Eagles TE Crisis — Zero Under Contract and a Draft Class That Could Save Them

Quick — name the Philadelphia Eagles' starting tight end for 2026. Can't do it? Neither can anyone else. Because right now, the Eagles have exactly zero tight ends under standard NFL contracts. The only names on the roster are EJ Jenkins and Jaylen Bell, both on reserve/futures deals. That's not a tight end room — that's a prayer.

This is arguably the most underrated crisis on the Eagles' roster. Everyone's talking about AJ Brown and edge rushers and the offensive line transition, but the tight end position is a five-alarm fire that nobody seems to be acknowledging with the urgency it deserves.

Kenyon Sadiq at 23 — It's Not Crazy

The conventional wisdom says Howie Roseman doesn't take tight ends in the first round. It's not his MO. He likes to find value, work the middle rounds, and stockpile talent without burning premium picks on a position that typically takes years to develop.

But Kenyon Sadiq might change that calculus. Sadiq is a legitimate first-round talent — a dynamic, athletic tight end who can threaten defenses as both a receiver and a blocker. He's the kind of prospect who could step in and immediately give Jalen Hurts a reliable target over the middle of the field. At pick 23, he wouldn't be a reach. He'd be a need pick that also happens to be a talent pick. That's the sweet spot Howie lives in.

Max Klare — The Sam LaPorta Comp

If the Eagles pass on Sadiq at 23 — which is the more likely scenario — Max Klare could be the guy in the second round. The comparison that's being thrown around is Sam LaPorta, and if you watched what LaPorta did as a rookie in Detroit, that should get your attention immediately.

Klare is a smooth route-runner with reliable hands and enough size to be a factor in the blocking game. He's not going to wow you with athletic testing numbers, but he wins with technique, body control, and an understanding of how to find soft spots in zone coverage. That's exactly the kind of tight end that thrives in a Kellen Moore offense.

The Deep Class — Names to Know

What makes this draft particularly appealing for a TE-needy team like the Eagles is the depth. This isn't a class with one or two guys and then a cliff — it's loaded from round one through day three.

Eli Stowers brings versatility and blocking ability. Jack Endries is a reliable possession target who won't drop the ball in traffic. Michael Trigg has the athletic upside that makes scouts dream about what he could become with NFL coaching. Justin Jolly is a sleeper with legitimate receiving chops. And Sam Roush is the kind of under-the-radar day three pick that Howie Roseman has built his reputation finding.

The Eagles could realistically come out of this draft with two tight ends and still address other needs. That's how deep this class is. And given the state of their roster at the position, doubling up might be the smart play.

The Goedert Factor

Dallas Goedert wants to come back. That's been communicated, and it would ease some of the urgency at the position. But wanting to come back and the Eagles wanting to pay him are two different things. Goedert is coming off injuries, he's going to be 31, and the Eagles have operated under a "no middle class" philosophy for years now. Goedert was one of the only players on the roster making between $8-15 million annually — the dead zone Howie tries to avoid.

If Goedert comes back on a team-friendly deal, it changes the calculus significantly. The Eagles could pair a veteran Goedert with a day two or three draft pick and have a functional tight end room without burning pick 23 on the position. But if Goedert's price tag is too high, the Eagles are back to square one — and square one is EJ Jenkins.

The Bottom Line

The Eagles cannot go into the 2026 season with their current tight end room. That's not an opinion — it's a mathematical certainty. Whether it's Sadiq at 23, Klare in round two, or a combination of Goedert in free agency and a day three pick, this position has to be addressed. The good news is that the draft class is tailor-made for a team in this exact situation. The bad news is that the Eagles have about six needs and three premium picks. Something's going to have to give — and tight end can't be the position that falls through the cracks.