One prospect who may interest the Denver Broncos in the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft is Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek. He is a 6’5 1/2”, 261-pound tight end prospect who is viewed as one of the better in-line blocking tight end prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Kacmarek ranked as his 7th-best tight end in the draft and has a 4th-round grade on him.
Kacmarek started his college career at Ohio and played there for three seasons before transferring to Ohio State,
where he has played these past two seasons. During his two seasons at Ohio State, he appeared in 26 games while starting in 17 of those games and totaled 23 receptions for 254 yards and 2 touchdowns. This past season for Ohio State, he appeared in 14 games while starting in 11 of those games and totaled 15 receptions for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Broncos re-signed veteran tight end Adam Trautman this offseason to be their blocking tight end; however, they could still use another tight end to pair with him in two-tight-end sets. They re-sign Nate Adkins, who has previously fit that role, but he was signed to a vet minimum deal, and his roster spot is far from guaranteed. So, a people mover like Will Kacmarek could make a lot of sense for the Broncos in the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Player Profile
Will Kacmarek | Tight End | Ohio State
- Height: 6-5 1/2
- Weight: 261 pounds
- Arm Length: 32 5/8 inches
- Wingspan: 80 1/8 inches
- Hand Size: 9 5/8 inches
- 40-time: 4.74 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.69 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 36 inches
- Broad Jump: 9-11
- Short Shuttle: 4.47 seconds
- 3-Cone Drill: 7.34 seconds
- Bench Press: 18 reps
Film Room
Scouting Report
Strengths
- Size: Good build, length, frame, and looks the part of an NFL TE
- Blocking: Elite run blocker – mauler and people mover with a bit of a nasty demeanor to his game
- Excels at taking on DEs, chip blocking, and being the blocking specialist in two tight end sets
- Will get some pancake blocks as a lead blocker
- Strong hands at the point of attack and will play through the whistle
- Has good technique and is plug-and-play ready for this role in the NFL
- Good hands – Limited sample size, but is a reliable hands catcher who rarely, if ever, drops the ball
- Good awareness to find the holes in zone coverage
- Has no issues with contested catches and usually comes down with the ball
- Known for his work ethic, leadership skills, and for what he brought to the Ohio State locker room
Weaknesses
- Limited production as a pass catcher – He’s a blocking tight end first, and pass-catching comes second
- Does not have much YAC potential
- Rumbles in space and isn’t a fluid athlete
- Only 4 career touchdowns at Ohio State, and wasn’t a big red zone threat
- Limited route tree and isn’t a smooth route runner
What other analysts are saying about Ohio State TE Will Kacmarek
The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, on Ohio State TE Will Kacmarek
Kacmarek developed his physical mentality while playing lacrosse, and it directly translates to his blocking. He balances proper technique with creating violent collisions and looking to punish opponents using his competitive edge. He saw just 27 targets in two seasons at Ohio State, but those looks resulted in 23 catches (and zero drops). He has terrific ball skills, although he won’t create easy separation out of breaks. Kacmarek is a big, linear athlete with strong hands and the desired level of aggression as a point-of-attack blocker. He projects as a Y tight end and can be one of the better blockers in the draft class.
NFL.com’s draft analyst Lance Zierlein on Ohio State TE Will Kacmarek
Kacmarek is an old-school, big-bodied “Y” tight end with size, strength and a field demeanor for run blocking. He needs to improve his pad level and play with more consistent hand placement to continue sustaining blocks on the next level. He drives his feet on contact to create displacement on down blocks and washes defenders into the pile as a zone blocker. Catch production will be sparse and come primarily when schemed or on short zone-beaters. Kacmarek’s lack of receiving value could limit his draft stock, but teams looking to prioritize their run-game improvement should be interested on Day 3.
Will Kacmarek RAS
Should the Broncos draft Ohio State Will Kacmarek in the 4th round of the 2026 NFL Draft
If the Broncos are looking for a true in-line blocker who can be a mauler in the running game, then yes, he makes a lot of sense.
I think the Broncos will draft at least one tight end, but the type of tight end they draft is the question. Are they looking for a pass-catcher type? If so, that would eliminate Kacmarek. However, if they’re looking for a true in-line blocker, then Kacmarek is near the top of the list.
He doesn’t have the pass-catching upside that some of the other blocking tight ends do in this class, but he’s arguably the best blocker in this class. He’s a mauler, has the demeanor for it, and has the size to thrive in it. He also fits the character profile that the Broncos typically look for in a prospect.
He’s not the most exciting or flashy tight end prospect, but if they’re looking for someone to help out the run game, then Kacmarek makes a lot of sense for the Broncos in the 4th round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
