From Third-Round Grade to TE1? Joe Royer’s Big Bet on Himself

Joe Royer isn’t coming back to college to play around. He’s coming back to be the first tight end off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft.

That’s what Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield told ESPN’s Pete Thamel, and it’s more than just offseason hype.

After posting 50 catches for 522 yards and three scores in 2024, Royer earned first-team All-Big 12 honors and drew praise as one of the most complete tight ends in the conference. Still, scouts gave him a third-to-fourth round projection. That wasn’t good enough.

Now Royer returns with a chip on his shoulder and a clear goal in mind. At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, he’s got the physical tools to be an NFL-caliber weapon. He blocks, he catches, and he gives defenses hell in the red zone. More than anything, he’s consistent, which is what Cincinnati’s offense desperately needed last year.

The Bearcats struggled to find their footing in 2024, finishing 3–9 in Satterfield’s second year in the Big 12. But Royer was a rare bright spot, and keeping him in the building is a massive win.

Not only does it provide the offense with a reliable veteran target, but it also gives the program a legitimate player development pitch. Cincinnati just might turn a mid-round grade into a first-round selection in 2026, and that resonates with recruits.

Royer’s return also changes the outlook for Cincinnati in 2025. With questions still looming at quarterback, having a top-tier tight end is a stabilizing force. Expect Royer to be the engine of this offense early and often.

If he delivers, he’ll hear his name called early in April, and Cincinnati might get a little more respect in the Big 12 pecking order in the process.