It’s a down yr for the tight finish market, with only some beginning choices on the place hitting free company. A pair of tight ends could possibly be chosen within the first spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft, too, additional pushing down free company on the place.
With that being stated, there are some okay free brokers on the tight finish place. We polled a gaggle of writers from round SB Nation to collect consensus rankings concerning the gamers. Whereas there aren’t any unanimous picks among the many bunch as of us worth completely different WR traits, our teams stands out into some outlined tiers.
We’ll take away gamers from the checklist as they re-sign with their present groups all the best way as much as the opening of free company in March.
Others receiving votes: Marcedes Lewis, Luke Farrell, Jordan Atkins, Ian Thomas, Hunter Lengthy, Tommy Tremble
10. Pharaoh Brown, Seattle Seahawks
Set to be 31 this offseason, the veeran journeyman solely has 65 yards in 2024 with the Seahawks. He’s a job participant at finest.
9. Johnny Mundt, Minnesota Vikings
The backup tight finish for Minnesota is a principally dependable goal and his time in Minnesota has been constant; slightly below 20 catches, between 140 and 170 yards, and one/two touchdowns in every of this three seasons.
8. John Bates, Washington Commanders
Bates was certainly one of three tight ends to earn a first-place vote, however he was additionally left off two ballots fully. He’s younger, however taken a again seat to Zach Ertz in Washington. He solely has 84 receiving yards this years because of this.
7. Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts
The 31-year-old has by no means performed for a workforce aside from the Colts, however logged essentially the most begins of his profession in 2024. That didn’t translate to manufacturing, as he caught the fewest passes since 2019. He’s by no means had greater than 31 catches or 400 yards.
6. Kylen Granson, Indianapolis Colts
The opposite Colts tight finish, Granson’s numbers are barely higher than Alie-Cox. A fourth-round decide coming into his first free company, lots goes to rely on the GM of the workforce who indicators him and the way they scouted him again in 2021. Like his teammate, Mo Alie-Cox, he’s by no means had greater than 31 catches or 400 yards.
5. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
Ertz was in everybody’s prime 5 besides one voter fully left him off their checklist. He’s the primary starting-caliber possibility on this checklist, however he simply turned 34, so his worth is proscribed. A heady participant, he makes the precise reads and will get in good place. He missed elements of 2022 and 2023 with accidents, however performed all 17 video games in 2024, catching greater than 60 balls and topping 600 yards, and he’s all the time been a dependable end-zone goal.
4. Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
With some excessive votes but additionally some low votes, it’s powerful to guage gamers on the dysfunctional Jets proper now. He turns 30 this offseason however has been a stable contributor on two groups with a number of quarterbacks courting again to coming into the beginning lineup in Minnesota in 2021. Nonetheless, he’s coming off a down yr in Jersey.
3. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Johnson acquired a first-place vote from our panel however was exterior the highest 5 on two different ballots. A former undrafted extensive receiver, he made the transfer to TE within the professionals. His finest season got here in 2022 when he caught 42 passes for 508 yards and 7 touchdowns. His manufacturing has been constant however not excellent in any other case.
2. Austin Hooper, New England Patriots
A really constant performer over an extended time period, Hooper has struggled with inconsistent QB play during the last a number of seasons since leaving the Atlanta Falcons in 2019. He earned two Professional Bowl nods there after being a third-round decide, and he has expertise, however he’s additionally 30.
1. Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
Our clear primary, Gesicki acquired all however two of the first-place votes. He was excellent for the Dolphins in his first 4 seasons, however phased out beneath Mike McDaniels in 2022. He’s spent one yr every with the Patriots and Bengals since. His yr with Mac Jones in New England was not good, however he bounced again with Joe Burrow in 2024 and has stable numbers coming into {the marketplace}. He may get a lot better cash than the $2.5 million he made in 2024.
Different free agent extensive receivers
- Harrison Bryant
- Kenny Yeboah
- Chris Manhertz
- Tanner Hudson
- Ross Dwelley
- Eric Saubert
- MyCole Pruitt
- Hayden Hurst
- Tyler Davis
- Jack Stoll
- Quintin Morris (RFA)
- Stone Smartt (RFA)
Just lately launched tight ends
These tight ends have been launched after our rankings have been put collectively within the lead as much as the 2025 league yr.
Durham Smythe
It’s onerous to guage Smythe together with his quarterback play in 2024, and he’s going to be 30 earlier than the season begins. He’s solely ever performed for Miami as a starter however an afterthought of their offense. It’s onerous to think about him taking a giant leap in his eighth NFL season, particularly coming off a yr when he managed simply 9 receptions.
