One prospect who may interest the Denver Broncos in the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft is Stanford tight end Sam Roush. He is a 6-6, 267-pound tight end prospect who is considered one of the better run-blocking tight ends in this entire draft class.
He played four seasons at Stanford and was a consistent contributor to the team during that span. During his four-year career, Roush appeared in 48 games and totaled 119 receptions for 1,201 yards and 4 touchdowns. This past season, he appeared in 12
games and totaled 49 receptions for 545 yards (both career highs) and 2 touchdowns. These numbers do not jump off the page, but if you factor in how bad Stanford’s quarterback play has been recently, these numbers are actually pretty damn good.
The Broncos re-signed veteran tight end Adam Trautman while also bringing back Nate Adkins and Lucas Krull on one-year vet minimum deals. However, the Broncos can still add to this room, and I believe a player like Sam Roush is exactly what they need. He’s a large tight end who can do the dirty work in the trenches while also being a sneaky threat in the passing game.
Player Profile
Sam Roush | Tight End | Stanford
- Height: 6-6
- Weight: 267 pounds
- Arm Length: 30 5/8 inches
- Hand Size: 10 inches
- 40-time: 4.7 seconds
- 10-yard split: 1.61 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 38.5 inches
- Broad Jump: 10-6
- 3-Cone Drill: 7.08 seconds
- 20-yard Shuttle: 4.37 seconds
- Bench Press: 25 reps
Film Room
Scouting Report
Strengths
- Has the size, build, strength, and athleticism you look for in a tight end
- Tested very well, especially for his size, at the Combine and proved he is more than a “blocking tight end”
- Excellent blocker in the run game and is a plug-and-play in-line tight end
- Is a dangerous second-level blocker, is good at combo blocks, and does all the dirty work well
- Can hold his own as a pass-blocker as well
- In the passing game, he’s at his best in the short and intermediate game
- He can find the soft spots in zone coverage, be a large target in the middle of the field, and a weapon in the red zone
- When he has the ball in his hands, he is tough to bring down, fights through contact, and keeps his leg moving
- While he’s not a burner, he is surprisingly elusive after the catch and can create a little bit after the catch
- Improved every year of college and is an ascending player
- Has the toughness, effort, character, makeup, and bloodlines you look for in an NFL prospect
Weaknesses
- Has some issues with drops
- Despite his size, he has smaller arms than expected
- Not the best at ball-tracking or contested catches
- Can he be a vertical threat in the NFL?
What other analysts are saying about Stanford TE Sam Roush
NFL.com’s draft analyst Lance Zierlein on Stanford TE Sam Roush
In a draft landscape full of pass-catching tight ends, Roush stands out as one of the few plug-and-play “Y” tight ends (in-line blocking TE) available. He can make cut-off blocks in zone and combo blocks in gap schemes. He holds his own in pass protection, too. As a receiver, he’s not stiff, but he lacks elusiveness underneath. He needs to apply more of his tough playing style to win combat catches and expand his role beyond run blocker/zone beater. While his catch production might draw questions, his size, toughness and pro-ready blocking profile could push him into Day 2 consideration.
Sam Roush’s RAS
Should the Broncos draft Stanford tight end Sam Roush in the mid rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft?
If available in the 4th round, I would pull the trigger.
I hate using the term “safe” when it comes to a prospect, but I am using it here with Sam Roush. At the very least, you’re getting a very good blocker with good size who can contribute a little bit in the pass game. He has the bloodlines, character, makeup, and effort to stick in the NFL. The only question is, how good can he be?
For the Broncos, he is someone who can come in and contribute in two-tight-end sets with veteran tight end Adam Trautman while also giving the Broncos some upside as a pass-catcher. He proved at the Combine that he’s an athlete, and we saw flashes of that at Stanford despite their struggles at quarterback. I think he will have a better NFL career than college career and could flourish in this Broncos offense.
Multiple tight end sets are the thing in the NFL, and a player like Sam Roush is built perfectly for that. Due to this and his impressive showing at the Combine, I believe Roush could go anywhere from the late second round to the early fourth round. The issue for the Broncos is that they currently only have one selection in the first three rounds, and that is a late second-round selection. I think that’s a little bit early for Roush, but I am not confident that he will be there for their early 4th round picks.
Now, they can always trade back or up for him, but that’s difficult to predict since the draft always has a few surprises and players always go earlier and later than expected.
At the end of the day, if the Broncos find a way to land Stanford tight end Sam Roush, I will not be upset. He’s exactly what this offense needs and would instantly improve that tight end room while giving them a potential impact starter down the road.
