What is the story about?
I broke down the 2027 scouting classes in my early summer scouting series, and the room has a ton of potential with a long list of potential standout players. I broke down the offense and defense in articles and I suggest reading those for a broad aspect of the room. Brock Bowers remains an elite tight end, and arguably the best in the NFL, but the Raiders do have some questions behind Bowers after the 2026 season. Former 2nd rounder Michael Mayer is sent to be a free agent, and with a good season he should
be looking at a decent contract as a TE2, blocking specialist. Additionally, Ian Thomas is set to be a free agent and Las Vegas also has former UDFA Carter Runyon, who’s flashed, but it’s likely even with retaining Mayer the Raiders should add another TE.
These rankings are extremely early, and they will evolve over not only the summer but the next 8-10 months throughout the season, and into draft season. Some lists will feature 10, 15, 20, or more ranked prospects but I’ll include others on the list below to note.
- Jamari Johnson, Oregon – 6’5/260, R-So
- Johnson was a key focal point of the Ducks offense last year with 32 receptions, 510 yards, and 3 TD after coming over from Louisville. He’s better than Kenyon Sadiq, and in my opinion has a chance to be a better prospect than Bowers. Johnson has absurd movement skills, he’s shown exceptional length, fires off the ball, and Johnson also shows a ton of quickness and movement in his route running. Johnson has fluid hips, he makes his cuts well, and Johnson shows an innate ability to adjust to the ball in the air and come down with tough catches. Where he makes a ton of impact is as a run blocker, where Johnson uses his length and athleticism with good technique, and a ton of lower body power to get off the line of scrimmage and into space. Johnson will need to continue his play as the starter at TE, instead of the supplementary piece, but he has the core traits, athleticism, and technique to be a top 10 pick.
- Peter Clarke, Temple – 6’6/270, Sr
- Pete Clarke exploded onto the scene in 2025 with 30 receptions, 483 yards, and 6 TD for Temple. He had the chance to transfer to multiple P4 programs but chose to remain at Temple. He has exceptional size, power, and length, and he’s also relatively new to football after playing at the NFL Academy in London before landing with Temple. Clarke has good movement off the line of scrimmage, his initial quickness is elite, and likely the best in the class where Clarke blocks like an offensive tackle. He has an innate ability to seal the corner, walls off defenders, finishes blocks, and drives his full body through the rep. Clarke’s natural movement excells in the run game, but he can also work as a functional pass protector as well. As a route runner Clark moves well for his size, he sinks his hips, has good initial quickness out of his breaks, and Clarke also does a good job to adjust to the ball in the air, work in YAC situations, and all around can be a very high end TE in the NFL.
- Chris Corbo, Georgia Tech – 6’5/246, Sr
- Corbo is someone to know, and I may be a bit high on his ranking but I have faith. The former Dartmouth standout had 32 receptions, 315 yards, and 7 TD in 2024 then 45/516/4 in 2025. He has great size, incredible length, and he moves well for someone at his size as well. Corbo fires off the line of scrimmage, has a quick second step, and his explosiveness out of cuts is also exceptional which is where Corbo wins. He’s a high end route runner who uses his lower body agility, football IQ, and ability to diagnose coverages/leverage to his advantage. Corbo does a good job coming back tot he ball, has strong hands, and he can win majority of contested catches with good YAC skills as well. Corbo wins a ton in the run game, often off his athleticism but advanced technique, though there’s a question mark on his power profile. Corbo is someone to watch, and he has a chance to be a longtime NFL player, and may project best as an elite TE2.
- DJ Vonnahme, Iowa – 6’5/240, R-Jr
- Vonnahme is a former QB, but his ceiling as a TE is truly incredible. A year after logging 29 receptions, 434 yards, and 3 TD, Vonnahme is a high end athlete, has elite physicality to pair with his explosiveness, and he shows advanced receiving skills for his limited experience at the position. Vonnahme does struggle with drops, he’s an average contested catch receiver, and he’ll need to improve as a blocker which is a given due to his limited experience. Vonnahme is a good route runner, who shows flashes of high end traits, and he wins largely off his athletic ability. The Iowa TE does a great job controlling his body, has good movement skills, and he’s powerful while also having top end speed at the position. He may be a 2028 option but Vonnahme has a chance as a first rounder in 2027.
- Trey’Dez Green, LSU – 6’7/245, R-Jr
- When you talk about athletes, there’s really no one better than Green. The 6’7, 240 TE wins mainly off his athletic profile, with inconsistencies in his route running, receiving, and he’s an adequate blocker. Green has the size, length, and athleticism to be a top TE in both college and the NFL, but he’ll need to get better in the small technique fashions. Green is likely a big slot, or H-Back TE in the NFL, as he’s an average blocker who doesn’t show a ton of immediate movement, and defenders do get up under his pads easy which pushes him out. As a receiver, he’s fluid, a decent route runner with flashes, and there’s also moments in the YAC game as well. After 33 receptions, 433 yards, and 7 TD, Green is looking for a consistent season to build on, and pivot his name higher.
- Ben Brahmer, Penn State – 6’7/255, R-Jr
- Brahmer transferred to Penn State from Iowa State, and there’s a lot of potential in his game. A big player, Brahmer has been a dominant blocker at the Big 12 level, and needs to show so again in the Big 10. He has above average movement skills, but needs to be more consistent as a receiver with flashes of being an above average route runner, though there’s also come questions in his hands which have been up and down. Brahmer is coming off his best sesaon, where he showed a good ability to work the intermediate range, and his natural athleticism shows he has the potential to be a good receiver in the NFL.
- Andrew Rappleyea, Penn State – 6’4/251, Sr
- Likely more of a 2028 candidate, but Rappleyea projects to start for Penn State with Brahmer and he has incredible athleticism. He’s played just 17 games in his career, with 13 coming in 2025 where he logged 20 receptions, 190 yards, and 3 touchdowns.
- Brady Foley, Louisville – 6’6/260, Sr
- Dorian Thomas, Cal – 6’4/240, Jr
- Thomas has bounced around in his career, he transferred to New Mexico in 2025 after spending 2024 at Arizona, before now landing at Cal. Thomas is an incredible athlete, he shows an elite blend of lower body agility, with good hips, ankles, and explosiveness off the line of scrimmage. Thomas does an incredible job after the catch, with good initial movement skills, and natural hip/ankle flexibility that allow him to maneuver past defenders. Additionally, Thomas did show a good ability to snag the ball in tough situations, he attacks out of his frame, and he’ll track the ball as well. Thomas’ biggest concern is as a blocker, where he’s undersized with average length, but does have some flashes using his athleticism to his advantage and can seal outside as a blocker. Thomas only has one real year of production in 2025 with 56 receptions, 560 yards, and four touchdowns but he joins a high octane Cal offense.
- Lawson Luckie, Georgia – 6’4/245, Sr
Other Names to Watch:
- Luke Reynolds, Virginia Tech – Former Penn St starter, good size. Blocks well w/ upside
- Ty Ty Washington, Notre Dame – Elite blocker, good athlete, limited experience
- Terrance Carter Jr, Texas Tech – Exceptional athlete, great in YAC situations. Just 6’1, limited blocker
- Garrett Oakley, Kansas State – Breakout candidate, 6’5/250, high end blocker, receiving skills developing
- Christian Abney, Illinois – Former QB, first season as starter. Missive frame, great length.
- Luke Lindenmeyer, Nebraska
- Eli Finley, Louisiana Tech – Good mover in space, blocks well, likely a TE2/3 in the NFL
- Carter Moses, Kansas State – FCS to FBS transfer, blocks exceptionally well, athletic. Needs to translate
- Luke Hasz, Ole Miss
- Michael Masunas, Texas
- Ryan Schwendeman, Wisconsin – FCS to FBS transfer, incredible blocker, great size.
