NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Penn State TE Khalil Dinkins

Khalil Dinkins is an ideal complement to an NFL tight end room, with his effort in the run game, untapped athletic upside, and natural hands as a catcher. He's got great size and length for the position and comes from a long line of successful tight ends to enter the league from Penn State.

A former 4-star recruit, Dinkins had aspirations of being the lead tight end for the Nittany Lions in his senior season, but it was not to be, and he'll leave college after putting up 37 receptions for 399 yards with seven touchdowns.

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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— Dinkins has the tools, NFL frame, and blocking effort to impact an offense as a Y tight end with room to grow.

— He's a physical presence as a blocker and works double teams and chips with intention and attitude.

— A versatile player with seam speed and good catch through contact ability to attack the middle of the field.

Areas of Improvement

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— The effort and physicality are there for Dinkins, but he needs to work on staying connected as a blocker and not "bench pressing" the defender.

— Runs a limited route tree and isn't a nuanced mover as a receiver. He needs to be smoother and quicker at the top of his routes to create separation.

— Must become more active post route to find space or become available for his quarterback.

— Needs to work on overall balance as a blocker to not fall forward or be pulled through by defenders.

Grade, Rank and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 5.9 (Backup/Draftable - 6th Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: TE Ben Yurosek, Georgia (5.9 in 2025), TE Dallin Holker, Colorado State (5.9 in 2024), TE Blake Whiteheart, Wake Forest (5.8 in 2023)

OVERALL RANK: 240

POSITION RANK: TE21

PRO COMPARISON: Tyler Kroft

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'4 ¼"
Weight: 251
Hand Size: 9 ½'
Arm Length: 33 ¼"
Wingspan: N/A

40-Yard Dash: 4.72
10-Yard Split: 1.7
Vertical: 32.5"
Broad: 9"11"
3-Cone: 7.28
Shuttle: 4.33
Bench: 25