It’s never too early to start looking at 2026 NFL Draft prospects. General manager Jason Licht has used the draft as a key cog in the Buccaneers’ roster construction and team transformation.
We’ll cover every position in the draft, but not all positions are necessarily a need for the Buccaneers. Of course, anything is possible for a team that, if not, gets picked up by the Buccaneers’ biannual division rival.
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In this report, we’ll discuss tight ends. The team has Cade Orton, who is set to become a free agent this offseason, and will likely return, but they still need help behind him. So whether they draft a starter or a depth piece, there’s still a chance they draft one.
With that in mind, here’s our coverage of Houston’s Tanner Koziol.
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Tanner Koziol
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Height/weight: 6-6, 251 (informal)
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Previous school: ball state
background
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Originally committed to North Dakota
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2023 MAC Third Team All-SEC
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2024 MAC Second Team All-SEC
Noteworthy Statistics
Notable PFF Numbers in 2025
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PFF acceptance grade: 82.9
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Yards per catch: 4.1
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Yards per route: 2.21
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Target average depth: 6.8
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Controversial catches: No. 17
Skill
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Reach for the ball and attack the ball in the air
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Good breaking speed with the ball in hand
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Makes contested catches even while absorbing big contact
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Tracks the ball well in the air
Player summary
Tanner Koziol is a rare blend of pure athletic organization and grit. The only flaw I would address about him is that I wish he had more bulk, but if he gains that bulk it might slow him down. Now, as for the rest of his game, I like his hands, he can make contested catches, and he looks effortless at times. He could use some work in progress to hone his route tree, but he’s had enough time to set himself up for success as a rookie. He can step in and play Day 1, and I believe he should develop into a promising tight end in the league while doing so.
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This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
