Tanner McLachlan showed up to Arizona’s spring practice in 2022 as a walk-on recovering from a major knee injury. Two years later he’s the Wildcats’ first tight end to get drafted since Gronk.
McLachlan was chosen Saturday by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 6th round of the 2024 NFL Draft, going 194th overall. He’s the first UA tight end taken since Rob Gronkowski went in the second round in 2010 to the New England Patriots and just the eighth in school history.
WITH THE 194TH PICK ➡️ TE TANNER MCLACHLAN@IEL_LLC | : NFL Draft on ESPN/ABC/NFLN pic.twitter.com/0mPNuBWF8o
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) April 27, 2024
The 6-foot-5, 244-pound McLachlan had two wildly productive seasons at Arizona, finishing as the career leader in receptions by a tight end with 79 (breaking Gronk’s record). He had 984 yards and six touchdowns, catching four TDs in 2023.
From Canada, McLachlan began his college career at FCS Southern Utah where he played in 15 games before suffering a knee injury. He transferred to Arizona as a walk-on, eventually earning a scholarship.
McLachlan is the first UA player picked by Cincinnati since linebacker Marquis Flowers in 2014. That was also the last time the Wildcats had three players drafted.