Tight Ends To Watch For The 2027 NFL Draft: Will Jamari Johnson Go Round 1?

In the most recent NFL Draft, the 2026 group of TEs were headlined by Kenyon Sadiq, a physical freak who grabbed the media's attention at the NFL Scouting Combine by shattering the 40-yard dash record for the position. While no one in this year’s class possesses the same athleticism as the New York Jets TE, there are a wide range of intriguing prospects who are poised to climb up the draftboards, potentially hearing their names called in the first round.

TEs to Watch in the 2027 NFL Draft

Even though there are only two TEs projected to go in the first round in my way-too-early 2027 mock draft, there are plenty of names hovering near the cut line, shaking up the draft should they rattle off a successful 2026 campaign. Below is a breakdown of who to monitor throughout the 2026 college football season with a breakdown of their projection below.

First-Round Talent

Jamari Johnson - Oregon (Proj 1.17)

While Sadiq stole the spotlight, Jamari Johnson quietly rivaled his former teammate in regard to their production on the field, finishing the 2025 season with 32 receptions for 510 yards while averaging 15.9 yards per reception. Johnson’s production in the middle of the field was vital to Oregon’s success, contributing to a group who ranked 15th overall in Pass Play Success Rate, 18th in PPA, and 25th in Explosiveness.

With Sadiq taking his talents to the NFL, Johnson will play a much larger role in the Ducks offense this season, a unit that is expected to build on last year’s success with Dante Moore back under center. The production Johnson receives from the Oregon wideouts will also help stretch out the second level of the defense on a weekly basis, widening the width of Moore’s passing lanes, which will improve the quality of his targets.

Per my latest mock, Johnson is projected to go to the Cincinnati Bengals in the middle of the first round, a dream landing spot while playing alongside Ja'Marr Chase and their high-powered offense. If Johnson can take a step forward with his production, we may see him go even higher, battling for a spot in the top 10.

Trey’Dez Green - LSU (Proj 1.22)

In a down year for LSU’s offense, Trey’Dez Green was still able to gash opposing secondaries, finishing the season with 433 yards and 7 touchdowns while averaging 13.1 yards per reception. An impressive feat when factoring in how poor the Tigers offense was in 2025, a unit that ranked outside the top 100 in Success Rate, PPA and in Havoc Allowed.

With Lane Kiffin now patrolling the sideline, the Tigers are expected to bounce back in a big way, bringing with him a slew of star-studded players to help transform the offense. While an injection of talent normally indicates negative regression is looming large, Green will benefit from the single coverage he will receive, making it easier to break away from his assignments.

Assuming Green will be a key factor in LSU’s resurgence, he has a great opportunity to go in the first round, potentially landing with a contender like the Denver Broncos, who could use his services to help bolster their offense. Don’t be surprised if I have Green taken before Johnson in my next mock if he is able to thrive in the Tigers' new explosive system.

Round 2 TE to Monitor

Terrance Carter - Texas Tech

With question marks looming at QB, Terrance Carter possesses one of the wider ranges of outcomes at the position. If Will Hammond is able to round back into form and keep Texas Tech’s offense afloat, Carter’s usage will remain unaffected, helping him climb up the draft boards as a potential Round 2 prospect.

Fringe Day 2 Prospects

Andrew Rappleyea - Penn State

Speaking of a wide range of outcomes, a total rehaul at Penn State raises question marks over Andrew Rappleyea’s outlook. As the Nittany Lions' TE2, Rappleyea struggled to find his footing, hauling in a measly 20 receptions for a total of 180 yards. With an influx of talent coming in, Rappleyea will need to carve out a larger role if he wants to avoid slipping into Day 3.

DJ Vonnahme - Iowa

Even when playing in an offense that ranked near dead last in Pass Success Rate and in PPA, DJ Vonnahme was still able to keep the Iowa Hawkeyes competitive, averaging 15.0 yards per reception. While it’s tough to envision Iowa’s offense improving after an underwhelming offseason, Vonnahme still possesses enough talent to avoid any sort of regression, keeping his name near the top 100 on most big boards.