DRAFT TRACKER 2026

Hecht lacks ideal mass and length but it will be hard to find a center in this year’s draft with better technique. He plays with well-placed inside hands that help maximize his leverage and core strength. All schemes are available to him but his athleticism will shine when activated in space. He stays sticky to blocks once he connects, but his lack of length will put him on the wrong side of the battle from time to time in both the run and pass phases. Hecht needs to add more muscle mass to his frame but he has the consistency and tape of a future starter.

Long and rangy, Payne is a durable 42-game starter and team captain who can play inside the box, over the slot and as a split safety. His coverage tape pops more than his run support and tackling. He reads and responds with good timing from depth and uses his length to smother the catch point in man coverage when matched inside. Payne held his own against three of the Big 12’s best receiving tight ends in 2025. He will do his job as a run defender but lacks an enforcer’s conviction and gets hung up on blocks too easily. Payne’s measurables and coverage versatility improve his chances of becoming a productive pro.

Bradley struggles to play through route contact and lacks footwork/short-area burst as a route-runner. He’s primarily a zone-beater underneath with value as a long target in the red zone. His athleticism will become a plus with a position change from wide receiver to tight end, but he’s not much of a blocker right now. Bradley will need to prove he can uncover at a better clip for consideration as a pass-catching tight end in the league.