Everyone remembers where they were when the walk-on from Plainville caught that ball in Austin. It’s one of those "glitch in the matrix" college football moments. Jared Casey, a guy who wasn’t even on the depth chart two weeks prior, hauling in a two-point conversion to sink the Texas Longhorns in 2021. It made for a great Applebee’s commercial and an even better ESPN College GameDay segment. But now that we’re looking at the Jared Casey NFL draft prospects and his professional ceiling, the conversation has shifted from "heartwarming underdog story" to "can this guy actually play on Sundays?"
Honestly, the draft community is split. Some look at a 6-foot, 245-pound "tight end" and see a player without a home in the modern NFL. Others see a Swiss Army knife who doesn’t care about your spreadsheets.
The Reality of the Jared Casey NFL Draft Profile
Let’s be real for a second. If you’re looking at Jared Casey and expecting a 6-foot-5 vertical threat who runs a 4.5, you’re looking at the wrong player. He’s basically a classic throwback fullback masquerading as a modern H-back. In the 2024 season at Kansas, he put up 18 receptions for 203 yards and a couple of scores. Those aren't "first-round pick" numbers. But NFL scouts don't just look at the box score; they look at the dirty work.
Casey spent his time at KU doing the things that make coaches drool and fans yawn. He was a lead blocker for a high-powered rushing attack. He lined up in the backfield, he stood up at the line, and he even split out wide occasionally. When people talk about the Jared Casey NFL draft journey, they often overlook his special teams' value. He’s a guy who will run through a brick wall on a kickoff return just to make a tackle. That’s how you make an NFL roster when you’re "undersized."
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The Kansas City Chiefs saw the vision early. They brought him in for a rookie minicamp following the 2025 draft cycle, which was a huge "full circle" moment since the Jayhawks had been playing home games at Arrowhead Stadium while their own stadium was under construction. It proves that the league is at least interested in the "Sausage 2.0" archetype.
Why Teams Might Pass (and Why They’ll Regret It)
There are some legitimate concerns that keep draft analysts up at night.
- Height: He’s listed at 6'0", but some scouts swear he’s closer to 5'11". In a league where tight ends are usually giants, that's a hurdle.
- Speed: He’s not going to win many footraces. He’s a "tenacious" runner, not a "fast" one.
- The Fullback Problem: The NFL is phasing out the fullback. Unless you’re the 49ers or the Ravens, you probably don’t even have one on the roster.
But here’s the thing: Casey is a football player in the purest sense. He was the valedictorian of his high school. He’s smart. He understands leverage. When he was at Plainville High, he played linebacker and running back for a team that only had 23 players. He’s used to doing everything.
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During his time at Kansas, he developed into a surprisingly fluid route runner. He’s got "soft hands"—a scout’s favorite cliché—and he rarely drops the ball. If a team like the San Francisco 49ers or the Miami Dolphins looks at him, they don't see a "small tight end." They see a versatile piece they can move around the formation to create mismatches against linebackers who aren't used to covering 250-pounders with a low center of gravity.
Beyond the Texas Catch: The 2026 Perspective
As we move into the 2026 professional landscape, Casey’s path is likely that of a priority free agent or a late-round flyer. He’s already shown he can handle the pressure of being "the guy" in the spotlight without letting it go to his head. He’s famously said he doesn't care what people say about his size because he's been "shorter than most guys" his entire life.
The Jared Casey NFL draft buzz isn't about being a superstar. It’s about being a contributor. In 2024, his final year at Kansas, he was a captain and a leader for a team that went 5-7. He was the one keeping the locker room together during the rough stretches. That kind of intangible value is hard to quantify but easy to see on film.
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What Scrappy Players Bring to the Table
There is a long history of players like Jared Casey making it in the league. Think about guys like Kyle Juszczyk or even former Jayhawk Mike Michalske (way back in the day). They aren't the fastest, but they are the toughest.
Teams that are looking for a culture setter will be the ones calling Casey’s agent. He represents the "Kansas turnaround" under Lance Leipold. He’s the guy who worked his way up from a preferred walk-on with zero FBS offers to a three-year starter and a local legend. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because you're the first one in the building and the last one to leave.
Actionable Insights for Evaluating "Tweeners"
If you’re a scout—or just a fan trying to win your dynasty league—here is how you should actually evaluate a prospect like Jared Casey:
- Ignore the "Position" Label: Don't look at him as a Tight End. Look at him as an "Offensive Weapon." If a coach is creative, he’s a nightmare to account for.
- Watch the Blocking Film: Don't just watch the highlights of the Texas catch. Watch him pull on a power run against Kansas State or Oklahoma State. That’s where the real NFL money is made.
- Special Teams Participation: If a guy like Casey isn't willing to play on the punt coverage team, he won't make it. Fortunately, he’s already proven he loves the "dirty work."
- Hands vs. Body Catching: Casey catches with his hands away from his body. This is a huge indicator of NFL potential for shorter receivers.
Jared Casey might not be the first name called on draft day. He might not even be the 200th. But dismissing him because he doesn't fit a specific mold is exactly what people did when he was coming out of Plainville. And we all saw how that turned out for Texas.
The future of the Jared Casey NFL draft story is still being written, but if his track record is any indication, he’ll find a way onto a field. He always does. Whether it's catching a game-winner in the dirt of Austin or clearing a path for a star running back on a rainy Sunday in November, Casey is a player you simply cannot count out.