NFL · 6 months ago

2025 NFL Draft Rankings: Best 20 Tight Ends Available

Grant White

Host · Writer

20. Robbie Ouzts - Alabama Crimson Tide
Robbie Ouzts is one of the few tight ends who projects almost exclusively as a blocker in the NFL. With just 192 receiving yards on 16 catches in four years with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ouzts wasn't a priority in the passing game. His best work comes as a blocker in run packages, but he can also release on pass plays and get open. His pass-catching skills won't be a priority in the NFL, but he can still carve out a role as a blocker or on special teams.
1. Tyler Warren - Penn State Nittany Lions
When NFL Draft markets open, everyone should be lining up to bet on Tyler Warren as the first tight end off the board. Warren flashed his premier skillset all season, establishing himself as one of the top pass-catchers in college football.

When the dust settled on Warren's senior season, the Penn State Nittany Lions tight end was tied for the second-most receptions with the seventh-most receiving yards. He was unflappable all season and shone when the Nittany Lions needed him most in the playoffs. We saw how athletic he could be, using his frame as an advantage over any defender in coverage.

Warren separates himself from the pack with his improved blocking on the line. He possesses the skills to step into any scheme and make an immediate impact.

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2. Colston Loveland - Michigan Wolverines
One of two premier tight ends available in the 2025 NFL Draft, Colston Loveland will likely hear his name called on the first night in Green Bay.

Arguably, the Michigan Wolverines tight end has the flashiest skillset in this year's class. Loveland is explosive off the line and is an elite route runner. Moreover, he doesn't shy away from contact and can use his athletic frame to break free of tackles. The knock on Loveland is that he could be more elusive with the ball in his hands, as evidenced by his 10.4 yards per reception.

Like most top-rated tight ends, Loveland's blocking still needs some work. But given his elite ceiling, many teams will crave his presence in their passing attack.

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3. Harold Fannin Jr. - Bowling Green Falcons
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No pass catcher had a more dominant year than Harold Fannin Jr. The Bowling Green Falcons standout became the first tight end in history to lead the FBS in receptions and receiving yards. That alone is enough to command a lot of attention, but Fannin Jr. is a more complete package than just pass-catching.

Fannin Jr. was a force every time he stepped onto the field. He surpassed 100 receiving yards on eight occasions last season while accumulating 1,555 receiving yards. The junior hauled in 117 catches, averaging 9.0 receptions per game. His blocking will need some polishing at the pro level, but Fannin Jr. proved that he has all the tools to be an immediate impact player.

Given his elite route-running and pass-catching abilities, a team could be willing to move up and snag Fannin Jr. much sooner than anticipated. Conservatively, he won't slip past the third round.
4. Elijah Arroyo - Miami Hurricanes
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Elijah Arroyo seemingly came out of nowhere in 2024. After catching just 11 passes through his first three seasons of eligibility, the Miami Hurricanes tight end burst onto the scene with an assertive junior season. His stock has never been higher, so Arroyo declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.

There were a lot of positives to take from Arroyo's junior season. He had just one drop on 45 targets, complemented by a tidy 77.8% catch rate. Further, the Texas native had a knack for breaking off big plays, averaging 16.9 yards per reception.

Arroyo still has a lot to prove, particularly when it comes to blocking. A team will be willing to take a shot with him in the mid-to-late rounds. Depending on the fit, we could see Arroyo make an impact in his rookie season.
5. Mason Taylor - LSU Tigers
Mason Taylor may have absconded from the on-field testing, but that didn't prevent him from having a solid showing at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. Taylor demonstrated his elite pass-catching skills and mobility in Indianapolis, characteristics that have been on full display throughout his time in Baton Rouge.

Taylor hasn't the gaudiest numbers, but he's been a reliable contributor over the past few years. In his junior season, the hulking 6'5" specimen pulled down 55 catches on 83 targets for 546 yards and two scores. In conjunction with his route-running ability, Taylor is one of the most sought-after tight ends in this year's draft class.

Taylor has a Hall of Fame pedigree, with his dad, Jason Taylor, enshrined in Canton. Mason is a long way from following in those footsteps, but he has all the makings of a productive NFL career.

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6. Gunnar Helm - Texas Longhorns
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A productive senior year has propelled Gunnar Helm to the top of the tight end rankings heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. However, the Texas Longhorns tight end may have cost himself a few draft spots with an unflattering showing at the combine.

Helm wrapped up his final year of eligibility with a solid 77.9% catch rate and 13.1 yards per reception. On a more absolute basis, his 786 receiving yards and seven touchdowns were among the best positional ranks in the country.

While his blocking skills need to be refined before he serves as an every-down tight end, Helm possesses elite pass-catching skills to make him one of the first tight ends off the board.
7. Terrance Ferguson - Oregon Ducks
Terrance Ferguson is making the professional jump after four productive seasons with the Oregon Ducks. The senior wrapped up his college career with his most productive season and should hear his name called on Day 3 in Green Bay.

Ferguson was a staple in the vaunted Ducks' offense, hauling in 43 catches for 591 yards. While he was stacked against a deeper pool of tight ends when Oregon migrated to the Big Ten, Ferguson was named to the All-Pac-12 team in his junior season.

Assuredly, Ferguson's 62.3% catch rate needs some work. Still, the Colorado native proved he was at his best on short-to-intermediate routes. Several teams will be willing to take a shot with Ferguson, and he could develop into a regular contributor on offense.
8. Mitchell Evans - Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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During the Notre Dame Fighting Irish's playoff run, Mitchell Evans proved that he could be the pre-eminent receiver in their passing attack. But after a mediocre combine showing, his draft stock may have been slightly compromised.

Evans was a force in the CFP semifinals and the National Championship Game. He was the most frequently targeted receiver versus the Penn State Nittany Lions, following up with four more catches and 52 against Ohio State in the championship tilt.

Most of his metrics tested in the lower half of the tight end group, but Evans's did fare well in the 20-yard shuttle. Given his showing on the biggest stage, Evans will still likely hear his name called in Green Bay.
9. Oronde Gadsden - Syracuse Orange
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Another prospect with NFL pedigree, Oronde Gadsden II, has emerged as one of the top ten tight ends in this year's class. While his blocking is better than most would expect from a player as lean as Gadsden, he's a natural pass-catcher who could change the dynamic of a team's offense.

The Syracuse Orange tight end ended 2024 with 934 yards on 73 receptions and seven touchdowns. As impressive as those benchmarks are, his 66.1% catch rate was better than most other tight ends in this year's class.

Gadsden has a lot to prove as a pass-blocker, but he would be an upgraded pass-catcher for many teams. We could see the junior go higher than expected depending on team needs.
10. Jake Briningstool - Clemson Tigers
Jake Briningstool is another tight end who could have used the NFL Scouting Combine to elevate his draft stock. But after a mediocre showing, the Clemson Tigers alum could be a late-round selection for a franchise that missed out on some of the other top tight ends on the board.

Briningstool posted a respectable 4.75 40-yard time at Lucas Oil Stadium, with a 31.0 vertical and 9'7" broad jump. The senior was below average in all three categories but made up for it with a reasonably productive stat line. Briningstool capped his final year at Clemson with a 64.5% catch rate while being a reliable red zone target.

Anthropometrically, Briningstool stands taller than most. But his lean frame isn't well-suited for blocking in the NFL. Nevertheless, several teams will be intrigued by his pass-catching abilities, and he'll have the opportunity to work his way into a regular role with whichever team drafts him.

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11. Thomas Fidone II - Nebraska Cornhuskers
Thomas Fidone II has been an afterthought in this year's tight end class, but he's got plenty of tools that teams should gravitate toward.

Fidone does a little bit of everything right, but he excels in the passing game. The 6'6" Iowa native improved his pass-catching totals in each successive season, putting together 373 yards on 36 grabs last year. Further, he showed off his natural athletic abilities at the combine. Fidone posted above-average metrics across the board, standing out with a 1.57 10-yard split and 4.29-second shuttle drill.

Inevitably, Fidone will fall down the draft board. But whichever team snags him has a full toolbox to work with.
12. Luke Lachey - Iowa Hawkeyes
The latest product from Tight End U is ready to make the jump to the NFL. Luke Lachey wrapped up his senior season with the Iowa Hawkeyes, albeit in a much less distinguished capacity than some of his predecessors.

Lachey has a cabinet worth of academic honors, but his football accomplishments are less impressive. The Ohio native concluded his four-year stint at Iowa with a combined 89 receiving yards on 74 receptions, which is less than some of the top tight ends put up this season alone.

Still, Lachey has above-average catching abilities and uses his football IQ to his advantage game in and game out. Whether Lachey can develop into a quality tight end at the NFL level remains to be seen.
13. CJ Dippre - Alabama Crimson Tide
After two years with the Maryland Terrapins, CJ Dippre wrapped up his collegiate career with the Alabama Crimson Tide. However, Dippre failed to reach the heights everyone was expecting in Tuscaloosa.

Dippre broke onto the scene in 2022, recording 314 yards on 30 receptions in his sophomore season in Maryland. Unfortunately, both of those would be career-bests. Dippre had an underwhelming transition to Alabama, totaling 11 catches and 187 yards in his first season with the Tide, following that up with an improved 21 catches and 256 yards in 2024.

We're not convinced Dippre can make the jump to the pro level, but he has more than enough tools to work with. Perhaps he earns a spot on a professional roster, but it won't come without some adjustments to his game.
14. Ben Yurosek - Georgia Bulldogs
Ben Yurosek has a curious trajectory. He was unstoppable in his freshman campaign, going off for 653 yards on 42 catches with the Stanford Cardinal, but failed to match those metrics in any of his subsequent seasons.

In fact, Yurosek got objectively worse in each passing season, eventually transferring to the Georgia Bulldogs for his senior season. Last year, he totaled just 185 yards on 18 receptions while being an afterthought in the Bulldogs' passing attack.

Yurosek may have been able to enhance his draft stock at his pro day, but he had a lackluster showing. Besides a blazing 4.64 40-yard dash time, he posted sub-optimal results across the board. It appears increasingly unlikely that he hears his name called in Green Bay, but Yurosek should still generate interest as an undrafted free agent.
15. Jackson Hawes - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Jackson Hawes spent three years honing his skill with the Yale Bulldogs before concluding his eligibility with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Unfortunately, his resume doesn't warrant selection in the upcoming NFL Draft.

That's not to say that Hawes doesn't possess NFL characteristics. The Utah native has an explosive first step and is an excellent blocker; however, his underwhelming pass-catching metrics limit his ceiling at the next level.

Hawes's best season came in 2024 when he hauled in 16 catches for 195 receiving yards. Some teams may covet him as a blocking tight end, but that's not enough to warrant using a draft pick to get him.
16. Jalin Conyers - Texas Tech Red Raiders
Jalin Conyers is an exceptional athlete and a solid tight end prospect. After bouncing around the Arizona Wildcats and Oklahoma State Cowboys, Conyers spent his senior season with the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He caught 30 of 42 targets for a decent 71.4% catch rate while averaging 10.7 yards per reception. His blocking needs to improve at the pro level, as does his running on short-to-intermediate routes.
17. Gavin Bartholomew - Pittsburgh Panthers
We've seen Gavin Bartholomew's evolution over his four-year stint with the Pittsburgh Panthers. He can play anywhere on the line and initially excelled in deep routes. However, he settled in as a tight end, and Bartholomew developed as a short-to-intermediate threat. His hands improved in his senior year, as evidenced by his 71.7% catch rate, but he needs to refine his pass-catching abilities against professional defenders.
18. Moliki Matavao - UCLA Bruins
Moliki Matavao was one of the lone bright spots on an otherwise uninspired UCLA Bruins squad in 2024. The senior tight end led the team in receptions and receiving yards, albeit with a somewhat lackluster 67.2% catch rate. Nevertheless, Matavao is at his best against zone coverage and uses his frame to his advantage in the red zone. Man-to-man defense remains an area of concern for the Nevada native.
19. Joshua Simon - South Carolina Gamecocks
After three seasons with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Joshua Simon spent the last two years of his collegiate career with the South Carolina Gamecocks. In 2024, the senior totaled 519 yards, seven touchdowns on 40 receptions, and a 66.7% catch rate. He uses his athletic ability to his advantage, negating some of his size concerns. Still, refining those skills professionally is an entirely different challenge.
20. Robbie Ouzts - Alabama Crimson Tide
Robbie Ouzts is one of the few tight ends who projects almost exclusively as a blocker in the NFL. With just 192 receiving yards on 16 catches in four years with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ouzts wasn't a priority in the passing game. His best work comes as a blocker in run packages, but he can also release on pass plays and get open. His pass-catching skills won't be a priority in the NFL, but he can still carve out a role as a blocker or on special teams.
1. Tyler Warren - Penn State Nittany Lions
When NFL Draft markets open, everyone should be lining up to bet on Tyler Warren as the first tight end off the board. Warren flashed his premier skillset all season, establishing himself as one of the top pass-catchers in college football.

When the dust settled on Warren's senior season, the Penn State Nittany Lions tight end was tied for the second-most receptions with the seventh-most receiving yards. He was unflappable all season and shone when the Nittany Lions needed him most in the playoffs. We saw how athletic he could be, using his frame as an advantage over any defender in coverage.

Warren separates himself from the pack with his improved blocking on the line. He possesses the skills to step into any scheme and make an immediate impact.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.

2025 NFL Draft Rankings: Best 20 Tight Ends Available

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