2025 NFL DRAFT PREVIEW – TIGHT ENDS
Draft Grade Index:
90+: All-Pro Projection
85-89: Pro Bowl Projection
81-84: 1st Round – Year 1 starter
77-80: 2nd/3rd Round – Year 1 contributor, year 2-3 starter
74-76: Early Day 3: Cores special teamer and rotational player
71-74: Mid Day 3: Core special teamer and backup
68-70: Late Day 3: Developmental and special teamer
1) Tyler Warren – Penn State – 6’5/256
Grade: 85
Fifth year senior. Two-year starter, Mechanicsville, PA. 2024 Mackey Award Winner and first team All-Big Ten and All-American. Johnson is the prototype. Not just the size and speed that puts him in the top one percent of tight end prospects. Not just the three-sport dominance as a high school athlete (all state baseball, all state basketball). Not just the versatility (scored as a passer, rusher, and receiver in 2024). Warren is the ideal blend of old-school blue-collar physicality blended with the new age demands of a complete playmaking tight end. He is an “any era” star that can change the way an offense schemes their designs. Warren knows the game so well and can create with both his mind and body. The creativity he shows after the catch is a surprise considering he has no issues spending an entire game inflicting wounds on the defense as both a ball carrier and blocker. The positives he brings to the table may not even fit on his scouting report. This is an easy projection at the next level, one that can hang out with the best the NFL has to offer at the position.
*It’s hard to imagine anybody not having a top 15 grade on Warren. If the (slight) stiffness in his lower body worries you, there is still no denying how many different ways he produced from any and all angles with athleticism. He is not as big as he looks when looking at traditional numbers (his 76 ½” wingspan was the smallest among all tight ends at the combine) but he is a better athlete than one would think. Which do you prefer? He caught just under two thirds of his contested targets which is an incredible number considering the volume and he is a nasty dude as a blocker. Warren reminds me of TJ Hockenson (8th overall pick in 2019) but with more speed burst.
2) Terrance Ferguson – Oregon – 6’5/247
Grade: 82
Four-year starter. Littleton, CO. Three-time all conference, first team All-Pac 12 in 2023. Set program records for career receptions and touchdowns by a tight end. Ferguson has evolved from a red zone threat to a complete tight end with a level of versatility within the passing game that can make him a credible feature weapon in a pro offense. He carries 250 pounds with ease and moves like a player 30 pounds lighter. His production increased all four years and he closed out his career with a nation leading (among tight ends) 9 yards after the catch per reception. That is an elite number and one the NFL pays a lot of attention to. His ability to separate at all three levels and the long speed post-catch is top shelf. Ferguson won’t make money as a blocker but his effort is good enough and he can win at the second level. In such a crowded offensive scheme that spread the ball out, it was Ferguson that provided the security blanket and created the one on one mismatches. If he can get just a little stronger in contested situations, he can be one of the best tight ends in football.
*Many are debating Warren vs Colston Loveland for TE1. I think Ferguson is right there with Loveland and in a few areas I very much prefer him. What he can do after the catch comes from both athleticism and football intellect., Ferguson is a first round grade that can be had on day two and from what I’ve heard, maybe even the third round. While tight end is not a top need on this roster, playmakers for the passing game are. He was the fastest and most explosive tight end at the combine at just under 250 pounds. This isn’t an oversized receiver. By the way his 9 yards after the catch per reception is Brock Bowers-caliber. Pair him with Theo Johnson and an identity can be created.
3) Colston Loveland – Michigan – 6’6/248
Grade: 82
Junior entry. Two-time All-Big Ten and a 2024 All-American. Loveland is still a young (turns 21 right before draft) and developing athlete with a rare combination of movement and ball skills. He has a long and athletic, bendy frame that also made him a big time basketball player in high school that creates matchup problems for a defense. He can get open against anybody at all three levels of the route tree, showing both mental and physical know-how. There have been steady progressions to his game as a receiver all three years and poor quarterback play hindered him a bit in 2024. Projecting his upside centers around his ability to put on mass and play with more power. He rarely broke any tackles after the catch and his success rate in contested situations was never high. Loveland has the potential to be a very good number two option in a passing game and a go-to-guy in the red zone and on third down. There won’t be much to his game as a blocker or power guy after the catch, but his blend of size, play speed, and vacuum hands will provide a solid weapon at the next level.
*Loveland had a shoulder surgery a couple months ago and he has not been able to do much in the pre-draft process. His tape is enough to put a first round grade on him but I’m not as high on him as some others. I love his radius and ability to go up and get it. His 2023 tape (with JJ McCarthy throwing him the ball) had the look of something special but the 2024 quarterback play was so poor. We did not get to see the best version of him in any area. All of that is true but the worry I have on him is the lack of physicality, He won’t be drafted to block and I don’t care a ton about that. I do care about the fact he broke 7 tackles over the last two years combined. Warren? 25. Ferguson? 21. It is not a deal breaker by any means, but there is a softness to him that helps break the tie between him and Ferguson and that keeps him below Warren.
4) Elijah Arroyo – Miami – 6’5/250
Grade: 81
Fourth year junior entry, one-year starter. Frisco, TX. All-ACC in 2024. Arroyo missed 14 games over the 2022-2023 seasons because of a torn ACL that was slow to fully heal. He was a rotational backup in 2021, making this past season the only one where he was a serious part of the offense. He enters the league with just 46 career catches on 63 targets. While 2024 was a strong showing as he broke out, the volume of tape and production he has is very low. The extra medical screening will weigh a lot in his evaluation. On the field in 2024, Arroyo was a key piece to Cam Ward’s record setting season. Among the 84 tight ends nationally that had over 17 catches, it was Arroyo that led the nation with 16.9 yards per reception. In addition, he ranked second in yards after catch per reception. His vertical speed was enough to run away from future pro defensive backs and he dropped just one pass over his career. For teams that like to run their tight ends up the seam, Arroyo is an attractive asset that can hold his own as a blocker as well. As long as his knee holds up, which he did tweak at Senior Bowl week, he has the tools and ball skills to be a feature weapon in a pro offense.
*This is truly a one-year wonder that was in college for four seasons and has a knee issue that will force some to really bump him down. Arroyo is a finesse player that can outrun a lot of guys, but won’t add much on the physical side of the game. He seems to protect himself a lot and I’ve seen it often both on tape and in person. Some will care about that more than others but I usually prefer the type that has a physical style to him after the catch because of how often they get the ball short to intermediate.
5) Mason Taylor – LSU – 6’5/251
Grade: 79
Junior entry. Three-year starter, Plantation, FL. All-SEC in 2024. Son of NFL Hall of Fame Defensive End Jayson Taylor. The standout trait to Taylor’s game is the reliable consistency he brings to the table across all modules of the position. For three straight seasons, he ended as the team’s third leading pass catcher. For all three seasons, he split snaps almost evenly between the slot and in-line. And for all three seasons, he led the team in snaps by a tight end by over 600 snaps. This is a young, experienced, savvy player that will bring the high floor approach to the position that fits into any and all tight end roles. He is a quarterback-friendly target that naturally finds his way into vacant areas of the field against zone coverage and makes plays in traffic. As sure as his contributions are, his ceiling is just as low when it comes to be a weapon. He has never been a vertical threat, nor does he make anything happen after the catch. Taylor can be depended upon as a blocker both in-line and against speed in space which further explains just how easy of a set it-and-forget-it prospect he is. Taylor will be a solid number one or excellent number two for a long time.
*This is a kid that has been on the radar for a long time. Partially because of who his father is, partially because of his game winning two point conversion catch against Alabama in 2022 as a true freshman, It is amazing to see how many times both Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier looked his way in big moments with studs all over the place. Having him on your team can make a lot of things better, but nothing special. These guys get overlooked often by fans but the NFL is going to like him.
6) Gunnar Helm – Texas – 6’5/241
Grade: 77
Two-year starter, Englewood, CA. All-SEC in 2024 after setting a program record with 60 catches and 786 yards (albeit in 16 games). Helm was a barely-used tight end for years up until his coming out party in 2024. Over his first three seasons in Austin, he was thrown to 22 times. In 2024 alone? 73 targets. He caught 82% of those targets, good for second best in the country among the 40 tight ends that had over 47 targets on the year. He is not the best athlete and he lacks ideal size, but Helm is a savvy route runner that understands how to set defenders up. He is a quarterback’s best friend on option routes because he catches the ball from all angles, plays tough in traffic, and creates after the catch. The blocking baseline is there, as he shows the ability to latch on with good positioning and active feet. The lack of power does show up on occasion, but he can hold his own. Some will look past Helm because he does not have standout traits, however it does not take long to notice how reliable he is in all situations. His ideal fit is a complement to a true number one tight end but he can hack it as a starter as well.
*I was a fan of Helm early on in the year. He was catching everything and making multiple surprise plays after the catch against good competition. The question I had on him was speed and an injury (while running his 40) at the combine prevented the opportunity to get more clarity. While he won’t win much with athletic ability, I do think he plays fast and smart. For this position and for where I have him graded, that is good enough for the position. He will need to put some weight on and get stronger at the point of attack to get a solid starting spot at the next level but I think he projects to be better than most tight ends in the league right now. He has a safe, but limited, feel to him.
7) Harold Fannin – Bowling Green – 6’3/241
Grade: 77
Junior entry. Two-year starter, Canton, OH. Two time first team All-MAC in addition to earning consensus All-American honors in 2024 and was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year after a record setting season. He set FBS records for tight ends in yards and receptions respectively. He was the focal point of the offense and lined up all over the field. Split out wide, in the slot, with his hand in the dirt, and in the backfield. The offense was built around him and he produced across the board. Fannin Jr. is a swiss army knife that will not be for everyone for a variety of reasons, but his reliability (four career drops) and impact with the ball in his hands (8.1 yards after the catch per reception) are going to be viewed as hard-to-find assets a creative passing attack can fully utilize. His lack of size and strength will severely limit him as a blocker, but the hustle and effort are there. A guy like this coming from a lower level of competition is always a risk, but his tape against Texas A&M was one of his best all year. He can be an impact weapon as an accessory piece.
*Fannin is not for everybody, The analytic-based evaluators love him but many of the old school evaluators do not. As usual, I am in the middle but in this loaded tight end class I lean toward the latter. It may be a result of what I am used to seeing and Fannin simply moves different. His strides and change of direction are awkward as his joints seem to lack normal fluidity. There is no denying the hands and production though. He excelled at what he was challenged with. The lack of size will limit him but the NFL is loaded with this kind of skill set at the position. It will take the right scheme for him to succeed in and I do see NYG taking a look at him since he is a polar opposite to what they have in Johnson. The two can co-exist.
8) Jake Briningstool – Clemson – 6’6/241
Grade: 75
Two-year starter. Brentwood, TN. Two-time All-ACC. Left Clemson as the program’s all time leader in receptions. Briningstool has a standout level of smoothness that will show up as both a route runner and ball catcher. Finding his way to open grass and adjusting to the ball in the air seem easy for him. He blends the need for urgency and patience as he works through the defense which is very quarterback friendly. While he is a very average athlete (that lacks bulk), he knows how to get open and will provide a security blanket on third down and near the end zone. Half of his catches over the past two seasons have resulted in a first down or a score with 12 touchdowns. Because he lacks size and length, the contributions as a blocker will be minimal and he is not dynamic enough to be a top weapon in the passing game. Bringingstool has his obvious limitations but do not sleep on how solid of an accessory he can be as a backup in specific situations.
*I was higher on Briningstool during the season because of the flashes. I thought he was bigger and I thought he was faster. Little things can swing the grade down a notch or two and he was already on the bubble of starter grade or not. With that said, he is an interesting guy I would like to see a team try and develop a role for. He is snappy and smart as a route runner and that is why I thought his speed would time better. His gets to a lot of balls away from his body and it made him look bigger. Be careful not to overdraft him but also know this is a guy that will be hard to cover. In the right situation he can be a situation-specific weapon.
9) Gavin Bartholomew – Pittsburgh – 6’5/246
Grade: 75
Four-year starter. Schuylkill Haven, PA. Two-time All ACC. A long career that began with him catching 28 of 29 targets from Kenny Pickett as a true freshman the same year Jordan Addison earned All-American honors for the Panthers, Bartholomew ended up a bit of an unknown. Poor quarterback play following that season clearly impeded his potential to showcase his receiving skill set. He is an excellent athlete for the position with functionally explosive traits and excellent on-field IQ. He excels at finding space against zone coverage and knows how to trick defenders into committing their weight to the wrong path. His lack of length and power raise significant issues versus longer, more powerful defenders. While the effort is there, the consistent impact is not. Bartholomew could benefit from a better situation around him but his post-catch movement needs to improve as well. He is an ideal fit for a backup role that can morph into something more.
*The way he began his career, Bartholomew was in the “future first rounder” discussion board after 2021. Well, maybe not that high but he was on the watch list. While it was inflated, I do feel he became underrated and could easily be a better pro than college player. He is an elite-level athlete for a guy that weighs just under 250 pounds and there are reasons to believe he could have been top five in this group if he was in a better offense.
10) Mitchell Evans – Notre Dame – 6’5/258
Grade: 73
Two-year starter. Wadsworth, OH. Evans arrived to South Bend during the Michael Mayer era. Because of that, he had a hard time getting on the field and a foot injury (that required surgery) in 2022 took a bite out of the season. Once on the field, he made initial contributions as a QB-sneak short yardage back. He had more carries (7) than catches (3). Once Mayer left for the NFL, Evans started to flash and looked like he was on his way to being the next Notre Dame pro tight end. He suffered a torn ACL week nine at a time he was fourth in the nation among tight ends in yards and tied for Brock Bowers for the missed tackles forced lead. He came back strong in 2024, playing in every game and led the Fighting Irish with 43 catches. Evans was not the quickest more most agile player before the injury. His play speed seemed to lag a bit but he is crafty and dominant in traffic. He has the NFL body but those two lower body injuries left their mark. He could end up being a medical cross off for some teams.
*Evans was a guy I had my eye on in 2023 as a potential top 45 pick. He was on a big time trajectory and the NFL loved Notre Dame tight ends. He looks stiff and a little heavy footed but man he is big and he will win in traffic. If he can continue to strengthen the lower body and improve his blocking, he is a serviceable number two guy.
11) CJ Dippre – Alabama – 6’5/256
Grade: 73
Three year starter. Scranton, PA. Dippre spent two seasons at Maryland and then transferred to Alabama in 2023. He is a big and strong Y tight end who will line up in the trenches and hold his own as a blocker. His strong hands and dense frame will hold up right away against pro linemen. The debate will be whether or not he can show enough as a receiver to reach anything more than a backup-caliber level. He plays heavy as a blocker but has the athletic profile to make things happen in the passing game, as he showed flashes of being a factor up the seam and after the catch. The natural ball skills are lacking and there isn’t enough twitch to his movement. Dippre has a physical upside but he struggles to play to his athleticism and size despite an experienced college career.
*Dippre has a lot more mass than most of the guys above him in this stack. I trust his upside as a blocker than most of them as well so teams that demand a lot from the position in that area could boost him up a few spots. Solid backup-type that can play right away.
12) Jackson Hawes – Georgia Tech – 6’4/253
Grade: 72
Sixth-year senior, three-year starter. Played at Yale from 2019-2023 before transferring to Georgia Tech in 2024. Hawes was a redshirt in 2019 and the 2020 season was canceled because of Covid. From the fall of 2018 to the fall of 2021, he played zero live football. He has been a blocking tight end his entire career but one that is good enough in that department alone to warrant a draft pick. He had just 51 catches in his six seasons and the most he had in one year was 16. Hawes won’t set any records with his speed or athleticism, but there is some hidden talent in him that still leaves some unknown to him as a pass catcher. Hawes plays sudden and quick. There were a few plays on tape in 2024 where he carried defenders and picked up some yards after the catch. He showed dominance on the move as a blocker against second and third level defenders with solid impact in-line as well. Hawes is the kind of number three tight end worth getting in the building because he will certainly provide help as a blocker and on special teams with some potential left to explore as a receiver.
*I had my eyes on Hawes since 2023 when a scout told me he was at Yale watching him. I texted a few guys in draft media and they had not heard of him yet. The transfer to Georgia Tech was supposed to do more for his receiving skill set but it never took off. Hawes will be drafted to add another blocker but do not sleep on the potential to make a surprise play here and there.
13) Moliki Matavao – UCLA – 6’6/260
Grade: 72
Two-year starter. Henderson, NV. Spent two seasons at Oregon prior to transferring to UCLA in 2023. All-Pac 12 in 2023. Matavao is a sizable, in-line tight end with the ability to handle himself against linemen as a blocker. He has heavy contact with strong, grippy hands as he latches on and creates movement. While his athleticism is not going to catch anybody off guard, he did prove to be capable of making an impact when called upon in the passing game. He has soft hands with good coordination and accuracy. Most of his team-leading catches were short dump offs and screens. Out of his 41 receptions in 2024, only 15 of them were more than six yards downfield. He shows stiffness that makes it hard for him to run himself movement and heavy, clunky feet limit his smoothness. Matavao projects as a quality backup that will make his money as a blocker and underneath threat, but he must improve his flexibility and lower body mechanics to stick.
*The biggest tight end in the group that has real functional receiving skills, Matavao had the eye of NYG coaches at the Senior Bowl a few times. What they have in Chris Manhertz is what this kid could turn into. The impact as a blocker has potential but still has a ways to go. Maybe a late round flyer if you want to make that role younger and cheaper.
14) Thomas Fidone II – Nebraska – 6’5/243
Grade: 71
Two-year starter. Council Bluffs, IA. Fidone arrived at Nebraska as the program’s top recruit acquired signee since 2008. He was a five-star stud that everybody wanted. He was a spot above Brock Bowers by the major scouting services but the ugly side of the game bit him hard right away. Fidone tore his ACL in his first collegiate preseason camp and then re-tore it (needing a second surgery) a year later. His first two seasons on campus produced three snaps. He then started for two straight years and in 2024 we finally saw some of the potential he arrived to Nebraska with. The size and explosion are there but he lacks the finishing gear to pose as a real speed threat. There is debate whether or not that knee will ever get back to where it was and some teams are likely to keep him off their board. He can fit in as a backup tight end with long-term upside but his blocking needs a substantial increase in effectiveness for a team to want to wait that long.
*I was intrigued by Fidone when I arrived to the Senior Bowl. He has some of the biggest hands you will ever see and he looks the part. There is awkward movement to him when he needs to quickly change direction. I can’t help but think that knee just is what it is. It has been years since the injuries and surgeries but there is something that doesn’t seem natural. There are a couple character questions with him as well.
15) Robbie Ouzts – Alabama – 6’3/274
Grade: 70
Two-year starter. Rock Hill, SC. Ouzts is one of the most unique players in the class. He is listed as a tight end but he has the oversized frame who has surprising athletic traits that can move him around. His future may be as a hybrid fullback/tight end with special teams contributions. When looking at how some teams will take a skill set like this and use it on both sides of the ball, Ouzts future has a lot of possibilities with hisIncredible power in both his hands and hips. He is a high-effort, dirty work guy that can block from multiple angles and alignments. He shows enough quickness as a route runner with soft hands to catch the occasional pass. Ouzts is a candidate for the back end of a roster who will wear a few hats on game day but he will struggle to be a difference maker in any one area.
*You don’t see this kind of guy some out of Alabama very often. Typically they come from Iowa, Wisconsin, or Boston College. When I see a guy like Ricard from Baltimore or Matlock from Los Angeles (A), Ouzts comes to mind. This is an outside the box idea I would respect at the end of the draft. Fullback, H-Back, tight end, special teams, maybe even defense (dude can punt too). Anyway, a guy that is good enough at a bunch of things and a unique combination of tools and skills.
16) Caden Prieskorn – Mississippi – 6’5/255: 70
17) Oronde Gadsen – Syracuse – 6’5/243: 70
18) Ben Yurosek – Georgia – 6’4/242: 70
19) Luke Lachey – Iowa – 6’6/251: 70
20) Bryson Nesbit – North Carolina – 6’5/238: 69
21) Joshua Simon – South Carolina – 6’4/239: 69
22) Brant Kuithe – Utah – 6’2/236: 69
23) Jalin Conyers – Texas Tech – 6’3/260: 68
24) Chris Carter – Northern Illinois – 6’7/243: 68
25) Shane Calhoun – Texas A&M – 6’4/250: 68
NYG APPROACH
The NYG tight end room is not a weakness, but it certainly is not a strength either. In the complicated process that is scouting, I try to simplify as much as possible. If you’re unsure about the strength of the position (especially at the top and bottom of the depth chart) that spot should be on the table at any point in the draft. While taking a tight end likely won’t be in the discussion in the second or third round, the players I have at those spots will match value. NYG cannot afford to be overly picky with this current roster. This offense is and has been terrible. There are plenty of guys in this tight end group who will create mismatches and score points. They will move the chains, they will create. Theo Johnson looks like a high ceiling player but he is also coming off a lower body injury and his movement traits already had a few issues. He was a project pick, too. Daniel Bellinger has been a solid fourth round-value, but he has turned into a replaceable asset. Chris Manhertz and Greg Dulcich are great to have around for camp and provide depth in specific areas, but nobody is losing sleep if they get cut. That brings me back to the beginning of this approach. If the value is right (at any point in this draft), bring one of these young guys in.
