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The Kansas City Chiefs brought Travis Kelce back for this coming season but need to invest in a long-term replacement for the future Hall of Famer. The 2026 NFL Draft lacks star power at tight end outside of Kenyon Sadiq but features several developmental players with starting upside. The Chiefs have several options, but one underdiscussed prospect stands out.
Stanford Cardinal TE Sam Roush possesses prototypical size for an in-line tight end at 6'6", 267 lbs., but his arms are disproportionately short at just 30 5/8 inches. Roush also has significant experience deploying in the slot. He lacks the burst and top speed to threaten off-coverage but is fast enough to draw attention down the seam and slip past the defense’s second level.
Roush is not a consistent separator because he lacks the explosiveness and suddenness to pull away from defenders or to break free from tight man coverage at the top of the stem. However, he uses quick footwork and active hands to work across the defender’s face and forcibly generate throwing lanes for his quarterback.
Stanford fed Roush many passes in the flat and let him rumble for extra yards. He lacks the athletic traits to be a significant threat after the catch, but defensive backs struggle to tackle him one-on-one. Roush displays a good feel for holes in second level zone coverages. He frequently delivers an initial block before slipping out on a route.
Roush fails to profile as a high-volume passing threat. He doesn’t fit the Kelce mold in that regard. However, if he continues to develop, he could generate 500 to 750 receiving yards per season while serving as an essential part of Kansas City’s revamped run game.
Roush’s size and aggression as an in-line blocker give him a path to earn meaningful snaps early in his career. He uses active hands to refit his blocks and gradually reposition defensive linemen. Outside linebackers struggle to win through Roush’s frame and fail to anchor when the powerful tight end hits them on an angle block.
Roush’s arm length creates some limitations against longer-limbed opponents, but the tight end drives nice power through his extensions to move defenders off the line and win the leverage battle. His size makes him an overwhelming force when facing defensive backs as a perimeter blocker.
Roush needs to continue developing his hand usage and balance but already has the foundation to step in as a team’s second tight end in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Stanford Cardinal TE Sam Roush
Continue reading...
Stanford Cardinal TE Sam Roush possesses prototypical size for an in-line tight end at 6'6", 267 lbs., but his arms are disproportionately short at just 30 5/8 inches. Roush also has significant experience deploying in the slot. He lacks the burst and top speed to threaten off-coverage but is fast enough to draw attention down the seam and slip past the defense’s second level.
Roush is not a consistent separator because he lacks the explosiveness and suddenness to pull away from defenders or to break free from tight man coverage at the top of the stem. However, he uses quick footwork and active hands to work across the defender’s face and forcibly generate throwing lanes for his quarterback.
Stanford fed Roush many passes in the flat and let him rumble for extra yards. He lacks the athletic traits to be a significant threat after the catch, but defensive backs struggle to tackle him one-on-one. Roush displays a good feel for holes in second level zone coverages. He frequently delivers an initial block before slipping out on a route.
Roush fails to profile as a high-volume passing threat. He doesn’t fit the Kelce mold in that regard. However, if he continues to develop, he could generate 500 to 750 receiving yards per season while serving as an essential part of Kansas City’s revamped run game.
Roush’s size and aggression as an in-line blocker give him a path to earn meaningful snaps early in his career. He uses active hands to refit his blocks and gradually reposition defensive linemen. Outside linebackers struggle to win through Roush’s frame and fail to anchor when the powerful tight end hits them on an angle block.
Roush’s arm length creates some limitations against longer-limbed opponents, but the tight end drives nice power through his extensions to move defenders off the line and win the leverage battle. His size makes him an overwhelming force when facing defensive backs as a perimeter blocker.
Roush needs to continue developing his hand usage and balance but already has the foundation to step in as a team’s second tight end in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Stanford Cardinal TE Sam Roush
Continue reading...
