Terrance Carter Jr. TE Texas Tech |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #7 ROLE: Inline Receiving TE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.75 seconds (57%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #7 | |
| ROLE: Inline Receiving TE | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.75 seconds (57%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.7 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 108.7 | |
| Hands: |
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67% |
| Short Receiving: |
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78% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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81% |
| Deep Threat: |
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80% |
| Blocking: |
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67% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#85
Position rank:
#4 (TE)
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| College Games: 44 College Snaps: 1832 | ||
ESPN RATING: 75/100
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247 RATING: 84/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.4 (89%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Max Klare - Ohio State |
|
80% |
| Brevin Jordan - Miami |
|
80% |
| Josh Cuevas - Alabama |
|
78% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Terrance Carter Jr. grew up in Killeen, Texas, and played quarterback at Harker Heights High School before moving to tight end, catching 34 passes for 555 yards as a junior and 23 for 330 yards and six touchdowns as a senior to earn District 12-6A offensive MVP honors in his final season. He signed with Louisiana as a three-star recruit.Carter caught 48 passes for 689 yards and four touchdowns in 13 starts for Louisiana in 2024 and was a first-team All-Sun Belt pick, including seven catches for 149 yards against Coastal Carolina. He moved on to Texas Tech and caught 55 passes for 624 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, with a career-high 10 catches at West Virginia and 102 yards against Oregon State, as the Red Raiders won the Big 12 title and reached the Orange Bowl. He was a second-team All-Big 12 pick by the coaches.
Carter returned for 2026, saying he would be ready to decide on the draft after another season. He missed the second game with a foot injury and the fourth with a shoulder injury, then caught eight passes for 67 yards and a touchdown in the win at Colorado. He has 20 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns in six games for a 7-1 team, and Joey McGuire has called him a security blanket for the quarterback.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Caught 55 passes for 624 yards for a Big 12 champion in 2025
- Dangerous after the catch, with 370 yards after the catch in 2025
- Earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors at Louisiana in 2024 before transferring
- Former quarterback who reads coverage and finds soft spots
- Lines up inline and in the slot, creating mismatches for coordinators
- Won half of his contested targets this season
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Foot and shoulder injuries cost him two games this season
- Production has dipped, with under 10 yards a catch in 2026
- Light frame for an inline tight end, so his blocking is positional
- Dropped two passes this season after four in 2025
Scouting Report: Summary
Carter is a productive move tight end who has been a reliable target at two programs. He caught 48 passes for 689 yards as a first-team All-Sun Belt pick at Louisiana, then 55 passes for 624 yards and five touchdowns for Texas Tech's 2025 Big 12 champions, with 370 yards after the catch. A former high school quarterback, he reads coverage, settles into soft spots and turns upfield quickly after the catch. He has also won half of his contested targets this fall, which shows his hands in traffic.His 2026 season has been interrupted. He missed the second game with a foot injury and the fourth with a shoulder injury, and his production has dipped to 20 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns in six games. His best day came at Colorado, with eight catches for 67 yards and a score, and Joey McGuire has called him a security blanket for the quarterback. Texas Tech is 7-1, and when healthy he has remained part of the plan in the passing game.
However, his frame is light for an inline tight end, so his blocking is more about positioning than moving defenders, and most of his value comes as a receiver from the slot. He is averaging under 10 yards a catch this season, has dropped two passes after four in 2025 and has won four of eight contested targets. The injuries also add a medical question for a player whose value depends on his movement. A clean finish to the season would help ease those concerns before the combine.
Overall, Carter is a savvy, sure-handed receiving tight end who fits as a move piece in a spread offense. He projects as a third-round tight end with the ceiling of a starting move tight end and the floor of a reliable No. 2 tight end. His experience as an all-conference player at two programs adds to his value.
How other scouting services rate Terrance Carter Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
82.4
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
4.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.