Tanner Koziol NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Jacksonville Jaguars TE

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Houston TE Tanner Koziol with the No. 164 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Tanner Koziol creates mismatches due to his imposing size and ball skills.

Koziol was a highly impactful transfer addition to Houston's offense from Ball State, finishing in the top three among tight ends in receiving yards with 651. The big slot quickly became a safety valve for Houston's quarterback, and even when he was covered, he was open.

A former 2-star recruit and 4-star transfer, Koziol broke out as a junior at Ball State with 94 catches for 839 yards and eight touchdowns. He's scored 24 touchdowns in his collegiate career, showcasing the impact he's sure to have at the next level with his size and hand strength.

Dan has covered the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL Draft since 2019 while contributing for RGR Football. Most recently, he spent the 2025 draft cycle at The Draft Network and is entering his first season in our scouting department.

Highlights

Tanner Koziol hightlights

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Where He Wins

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— Koziol is an offensive weapon with mismatch potential wherever he's lined up. He's a smooth mover who uses route intention and manipulation tactics to move defenders.

— The 6'7", 250-pound TE manipulates space and uses his natural height advantage to pluck the ball out of the air and over defenders. He attacks the ball with good timing and strong hands away from his frame.

— At the top of routes, he uses head fakes and body intention to force defenders to hesitate in space and give him quick separation. He uses his hands throughout his route stem to keep defenders at bay and to stay on course.

— His strong hands allow him to catch the ball through contact and with defenders crowding his space. The catch radius is impressive to go with his excellent ball skills.

Areas of Improvement

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—Koziol doesn't offer much upside as an in-line tight end with his poor natural leverage, wide base at the point of attack, and inability to anchor. Adding more functional strength and attacking with his hands can help his overall technique.

— Adding more physicality to his game in every phase will positively change the impact he can have on an every-down basis, from staying on blocks to breaking tackles.

— He lacks explosive movements in his routes and after the catch, limiting his ability to detach from technically sound defenders. He will need to keep adding manipulation tactics to create separation against man coverage at the next level.

Grade, Rank and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 6.5 (Role Player/Part-Time Contributor — 4th Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: TE Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech (6.4 in 2025), TE AJ Barner, Michigan (6.4 in 2024), TE Brenton Strange, Penn State (6.5 in 2023)

OVERALL RANK: 169

POSITION RANK: TE17

PRO COMPARISON: Nuanced Ryan Griffin

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'6 ½"
Weight: 247
Hand Size: 9 ¾"
Arm Length: 33 ¾'
Wingspan: N/A

40-yard dash: 4.7
10-yard split: 1.63
Vertical: 36.5"
Broad: 10'2"
3 cone: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Bench: N/A