NFL Draft 2026 Scouting for Ohio State TE Will Kacmarek

Blocking might be a lost art to some tight ends, but don't tell that to Will Kacmarek. He wants to put defenders on the ground and uses powerful torque, foot drive, and blocking versatility as a true "Y" tight end.

The former 2-star recruit and transfer from Ohio has upside as a receiever but will do the majority of his damage as a blocker. He only amassed 761 yards on 65 receptions and added four touchdowns in his five-year collegiate career.

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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— Kacmarek competes on every down and offers plug and play run down ability. His power, run lane awareness, and active feet help him open holes in the run game.

— He's alignment versatile and brings an "H"-back role to pair with in-line functionality.

— Strong hands through contact and fearless over the middle of the field are his calling cards as a pass catcher.

Areas of Improvement

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— Hands can be slow to engage and too wide at the point of attack, allowing defenders to get into his chest.

— Pad level is too inconsistent and gets out leveraged in the run game at times.

— He doesn't have a wide variety of route options available to him with below-average ability to create separation.

— The 6'5", 261-pound tight end is an average athlete who doesn't maximize space or create much for himself 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 Theo Johnson, Penn State (6.7 in 2024), TE Josh Whyle, Cincinnati (6.6 in 2023)

OVERALL RANK: 151

POSITION RANK: TE14

PRO COMPARISON: Dawson Knox

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'5 ½"
Weight: 261
Hand Size: 9 ¾"
Arm Length: 32 ¼"
Wingspan: N/A

40-yard dash: 4.74
10-yard split: 1.7
Vertical: 36"
|Broad: 9'11"
3 cone: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Bench: N/A