2025 NFL Tight End Rankings

It’s funny. I had my pick of positions to rank – apart from wide receiver – and I picked my least-favorite position to tackle (pardon the pun).

Why do I keep hurting myself?

Perhaps because I need a jolt to shake off the rust? Sounds noble…let’s go with that.

My issues with the tight end position as a whole:

It’s top-heavy
It’s inconsistent
There are fantasy league scoring systems to put the thumb on the scale to make the players more valuable

I assign number values to my rankings, but also use tiering because, within the tiers, we can order these players any way one sees fit. I include forty tight ends with this caveat: if we need to go this far outside of very-deep leagues or tight-end-premium (TEP) leagues, I’d rather throw a dart at another position: in base PPR leagues, the 40^th-ranked TE scored 60.8 points. The 61^st-ranked running back and the 106^th-ranked wide receiver scored more.

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TIER 1

Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals, age 25, 4^th NFL season
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders, age 22, 2^nd NFL season

I give McBride an edge over Bowers for 2025 because of experience and organizational stability. Bowers’ situation has changed drastically: new coaching staff, new quarterback, new running back. I still like Bowers to be a focal part of the passing game, but think new head coach Pete Carroll and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will lean on 2025 sixth-overall pick, running back Ashton Jeanty, more than any of the backs the 2024 Raiders did. Geno Smith is also an upgrade over any quarterback the Raiders have had since Carson Palmer: he should be able to push the ball downfield more effectively than either Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell were last year. One offset could be red zone usage: Bowers tied for 12^th in RZ targets with 13 and did not have any red zone touchdowns.

McBride, on the other hand, returns to nearly the same starting team from 2024, except for the right side of the offensive line, and both of those players were with the organization and started games in 2024.

There was a slight gap between Bowers and McBride last year in stats, but the main one was in touchdowns. I think the gap closes this year, and the order of PPR-scoring finish flips.

TIER 2

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers, age 31, 9^th NFL season
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings, age 28, 7^th NFL season
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs, age 35, 13^th NFL season

This is the tier of players I’d love to get on my teams.

I had difficulty dropping Kittle to this tier, but the 49ers had such bad luck with injuries in 2024, Kittle was their main offensive weapon for a lot of the season. With the return of Christian McCaffrey and the eventual return of Brandon Aiyuk, I believe Kittle’s stats drop off a touch this year.

There are reasons not to like Hockenson this year: he’s getting older, he didn’t look the same in 2024 coming back from a major injury, and he’ll be playing with another new quarterback. Until I hear otherwise, I believe Hockenson will be closer to his pre-injury form. J.J. McCarthy is an unknown QB factor in the NFL, but HC Kevin O’Connell has earned some currency with me. He knows how to use his weapons.

Kelce’s dominance of the TE position has been over for a couple of years, but he was still 3^rd in targets and receptions for the position in 2024. The difference was that he had his fewest receiving yards and touchdowns for a full season of his career. Part of that was a decline, but part of that was poor injury luck for their wide receivers: I don’t think the Chiefs saw rookie Xavier Worthy being their leading WR at the beginning of 2024. If the discount I’ve been seeing in early drafts holds, I’m happy drafting Kelce.

TIER 3

Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions, age 24, 3^rd NFL season
Evan Engram, Denver Broncos, age 30, 9^th NFL season
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns, age 29, 9^th NFL season
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens, age 29, 8^th NFL season

I could be discounting LaPorta too much as an early-season ankle injury hampered his 2024 season somewhat, but even when he started accumulating stats late in the year, he still only had two games with more than 7 targets. I think he’s a prime end zone target, and there’s not a massive drop from tier 2 to tier 3, but he’ll need to bounce back handily from a volume standpoint.

2024 was a train wreck for Engram as an early-season ankle injury and a late-season shoulder injury limited him to 9 games. The anemic Jaguars’ offense did the rest. Engram’s no kid, but I think the change of scenery will do him good, as will being in Sean Payton’s/Joe Lombardi’s/Austin King’s offense.

Njoku’s current ranking is more a reflection of the chaos of the Browns’ quarterback situation. From a fantasy standpoint, Joe Flacco is the only QB I want to see under center – the trouble is, the Browns probably won’t win as many games as they’d like. When Njoku is healthy and a competent quarterback is leading the offense, Njoku is potentially a top-5 TE…with upside.

It’s been a tough few years since Andrews was the TE1 in 2021, but it’s not like he’s been a complete dud: he was still top-6 or higher in 2022 and 2024, and is still a favorite target of Lamar Jackson. I’d rather see more targets out of him in 2025 so I don’t have to rely on TDs like in 2024.

TIER 4

Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders, age 34, 13^th NFL season
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers, age 24, 3rd NFL season
Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers, age 30, 9^th NFL season
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles, age 30, 8^th NFL season

This is a tier where I can shuffle these guys around within the tier. If I like one over another, it’s slight, and I’m drafting these guys if I wait on the position.

I know Ertz is old: my main concern at this stage is injury, not performance. I don’t see a challenge to him this year at the position in Washington. And I can’t be too concerned about injury, because I don’t see a make-up player below this tier. If he’s healthy, he produces.

I like Kraft, but not enough to rank him higher. The Packers’ offense is just too unpredictable in distribution outside of Josh Jacobs. Kraft only had one game in 2024 with more than 7 targets, and only two others with 7 targets. I’m fine betting on red zone targeted players, but I don’t like depending on that instead of volume.

I would love Jonnu to make me eat my words here, but 2024 was such an outlier year for him: it was only his second season as a TE1, and he was barely that in 2020. He’s on a new team, although OC Arthur Smith has worked with Jonnu in both Atlanta and Tennessee. I like Jonnu, but I’d be uncomfortable drafting him higher.

I don’t like the term “injury prone,” but if I draft Goedert, I’m likely drafting a second tight end more highly than I’d like. His production is not enough to overcome this concern, but he’s the last guy I’d prefer to draft as a TE1.

TIER 5

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots, age 30, 10^th NFL season
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys, age 24, 4^th NFL season
Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts, age 23, 1^st NFL season
Pat Friermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers, age 26, 5^th NFL season
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons, age 24, 5^th NFL season
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills, age 25, 3^rd NFL season

There is inevitably a non-PPR family league I’m in where one of these guys will be my starting tight end.

Henry had career highs in targets, receptions, and receiving yards in 2024 while having nearly career lows in yards per target and yards per reception. The questions: Will a step forward by Drake Maye help? Will the arrival of Stefon Diggs hurt?

Ferguson took a step back in 2024. That was attributable to Dak Prescott missing more than half the season more than a decline in skills for Ferguson. Reports have Dak being healthy, and I think the field-stretching ability of George Pickens will benefit the offense.

I have already bet on Warren in a couple of early drafts. He’s the one rookie TE I feel comfortable drafting as he’s atop the depth chart in Indianapolis. I think he can make an impact early. The QB position is a concern.

I’m not sure Freiermuth won’t outscore Jonnu Smith this season, but I only think that as an overestimation of Smith’s value.

There’s a universe where Pitts is every bit the stud we thought he’d be after his rookie year. But I’m done paying to see it.

I thought very highly of Kincaid heading into 2024. I’ll be happy if I’m overcorrecting for 2025. His staying healthy would help, but unless his blocking technique improves, I’m not paying for the assumption that his numbers will improve.

TIER 6

Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, age 26, 4^th NFL season
Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals, age 29, 8^th NFL season
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams, age 32, 10^th NFL season
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans, age 29, 8^th NFL season
Mason Taylor, New York Jets, age 21, 1^st NFL season

To me, there are reasons that all these guys have upside. But not necessarily in their current situations. They’re must-haves in best ball leagues.

Otton had a terrific stretch of games in 2024 and came through when Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both missed games. It was a mixed bag when one or both played. He was good enough that if you want him in 2025, you’ll have to draft him, even if it’s for your bench.

Gesicki can outperform this ranking overall, but he tends to be inconsistent. He benefited in 2024 when Tee Higgins missed time. He had five top-12 finishes; he also had five finishes outside the top-30.

Higbee is a guy I’m bullish on. He’s 32 now, but he showed flashes last year, even coming off a severe knee injury sustained in the 2023 postseason. Terrance Ferguson may be the future, but I still like Higbee in the present.

Schultz can be a low-TE1 or high-TE2 with his volume, but he needs to get in the end zone more.

Taylor is a dart throw as a rookie. He has good draft capital, and he is currently atop the Jets’ depth chart. Justin Fields has been a TE-friendly QB, although that was in Chicago.

THE REST

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens, age 25, 4^th NFL season
Theo Johnson, New York Giants, age 24, 2^nd NFL season
Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans, age 25, 4^th NFL season
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears, age 26, 6^th NFL season
JaTavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers, age 22, 2^nd NFL season
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints, age 29, 6^th NFL season
Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers, age 29, 8^th NFL season
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks, age 27, 7^th NFL season
Tyler Conklin, Los Angeles Chargers, age 30, 8^th NFL season
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars, age 24, 3^rd NFL season
Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs, age 26, 5^th NFL season
Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears, age 21, 1^st NFL season
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints, age 35, 9^th NFL season
Austin Hooper, New England Patriots, age 30, 10^th NFL season
Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers, age 25, 5^th NFL season
Harold Fannin, Cleveland Browns, age 21, 1^st NFL season

To me, these guys are best left to 2 TE leagues, leagues with very deep rosters, best ball leagues, or if you like playing the lottery. If you think I’m too low on one of these players, you’ll beat me to him if we’re in the same draft.

There will be people who think I should be higher on Loveland than Kmet, and Loveland does have high draft capital. But Kmet has been there, and team decisions aren’t always based on talent. I believe Loveland’s future is bright, but I’ll leave him to Dynasty leagues for this year.

Hill is a complete wild card: if his future (rehab from injury, where he’ll play) were clearer, I’d take him as a TE2 or 3 with upside.

It sounds like I’ll be covering this position for a time. This was mostly qualitative. I look forward to fleshing the analyses out more quantitatively as we get closer to the NFL season.