Joe Royer
Cleveland Browns·#18·6'5"·247 lb·CincinnatiOur College Grade
How good he was in college at what his position is supposed to do, out of 100. Scored against everyone else at his position, adjusted for the level he played at. This is not his NFL grade.
College Production
Cincinnati · Big 12
| Season | G | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Pos Rk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | 50 | 50 | 521 | 3 | 17 |
| 2025 | 12 | 37 | 29 | 416 | 4 | 19 |
The seasons in our college data. It does not always reach back to a player's first year.
Scouting Report
Cincinnati · 2026 draft class
Joe Royer is a sixth-year senior tight end who transferred from Ohio State to Cincinnati and became a first-team All-Big 12 selection. Originally a four-star recruit Royer caught just four passes in three seasons at Ohio State before breaking out with the Bearcats. He posted 50 receptions for 521 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2024 followed by 29 catches for 416 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2025 with zero drops. His hands are exceptional with Bleacher Report describing him as a vacuum when the ball is anywhere near him. Royer excels at finding soft spots in zone coverage using head fakes and speed variation to manipulate defenders. More than half his 2025 yardage came after the catch showing surprising creativity as a runner. He is alignment-versatile lining up in-line in the slot and as an H-back. His blocking remains the biggest concern as PFF called him a liability who does not approach blocking with enough consistent tenacity. He lacks the burst to separate in man coverage and his age as one of the oldest prospects in the class limits his developmental ceiling. Royer projects as a round 4-6 selection profiling best as a smart reliable receiving complement in a scheme that does not demand heavy inline blocking.
Strengths
- Exceptional hands with zero drops in 2025 and only two career drops
- Excellent football IQ finding soft spots in zone coverage consistently
- Surprising after-the-catch creativity with over half of 2025 yardage in YAC
- Alignment versatile lining up in-line in slot and as H-back
- Strong route running using head fakes and speed variation to manipulate defenders
- Good deceleration on stop routes creating throwing windows
- Improved run blocking from 2024 to 2025 especially at second level
- Reliable safety valve over the middle of the field
Concerns
- Blocking tenacity and functional strength are major concerns as a run blocker
- Limited athleticism struggles to create separation against man coverage
- Short stride length caps after-the-catch upside at NFL level
- One of the oldest prospects in the class as a sixth-year senior
- Needs to add functional mass for traditional in-line tight end role
- Route tree was primarily schemed touch opportunities at Cincinnati
- Does not maximize his size at the catch point when crowded by defenders
Honors
First-team All-Big 12 (TE 2025). NFL Combine invitee