The 2026 NFL Draft features a strong tight end class. It’s a position the Patriots are expected to target.
The top of New England’s current depth chart features Hunter Henry and free agent addition Julian Hill, who signed a three-year deal with the team earlier this month. As Henry enters his age 31 season — also the final year of his contract — and Hill has just 33 career receptions to his name, the team is expected to continue to add to the depth chart.
That being said, selecting one, or even two,
tight ends in the NFL Draft seems like a foregone conclusion based on the offseason so far. And if they do, Ohio State’s Max Klare is logical favorite candidate to be brought aboard.
Hard facts
Name: Max Klare
Position: Tight end
School: Ohio State (RS Jr.)
Opening day age: 23 (7/8/2003)
Measurements: 6’4”, 246 lbs, 32 1/8” arm length, 9 1/8” hand size, N/A Relative Athletic Score
Experience
Colleges: Purdue (2022-24), Ohio State (2025)
Career statistics: 33 games | 1,336 offensive snaps, 33 special teams snaps | 116 receptions, 1,329 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns
Accolades: First-team All-Big Ten (2025), Third-team All-Big Ten (2024)
A three-star recruit from Cincinnati, Klare committed to play for the University of Purdue. His collegiate career got off to a slow start as he played in just two games as a freshman and then suffered a season-ending ankle injury in week six of his sophomore season.
Healthy for 2023, Klare got off to a strong start recording his first career touchdown on a five catch, 71-yard performance in Week 1. That set the stage for a career-year where he finished with 51 receptions for 685 yards and four touchdowns as he earned third-team All-Conference honors.
Klare then transferred to Ohio State for his senior season. Joining a talented group of pass catchers and seeing his usage slightly changed in a new offense led to expected dip in his production, although he still was named first-team All-Big Ten. Klare then entered the NFL Draft and attended the Combine where he did not do any athletic testing.
Draft profile
Projected round: 2-3 | Consensus big board: No. 77 | Patriots meeting: N/A
Strengths: Klare checks in with good size for a tight end at 6-foot-5, 246 pounds and some impressive route running ability and athleticism to go with it that makes him a threat in the passing game. The explosiveness was more apparent during his final season at Purdue (when he might have been playing a bit lighter) as he would win vertically down the sideline or up the seam and run away from defenders on targets in the flat. He still had strong moments running away from defensive backs last year with the Buckeyes.
As a blocker, Klare is at his best as a movement piece working to the second level but has the size and compete to survive in-line against defensive ends. There is enough there where he should not be restricted to a part-time player.
Weaknesses: As touched on above, Klare looked more explosive during his final season at Purdue than last year at Ohio State. His yards after catch per reception dropped from 6.6 to 5.2 behind a big dip in production on passes behind or within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. Klare then did not do any athletic testing in the pre-draft process.
Klare also measured in with 20th percentile arm length and 7th percentile hand size which restricts his catch radius. And while he played all 26 games over the last two seasons he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in 2023 (torn deltoid ligament, bone chips) which lingered from his freshman season.
Patriots preview
What would be his role? With Hunter Henry and Julian Hill atop the Patriots tight end depth chart any rookie addition will not need to carry the load immediately. That is valuable at a position that takes time to develop, but Klare would still provide an injection of athleticism at the position that should see the field early in at least passing situations.
Does he have positional versatility? In a more talented Ohio State tight end room, Klare was only a part-time player on run snaps (151/398) compared to a full-time player in passing situations (337/442). While on the field, he split his time between having his hand in the dirt (232 snaps) and being in the slot (160) or out wide (52). In his final season at Purdue, however, Klare was a full-time player in those run situations while remaining versatile in his alignment.
What is his growth potential? Klare’s on-field athleticism leaves a rather high ceiling for him as a weapon in the passing game, while he has the size and compete to at least survive in-line. The path is there for him to be a full-time Y tight end and there is some Sam LaPorta to his game if the development potential is reached.
Why the Patriots? It’s time for the Patriots to truly invest in the tight end position and get both younger and more athletic. Klare fits that description and has the potential to take over atop the depth chart following Henry. Mike Vrabel has also not been shy of bringing in former Buckeyes over the last year.
Why not the Patriots? Klare’s skillset and upside as a weapon in a passing game could take him off the board before the Patriots’ second selection. If he is available, New England may decide to address another position there anyway while Mike Vrabel also noted the success from tight ends selected in rounds four and five, which could be the target area in a strong tight end class.
One-sentence verdict: Klare will be one of the first tight ends off the board on Day 2 as he has the skillset to be a true threat in a passing attack.
For more information about Max Klare and the rest of this year’s class of prospects, please take a look at Adam’s 2026 NFL Draft Guide.
Also, what do you think about Klare as a potential Patriots target? Do you like him? Where would you pick him? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.
