Kacmarek is a mauler at the point of attack — a block-first Y tight end who takes genuine pride in pancaking defensive ends and creating running lanes in 12-personnel packages. His Ohio State TE coach called him the best blocking tight end in the country, and the tape against Michigan's Derrick Moore supports the hype. The receiving game is an afterthought: limited route tree, below-average separation ability, and a dropped seam ball at the Senior Bowl that confirmed the pass-catching concerns. A 4.74 forty seals the deal — he's not threatening anyone vertically. But in a league that increasingly values multiple tight end sets and physical run games, Kacmarek can carve out a 6-8 year career as an inline TE2/TE3 who sets edges and moves bodies.
- Elite-level run blocker with nasty demeanor and finish through the whistle — PFF run-block grade of 71.0 in 2025
- Outstanding pass protector: just 2 pressures allowed on nearly 100 pass-blocking snaps across two seasons at Ohio State
- Excellent size for an inline Y at 6-5/6-6, 262 lbs with long levers and functional strength
- Consistent year-over-year improvement — PFF blocking grades climbed every season from Ohio to Ohio State
- High character, team-first mentality — two-year captain, accepted reduced receiving role without complaint to do the dirty work
- Severely limited as a route runner — described as the 'least detailed route-runner' among Senior Bowl TEs by CBS Sports
- Below-average speed: 4.74 forty (second-slowest among combine TEs) eliminates vertical threat capability
- Minimal proven receiving production: just 23 catches for 254 yards in two years at Ohio State
- Dropped a seam pass at the Senior Bowl game, confirming inconsistent hands under pressure in contested situations
Similar profile entering the league — block-first TE from a major program with marginal receiving stats but reliable hands when targeted, who projects as a Y tight end in a run-heavy scheme. Otton was a fourth-rounder from Washington with comparable production and developed into a solid all-around starter. Kacmarek has a head start as a blocker but a lower receiving ceiling.