Joe Royer Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Cincinnati Athletics)

School: Cincinnati

Class: Redshirt Senior

Position: TE

HT: 6’5

WT: 255 lbs

Background: Joe Royer was a 4-star tight end out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Royer was a top 15 tight end and top 10 player in the state in the class of 2020. Royer prepped at Elder High School, where he caught 70 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns over his career. As a senior, he earned First Team All-Ohio honors. Joe Royer committed to Ohio State over Arizona State, Penn State, Georgia Tech, and others.

College: Royer was with Ohio State from 2020-2023 but did not see the field much. Over his career for the Buckeyes, he only made 4 receptions. Ahead of the 2024 season, Royer transferred to play for Cincinnati. In his first season with the Bearcats, Royer tallied 50 receptions for 521 yards and 3 touchdowns. These were good enough numbers to earn him All-Big 12 honors. In 2025, Royer’s numbers came down a little, but he was still effective. He posted 29 receptions for 416 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Strengths: Joe Royer has an incredibly high football IQ. He is able to consistently find soft spots in coverage to sit in and wait for the football. He combines that intelligence with a large catch radius. He is a friendly target and one of the best safety nets a quarterback can ask for. Once he completes the catching process, he does well to turn up field and become a runner. He has impressive speed for the position and can outrun first and second level defenders. As a route runner, Royer controls the tempo. He has an excellent rhythm to his footwork and attacks his break exactly when he needs to for maximum leverage.

Weaknesses: Royer is a poor blocker overall. He gets beaten on the outside far too often by both speed and power. He is just not as strong as he needs to be to block NFL level edge rushers. Royer’s routes are not sharp and far too rounded on his cuts. He allows defenders to cut across his body between himself and the quarterback.

Conclusion: Joe Royer is a productive tight end with the ball in his hands. He finds areas to get the football and immediately gashes the defense with his leg after he does so. If Royer can increase his play strength and become a more technically sound blocker, he will be a force in the NFL.

Best Team Fits: CIN, DEN, NE

Player Comparison: Jeremy Ruckert

Player Grade: Round 4 (67.4)