NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Alabama TE Josh Cuevas

Josh Cuevas offers multi-positional versatility at the tight end position to play in the slot, out wide, and at H-back for an offense. He's been a do-it-all player for the Crimson Tide with marked improvement over his two seasons there. A functional blocker from multiple alignments, smooth route-running chops, and special-teams experience give Cuevas a quick path to an NFL role. Truly a tough competitor, Cuevas broke his foot in November and returned to play in just over a month.

A former walk-on at Cal Poly and transfer from Washington, he's had to earn a role at multiple stops and continued to showcase his work ethic to help Alabama reach the College Football Playoff. He caught 37 balls for 411 yards and four touchdowns as a redshirt senior, his best season after transferring up in competition from Cal Poly.

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.

Where He Wins

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— Cuevas exhibits the versatility to play multiple positions and execute blocks/routes from various alignments. He's a functional blocker and works to keep his hands inside and technique clean.

— A smooth route runner, he showcases manipulation tactics in off-man coverage with speed dialation, route intention, and body language. He can create space and move defenders away from his target area.

— The 6'3", 256-pound tight end has good speed up the seam and can separate early with lateral burst and first-step quickness. He consistently looks for space post-route to become available for his quarterback.

— A reliable pass catcher, he has soft hands and tracks the ball well to all areas of the field. As soon as the pass is caught, he looks to get upfield quickly and into space to maximize yards after the catch.

Areas of Improvement

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— Cuevas will need to get stronger at the point of attack and maintain blocks longer to have a better in-line impact at the next level. His feet get heavy when engaged, making it easier for defenders to shed.

— Adding more physicality in his game will help as a blocker and create separation against sticky linebackers and safeties. It could lead to more broken tackles in the passing game, resulting in more yards after the catch.

— He's not the best athlete in space and often goes down on first contact. He'll need to speed up his spatial recognition against zone defenders to maximize his burst after the catch.

Grade, Rank and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 6.7 (Role Player/Part-Time Contributor — 4th Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: TE Gunnar Helm, Texas (6.7 in 2025), TE Jared Wiley, TCU (6.6 in 2024), TE Josh Whyle, Cincinnati (6.6 in 2023)

OVERALL RANK: 140

POSITION RANK: TE13

PRO COMPARISON: Cade Otton

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'3"
Weight: 245
Hand Size: 9 ⅝"
Arm Length: 30 ⅝"
Wingspan: N/A

40-yard dash: 4.65
10-yard split: 1.65
Vertical: 34"
Broad: 9'10"
3 cone: 7.37
Shuttle: 4.38
Bench: N/A