Max Klare, the TE transfer out of Ohio State, checks in as the TE3 in this year's Super Model. For the full TE class, check out the 2026 TE Rookie Super Model.

If you're new to the model, here is an introductory breakdown of the Rookie Super Model, which rates players on a scale of 50 to 100 based on a composite score across Draft Capital, Production and Film. All of this data is integrated into our free NFL Draft Guide, full of big board rankings, mock drafts and more.

You can find a glossary of terms and stats used in this breakdown at the bottom of the prospect profile.

Scouting Report and Rookie Super Model Profile on TE Max Klare

• Super Model Rating: 72 (25th since 2018)
• Draft Pick (Based on mock draft data): 72
• Rookie Age: 23.2
• Height: 76 inches
• Weight: 246 pounds

Klare was a consensus three-star recruit out of Cincinnati in 2022. He redshirted in his first season at Purdue, and he only played six games in Year 2 before a season-ending ankle injury against Illinois.

He came back strong in his third season, with a career-high 57 YPG, which he parlayed into a four-star rating as the No. 1 TE in the transfer portal. He played his final season at Ohio State.

What the Production Says

Klare was an above-average performer in the two inputs in the Production Rating. His 2.07 RYPTPA in his third season is the 12th-best Year 3 mark since 2018. That year, he also posted a career-best 104.8 passer rating when targeted.  

• Adjusted Career RYPTPA: 57th percentile
• Targeted QB Passer Rating: 101.5, 62nd percentile

Adjusted Career RYPTPA: Career receiving yards per team pass attempt adjusted for age, strength of schedule, QB play, teammate competition, aDOT, and alignment. Doesn't count games missed.

The highly sought-after portal transfer regressed in Year 4 with the Buckeyes, averaging 32 yards with a 1.10 RYPTPA. Still, the model gives him some relief for playing in a loaded offense with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Smith had a 3.22 RYPTPA, and Tate was at 2.74.

Other data points that aren't included in the Rookie Super Model tell a similar story: He was an above-average producer.

• Career YPRR: 1.75 (58th percentile)
• Career FDPRR: 9% (57th percentile)
• Career TPRR: 20% (55th percentile)

Beyond the Production

Klare was primarily utilized closer to the line of scrimmage, with the majority of his targets coming in the short area. His 7.7-yard aDOT falls in the 37th percentile.

• Behind the line of scrimmage: 12% (+1 vs avg)
• Short (0-9 yds): 57% (+7 vs avg)
• Medium (10-19 yds): 21% (-6 vs avg)
• Deep (20+ yds): 10% (-2 vs avg)

For underneath target-earners, we prefer more upside after the catch, but Klare was slightly above average. His 5.6 YAC was +0.3 over expected after adjusting for aDOT. Additionally, he demonstrated dependable hands with a 4.6% drop rate and was good in contested-catch situations. He secured 58% of his contested targets, well above the 49% average for prospects since 2018.

There are questions about Klare's ability to play a full-time role as an in-line TE. He lined up in-line on 43% of snaps and notched a 58.4 PFF Run Block Grade (41st percentile). Lance Zierlein's film breakdown for NFL.com echoes those concerns.

Zierlein has a 6.30 prospect grade (57th percentile) for Klare, describing him as "a pass-catching tight end capable of earning volume targets at the pro level." 

The thing I found most interesting in Zierlein's write-up: he sees him as a TE who can challenge at deeper target depths thanks to his route-running and separation skills. If that is true, there could be untapped upside, given the low aDOT and above-average YAC we see in the data profile. Interestingly, Zierlein rated his ball skills as average, which contrasts with the data.

When the data and film don't align, it creates questions, but that is okay. The goal is to get the best picture we can of prospects. The way teams use players in college doesn't always mean they aren't capable of doing more—that is one of the reasons why we have production and film inputs.

Fantasy Football Outlook For TE Max Klare

Since 2018, 33 TEs have posted a Super Model rating between 67 and 77, with 26% delivering a top-12 finish by Year 3.

• Top-six finishes: 13%
• Top-nine finishes: 13%
• Top-12 finishes: 26%

Klare's closest Super Model comps:

• Pat Freiermuth
• Harrison Bryant

Bottom line: The Rookie Super Model views Klare as a borderline Round 2 NFL Draft pick. He is a great example of a prospect who wasn't great in any facet of his game but was good enough across multiple model inputs. That gives him a shot at the next level, but he will need to improve as a blocker, plus unlock deeper looks and additional YAC to become a difference maker. Klare is a mid-range TE2 with TE1 upside in fantasy football.

Glossary of Terms In The Prospect Profile

• Adjusted Career RYPTPA: Career receiving yards per team pass attempt adjusted for age, strength of schedule, QB play, teammate competition, aDOT, and alignment. Doesn't count games missed.
• aDOT: Average depth of target in yards.
• Career Targeted QB Passer Rating: Passer rating on WR's targets.
• Contested catch rate: Percentage of contested targets caught.
• Contested catch rate over expected: Percentage of contested targets caught after adjusting for aDOT.
• Draft Capital Rating: Based on Chase Stuart's Draft Value Chart, an improved version of what many know as the Jimmy Johnson trade chart. It accounts for the larger drop-off in the first round and a flatter drop-off around the end of the second round.
• FDPRR: First downs per route run. Often shown as a percentage (first downs divided by routes).
• Film Rating: Based on NFL.com prospect grades from Lance Zierlein.
• Production Rating: A combination of adjusted career RYPTPA and career targeted QB passer rating.
• Program Quality Rating: ESPN's College Football Power Index is used to assess program quality. The model accounts for each school a prospect attended.
• RYPTPA: receiving yards per team pass attempt.
• SOS Rating: Based on strength of schedule (SOS) from Sports Reference. The model accounts for each school the prospect attended.
• Target Share: A player's percentage of team targets in games played.
• TPRR: Targets per route run.
• YAC: Average yards after the catch.
• YAC over expected: YAC over expected after adjusting for aDOT.
• YPG: Yards per game.
• YPRR: Yards per route run.

Join Our Newsletter

Trusted by 400,000+ fantasy football players. Get access to Fantasy Life's free award winning newsletter and tools, all in one step.

Email Address

Subscribe

By registering or logging in, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.