Spring Rankings Update: Scouting the 2027 Tight Ends

It's not surprising that our 2027 tight end class isn't the deepest position group. For starters, it's a hard position to recruit for colleges. We also have several talented tight ends listed as athletes or at a different position and this group could grow in the next months simply as we shift players' positions around. Often a 25th-ranked edge rusher will play more on offense and we'll move him to the top 10 of the tight end rankings.   Instead of breaking this out into stock-risers and new additions, we're combining the tight ends into one piece. Who's ranked and what do we like about these 2027 tight ends?   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 Tight End Report</h2>   We've organized these from lowest to highest ranked after our May rankings update. Who made the cut?    Congleton wasn't used a ton in the passing game last season, but when he was he was an elite red zone threat. Congleton caught five touchdowns on just 13 catches. He was mostly used out of the slot and he's a menace as a blocker, especially in the screen and outside run game. He's flashed some route-running ability and the upside is great.     Despite not being used heavily in the passing game last season, Vetter is getting rave reviews from people in the area and the prevailing thought is that he could have a huge junior season. He's mostly used in the flats as a yards after catch threat, but he has the athleticism to get down the field and make big plays in the passing game. If his production ticks up this season, he could move up our rankings.     I've gone back and forth on where to list Best. He's a two-way player who excels at both tight end and edge, and during the last rankings update, I advocated for him at edge. I think some of his potential development will simply depend on how his body develops, but as a tight end, he excels at getting vertical and making tough catches, something that makes him an intriguing college prospect.     Haywood's size and speed alone are enough to turn heads, as an 80-inch wingspan and mid-4.5 40 will almost certainly translate. He's a guy who could blow up in the next few months as he gets out to camps, something that we definitely pay attention to. We're waiting patiently for his breakout and expect that he's a guy who could move up our rankings by August.     A standout on the baseball diamond as well, Alderfer is extremely athletic, playing multiple positions on offense, defense, and special teams including defensive tackle and long-snapper. I'd like to see him clean up his 40 and drop it just a bit, but he's highly-athletic and a smart player with strong hands.     Brawner has always had height, but he's growing into his body now and should enter his junior season at a weight more befitting of a tight end. He wasn't used a ton as a receiver last season, catching around a pass a game, but the potential is through the roof and he has the chance to put up elite numbers in a strong offense in 2025.     We were early with Easter, who was one of the better freshman tight ends I've scouted in the last few cycles. Since, he's gotten bigger, stronger, and faster. I'd like to see him hone his route-running just a bit more, but his measurables and times are creeping into the elite range that we like to see from our high upside tight end prospects, especially the guys who are pass-catchers first.    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other 2027 Tight Ends</h3>   Since Prep Redzone profiles show the most recent evaluation block for each player, I'm listing a couple other tight ends below who have recent evaluations, either from Matt Morrow after his CFI Showcase, or from myself in another article. Click their names to view their profiles, or the linked article to see their recent evaluation in the context of the article they were featured in.   [player_tooltip player_id='718315' first='Hudson' last='Nolden'], Palisades: Great performance at the CFI Showcase, excelled at creating downfield separation, earning <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/cfi-carolinas-mega-showcase-top-wide-receivers-tight-ends/">top tight end honors</a>.   [player_tooltip player_id='1607810' first='Qualteau' last='Hawkins'], Stuart Cramer: One of the stronger blocking tight ends in the state, Hawkins has blown up on the recruiting trail and is one of our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/scouting-the-top-of-the-2027-class-offense/">top offensive players in the 2027 class</a>.

It's not surprising that our 2027 tight end class isn't the deepest position group. For starters, it's a hard position to recruit for colleges. We also have several talented tight ends listed as athletes or at a different position and this group could grow in the next months simply as we shift players' positions around. Often a 25th-ranked edge rusher will play more on offense and we'll move him to the top 10 of the tight end rankings.