Josh Cuevas is a tight end and 2026 NFL Draft prospect who finished his collegiate career with the Alabama Crimson Tide after previous stops at Cal Poly and the University of Washington. A native of Los Angeles, California, Cuevas began his career at Cal Poly as a walk-on and quickly established himself as a standout pass catcher, recording 57 receptions for 622 yards and six touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2022 to earn Third Team All-Big Sky recognition. That production attracted Power Four interest and he transferred to Washington in 2023, where he contributed 16 receptions for 218 yards and a touchdown across 13 games while appearing in the national championship game as the Huskies reached the CFP title game under head coach Kalen DeBoer. When DeBoer departed for Alabama, Cuevas followed him to Tuscaloosa and grew into the lead tight end role over two seasons with the Crimson Tide. He started 11 games in 2025 and caught 37 passes for 411 yards and four touchdowns despite breaking his foot in November and returning within a month to help Alabama reach the College Football Playoff, earning a spot on the Mackey Award Watch List and multiple Crimson Tide weekly offensive player of the week honors for his efforts.
Standing 6-foot-3 and 256 pounds, Cuevas is known for the positional versatility to line up in-line, in the slot, and at H-back, a smooth route-running style that generates consistent separation against linebacker coverage, reliable soft hands that allow him to make difficult grabs in traffic, and the mental toughness and adaptability demonstrated by performing across three programs against FCS, Pac-12, and SEC competition. His blocking technique still requires refinement at the professional level, particularly his ability to hold up against more powerful defensive linemen, but his receiving instincts and zone awareness give him a floor as a complementary pass catcher who can execute a variety of schemes. NFL teams project him as a Day 3 tight end and versatile weapon whose movement skills, production history, and competitive character position him as a TE2 or TE3 candidate capable of contributing in both the passing game and special teams phases from early in his professional career.
