Tight end Matthew Hibner began his college career at Michigan, where he struggled to get on the field, before transferring to SMU. He didn’t get much of a shot at Michigan, but he made the most of his time at SMU. At 6’4″ and 251 pounds with a 4.57 40 and a 37-inch vertical, the athleticism is real. Hibner plays with a physicality in the run game that you don’t always see from tight ends of his size. His route running needs work, however. His receiving numbers at SMU do impress for sure, and his ability to impact on special teams is noteworthy.
Matthew Hibner 2026 NFL Draft Overview
Position: Tight End
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 251 pounds
School: SMU
2026 NFL Draft Mathew Hibner Scouting Report
Strengths
- 9’8’ broad jump, 37” vertical jump, and 28 bench press reps at the NFL Combine;
- 4.57 in the 40-yard dash is decent for a tight end
- Speed allows escapability and separation from linebackers
- Extends arms quickly, and time passes well
- 32 ⅜” arm length
- Patient blocker, scans out second-level blocks with skill
- Gets solid jumps off the line, gains speed quickly as a seam pass catcher
- Agile near the sidelines, nimble feet allow for fantastic catches inside the lines
- High football IQ, special teams skills, and standout
- Demonstrated success with 55 catches for 804 yards and eight touchdowns over two seasons at SMU
- Tenacious blocker and likes to hunt for defenders to block
- Potential solid fit as a receiving tight end
- Significant potential to be developed as an H-back
Matthew Hibner is a TE prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.56 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 61 out of 1356 TE from 1987 to 2026.
Pending agility testing, bench tomorrow, splits projected.https://t.co/OBoQRJkG5V pic.twitter.com/q1Xcgb2dcI
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) February 28, 2026
Weaknesses
- He struggles with accelerating and decelerating
- Has difficulty changing direction and getting open against safeties
- Tight ankles, will need to work on footwork and flexibility to excel in the NFL
- An undisclosed injury in 2025 reduced his effectiveness; some scouts worry about his durability
- Hibner is undersized and will need to add bulk while maintaining speed
- His route running aligns with the vertical passing game, and he needs work to have success on option routes
- Hibner’s pad level is inconsistent when drive blocking, limited effectiveness in college as a run blocker
- Initial burst off the line of scrimmage is sluggish, needs to work on explosiveness
- Lacked production at Michigan, a relative newcomer to success at top-flight competition
Matthew Hibner is another solid TE option who could be great value day 3.
6’4” 250 lbs. Had a good Senior Bowl as was pointed out to my by executive director Drew Fabianich & had a good combine. RAS 👇🏻 https://t.co/jA8a1AdMIf
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) February 28, 2026
NFL Comparison: Ja’Tavion Sanders
Teams With Need At Position: Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos ,Detroit Lions Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers
Projection: Rounds 4-6
.@SMUFB TE Matthew Hibner stands at 6'4", 251 pounds and just ran a 4.57u 👀
2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/0tPElu5rBe— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026
Bottom Line on Matthew Hibner
Hibner is a solid fit for teams using multiple tight end sets. Hibner would be a great fit with the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers as both a second tight or H-back candidate. Teams incorporating two and three tight end set often, including Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Kansas City Chiefs New England Patriots have checked in on Hibner. Other teams that have shown more than passing interest in Hibner are the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints. Do not be surprised if a team trades up to nab Hibner.
