those groupings.

Along with potentially wanting to create more mismatches in the passing game by being a better rush offense with multiple tight ends on the field, veteran TE2 Austin Hooper is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, while starter Hunter Henry will turn 32 years old next season. Henry was still top-10 in most receiving categories among tight ends in a productive 2025 campaign, but adding youth and upgrading their in-line blockers appears to be on the Patriots offseason to-do list. Unlike other positions where football IQ and skill often override athleticism, athletic testing will help us sort through a high-volume tight end class. Historically, there aren't many poor TE athletes who have gone on to have great pro careers.

Although our main focus will be on the tight ends, the Patriots could also need a safety depending on starting safety Jaylinn Hawkins's free agency. There appears to be mutual interest in Hawkins returning, but he's slated to hit the open market coming off a solid 2025 season and this is a great year to add safety depth. According to NextGen Stats, this year's crop of safeties averaged a 4.42s 40-yard dash, the fastest average time for a safety class since at least 2003.

The Pats stress the importance of do-it-all safeties in their system. However, Hawkins and 2025 fourth-rounder Craig Woodson mostly lined up further away from the ball. On average, those two's starting depth from the line of scrimmage was 11.0 yards. In 2024, starting safeties Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers lined up at an average of 8.8 yards from the line of scrimmage. Adding a hybrid defender who could play in the box or over the slot might bring a new element to the defense. To match all these tight-end heavy offenses, some defenses are deploying "big" nickels who can play the run like linebackers and cover like safeties.

Here are five takeaways from the tight end and defensive backs workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday night.

1. Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq Expected to be the Lone First-Round Tight End in 2026 Draft

At the top of the tight end class is one name: Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq. Sadiq is projected to be the lone tight end drafted in the first round, with the volume Vrabel mentioned coming in the middle rounds.

As expected, Sadiq's athletic testing numbers didn't disappoint. He posted an elite 9.43 relative athletic score (out of 10) with a 4.39s 40-yard dash, the fastest 40-yard dash by a tight end since at least 2003. Although his production last season was down, Sadiq's movement skills are all over his tape at Oregon. His vertical burst is a challenge to cover up the seams or on wheel routes; he can take off on catch-and-run plays across the field, and he has running back-like contact balance as a ball carrier for added yards after the catch.

The knock on Sadiq is that he has a smaller frame and inconsistent technique as an in-line blocker. The tape shows that Sadiq can block, especially when he's detached or on the wing, where his balance and movement skills allow him to square up perimeter and second-level blocks. We wouldn't ask him to dig out defensive ends, but he's not a complete zero as a run blocker. Still, he's on the smaller side at 6-3 (22nd percentile), 241 pounds (9th percentile), a similar frame to Browns standout TE Harold Fannin Jr.

Unfortunately, Sadiq being an alien who catches footballs for a living means that he's unlikely to make it to the Patriots at No. 31. Before the combine, the Oregon product was 19th on the media consensus board, so his workout just solidified that he's a top-20 prospect in this class.

2. First-Rounders Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren Solidify Draft Stocks

If Hawkins doesn't return in free agency, safety becomes a bigger need to fill the starting spot next to Woodson. Therefore, using the 31st pick on a safety wouldn't be out of the question.

Heading into the combine, the top two options at the Patriots range were Oregon's Dillon Thieneman and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil Warren (aka EMW). However, it was already questionable whether they'd make it to the end of the first round, and their workouts suggest they might not. Thieneman is a draft crush of mine due to his play speed, coverage versatility, and willingness to fill the alleys in run support and blitz with his hair on fire. His do-it-all talent and effort+finish screamed Patriots safety to me.

The Oregon product's terrific testing numbers coupled with great tape, have him trending toward being a top-20 pick in this year's draft. There's a chance he slides into the early 20s, but the dream of him lasting until No. 31 is likely dead. The tape is just too good and now he has a 9.67 relative athletic score with a 4.35s 40-yard dash (97th percentile) – elite safety prospect.

My takeaway from watching McNeil-Warren on tape is different from the consensus, with many pointing to his reps as a deep safety as his strength. There are flashes of ball-hawking ability and Toledo definitely had him playing mostly deep safety (post/split-safety roles). However, taller safeties like him often have leggy transitions at the top of their pedals, making them slower to flip-and-run to range over the top. My prediction is that the Toledo safety will be a hybrid defender in the pros, where he can play in the box and slot.

McNeil-Warren's athletic testing backed that up when he ran a 4.52s 40-yard dash (63rd percentile), posted just "good" speed and explosiveness scores, and looked a bit choppy during flip-and-run drills. EMW is not a bad athlete by any means, but he's an above-average athlete rather than a super-athlete like Emmanwori was last year. I'm just hesitant that a player with that athletic profile is going to succeed as a deep safety in the pros, whereas his length and hitting power would make him a great hybrid defender playing closer to the line of scrimmage. If the league views McNeil-Warren the same way, he could slide like Emmanwori did last year (35th overall). That would mean the Toledo safety would be in the Patriots range.

3. Sorting Through the Mid-Round Tight End Cluster

After the top dawg in Sadiq, the tight end class drops off into day two, with many experts predicting that the first run of tight ends will be mid-day two for the next cluster of prospects.

The tight ends in that next wave are Eli Stowers (Vandy), Max Klare (Ohio State), Michael Trigg (Baylor), Justin Joly (NC State), and Oscar Delp (Georgia). Unfortunately, Delp (foot), Trigg, Klare, and Joly didn't run in Indy. Klare and Joly did the on-field drills, but we don't have full athletic testing numbers for them, which is a bummer. The Georgia product was "my guy" out of this group because of his fluidity and burst in his routes. For what it's worth, Klare looked smooth going through the gauntlet drill, a big one for receivers.

As many anticipated, Stowers stole the show as the John Mackey Award winner dazzled with his on-field testing. Stowers broke the tight end records in the vertical jump (45.5") and broad jump (135"), then ran a 4.51s 40-yard dash (96th percentile). On film, Stowers is really a slot receiver masquerading as a tight end. He has great burst before and after the catch, uses his catch radius and leaping ability well to high-point the ball, and is a converted quarterback, which gives him a feel for the passing game. However, Stowers is all rock, no block, as he profiles as a Mike Gesicki-type who won't offer much as a blocker.

If the Patriots want to add receiving upside to their passing offense, Stowers certainly will bring the juice, but they're not going to upgrade their run game by drafting Stowers (61st on the media consensus board heading into the combine).

4. Will Kacmarek and Sam Roush Headline Day-Three Blocking Tight Ends

When we had draft guru Dane Brugler on Patriots Draft Countdown this week, "The Beast" himself highlighted two blocking tight ends that could be potential Patriots. As mentioned, the Pats vets had some struggles with in-line blocking last season, as Henry (54.2 grade) and Hooper (57.8 grade) both ranked outside of the top-50 in Pro Football Focus's run-blocking grades. By pairing Henry with one of these rookies, the Pats could use the sturdier blocker as a traditional in-line option and Henry can be more of a pass-catching tight end, sort of like how the Bills used tight ends Dawson Knox/Jackson Hawes (Y) and Dalton Kincaid (F).

According to Brugler, the top blocking tight ends are Ohio State's Will Kacmarek and Texas A&M's Nate Boerkircher. There's also buzz for Stanford TE Sam Roush, who measured in at an insane 6-6, 267 pounds. We weren't expecting any of these guys to "wow" in the athletic testing, but they checked the boxes they needed to as tight ends who are going to make their money in the run game. Kacmarek and Roush were also two of the best at moving "Fred the sled" in the on-field blocking drills. If the Pats want a pure blocking tight end, those are some options.

5. Highlighting Standouts at Safety and Cornerback Projected Outside Top-50

If the Patriots retain Hawkins, safety becomes a far less pressing need, with New England then only shopping for a third safety who possibly could play in big nickel or dime packages. Last season, DB Dell Pettus filled that role, who was also a regular on special teams. Could the Patriots try to upgrade that spot by adding competition to the room? Sure, but that would likely come in the later rounds rather than at the top of the draft since their starting duo of Hawkins and Woodson would likely be locked in, assuming that Hawkins returns. That said, it is a strong mid-round safety class, with safeties who have starter potential into the third or fourth round.

With that in mind, a few later-round safety prospects who stood out in Indy are Bud Clark (TCU) and Jalon Kilgore (South Carolina), who were both fringe top-100 picks entering the combine. Clark is the more versatile coverage defender who is able to play deep safety zones or man/match coverages, which is what the Patriots like to do with their safeties. However, Kilgore has the enforcer build and man-coverage skills to potentially play in the slot, if the Pats want more of that hybrid box player. Either way, you can't go wrong with this safety class.

At cornerback, the Patriots don't have an immediate need with corner trio Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, and Marcus Jones all under contract through at least 2027. However, Davis is 29 years old and his salary is only fully guaranteed for one more season, so finding a long-term option to compete for starting snaps down the line and improve depth behind the Pats top corners could come into play on day three of the draft for New England.

Top testers Charles Demmings (9.97 RAS) and Daylen Everette (9.82 RAS) come to mind. Both can play press-man coverage, but Everette played plenty of zone-match coverages at Georgia, so that'll translate into the Patriots system. The question is, does Everette's great combine push him inside the top-100? It might. Demmings, who went to Stephen F. Austin, likely put himself in the top-150 conversation. Demmings is an explosive athlete who has the size (6-1, 193, 32" arms) and straight-line speed (4.41s) to carry routes downfield and would likely be a fine cloud (flat) corner in cover two, where he's able to jam receivers. His issues in zone coverage are more isolated to giving up too much cushion in bail or off-coverage.

New England's top decision-makers have stressed the importance of continuing to build depth throughout the roster. If Hawkins is re-signed, defensive back is an area where the Pats could target depth options on day three with the frontline starters from last season returning in 2026.

DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer