Tanner Koziol | Houston | 6’7”, 247 lbs | Jan 28, 2004 (22)
Tanner Koziol was drafted in the fifth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, becoming the 13th tight end and 164th overall player selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
Koziol began his career at Ball State in 2022, where he was an immediate producer, posting 35 receptions for 379 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman. After a small regression in his sophomore year, Koziol broke out in Year 3, finishing with 94 receptions for 840 yards and eight touchdowns.
Following his big junior year, Koziol made the jump to the Power 4, transferring to Houston for his final season. He continued finding success against tougher competition, proving to be one of Conner Weigman’s most reliable targets in 2025. He closed out his senior year with 74 receptions for 727 yards and six touchdowns. He led all FBS tight ends in both targets (94) and receptions in 2025.
Koziol’s efficiency over his final two seasons indicates he should be a very fantasy-friendly player if he manages to see the NFL field consistently. He averaged 2.12 yards per route run (YPRR) and a 29.4% target rate, both excellent marks for a tight end.
FILM
Below is a snippet of my film breakdown for Koziol in our 2026 Dynasty Rookie Draft Guide:
Despite having the size and frame of a traditional Y, Koziol is a “move” tight end who projects well for fantasy if he can find the field. He began his career at Ball State, where he broke out in Year 3, ultimately transferring to the P4 this past season, where he found the same success at Houston. Koziol was both a tremendous red zone threat and a safety valve for Houston in 2025. He finds the soft spots in the zone and knows how to use his frame to box out smaller defenders. However, he’s not a great athlete, lacks the burst to separate, and struggles as an in-line blocker.
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ATHLETIC TESTING
Koziol posted an impressive 9.58 official Relative Athletic Score (RAS), boasting a 4.70 40-time, a 36.5” vertical, and a 10’2” broad jump. Most surprising was his 7.08 3-cone time, well above-average for a prospect of his size. His short-area quickness and agility don’t necessarily show on tape. He lacks some burst off the line and explosiveness to his game that the 9.58 RAS would suggest he possesses. However, he makes up for this with his size, catch radius, and ability to beat zone defenses.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Average
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Average
Koziol was taken in the fifth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Day 3 capital was expected, so the draft capital itself doesn’t move Koziol in my pre-draft rankings much.
The Jaguars’ landing spot is an interesting one, as Koziol clearly will be the backup in Year 1, behind Brenton Strange. Strange is entering a contract year and is currently working on an extension with the Jaguars, but it’s possible that if he has another injury-riddled year or takes a step back in production, they choose to move on from him. While unlikely, Koziol would be stepping into the TE1 role in 2027 if this were to happen. Koziol running all the routes in a Liam Coen offense with Trevor Lawrence as his quarterback could be a goldmine for fantasy.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
Koziol’s playstyle gives him legitimate fantasy upside if he carves out a role in this Jacksonville offense, but that’s a big if. The most likely outcome is that Koziol is a backup or practice squad player for the majority of his NFL career, and never hits our dynasty lineups. His limitations as a blocker may prevent him from getting any real playing time on Sundays.
For now, Koziol should be an early-fourth-round rookie target in Superflex and Tight End Premium formats. After Kenyon Sadiq and Eli Stowers, there are no “slam dunk” picks at tight end this year, so he has as good a shot as any to pan out for fantasy purposes.
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