Chiefs scouting report: Stanford Cardinal TE Sam Roush

The Kansas City Chiefs brought Travis Kelce back for this coming season but need to invest in a long-term replacement for the future Hall of Famer. The 2026 NFL Draft lacks star power at tight end outside of Kenyon Sadiq but features several developmental players with starting upside. The Chiefs have several options, but one underdiscussed prospect stands out.

Stanford Cardinal TE Sam Roush possesses prototypical size for an in-line tight end at 6'6", 267 lbs. , but his arms are disproportionately short at just 30 5/8 inches. Roush also has significant experience deploying in the slot.

He lacks the burst and top speed to threaten off-coverage but is fast enough to draw attention down the seam and slip past the defense’s second level. #Stanford TE Sam Roush runs his routes with urgency and does a nice job with route pacing and finding soft spots in zone coverage over the middle of the field. Effort is there as a blocker, though not always consistent because his lack of length.

He has a "Y" tight end skill… pic. twitter. com/bragzyQOuk — Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) March 12, 2026 Roush is not a consistent separator because he lacks the explosiveness and suddenness to pull away from defenders or to break free from tight man coverage at the top of the stem.