The NFL regular season is in the books and the college football postseason is almost over. All-Star game invites have gone out and we’re learning who’s going for the draft and returning to school (or entering the transfer portal). It’s time to do final tape evaluations and update my position rankings, though much can still change with the upcoming All-Star games and Combine.
Today we have the tight ends. There’s a pair at the top of this class that could go in the first round, and some intriguing names behind them. This is a talented group and a deep one, too, with solid contributors available into Day 3.
If you want to see how these rankings compare to how I ranked this class over the summer, check out the link below. Additionally, my other updated rankings can be found below as well. As always, stay tuned for more 2025 draft content, as I’ll be looking to update all my position rankings before the Senior Bowl at the end of January.
Updated Position Rankings:
1: Tyler Warren, Penn State
A breakout superstar in 2024, Warren played quarterback in high school and only started playing tight end when he arrived in State College. After redshirting initially and playing minimally his first two seasons, he began climbing the depth chart in 2023, earning third-team All-Big 10 honors. As a senior, he took college football by storm, catching 98 passes for 1,158 yards and eight touchdowns, to go with 24 carries for 197 yards and another four touchdowns. His performance not only got him first-team All-Big 10 recognition, but he won multiple All-American honors and the Mackey award, given to the nation’s top tight end.
Standing at 6-6, 257, Warren is built like an NFL tight end. In a class full of undersized slot tight ends, teams will be attracted to Warren’s skill at his size. He’s an experienced route runner, capable of gaining immediate separation off the line and beating both man and zone coverages. With flexible hips and quick feet, he’s capable of consistently breaking free from man coverages, utilizing head fakes and sharp cuts to get himself open.
Against zone, Warren displays solid feel for breaking down the coverage, finding soft spots and making himself an available target. He catches the ball cleanly and consistently, with only three drops in 2024. Natural athleticism adds to his bag, as he’s tough to tackle after the catch and he can make people miss with the ball in his hands. His background as a quarterback shines through, as he knows what his quarterback needs on any given play and routinely makes smart choices. As a blocker, Warren displays good fundamentals and a strong upper body, capable of sealing the edge and connecting on blocks in space.
You can tell Warren’s only been playing the position for a few years, as his blocking technique is still being refined. He has the physicality and willingness to be a plus blocker down the line, but it’s something he’ll need to continue to be coached up on. As a route runner, more reps will only improve his game, as he showcases strong potential in that department.
Warren is an exciting prospect with a lot of room still to grow. His versatility as both a runner and lead blocker out of the backfield adds to his value, and you can be sure he’ll uncork a few passes on trick plays in his career. Warren’s primary skill is his downfield receiving, where he’s a threat to house shorter passes and will make a living moving the chains over the middle. He’s a mid-first round prospect and one that can elevate an offense from day one.
2: Colston Loveland, Michigan
A 6-5, 245-pound true junior from Gooding, Idaho, Loveland has been on the draft radar since his freshman season. After a solid freshman season, he put together back-to-back seasons of 45 catches for 649 yards and four touchdowns in 2023 followed by 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns this season, despite the struggles of the Michigan offense. He was named first-team All-Big 10 as a sophomore and made the all-conference second-team as a junior.
Loveland is an explosive athlete and downfield threat at the tight end position. Whether he’s lined up in the slot, in-line, or out wide, he shoots off the ball into his routes, with the speed to genuinely threaten the seams and over the top. He makes his bread-and-butter over the middle of the field, using his strong hands to secure passes in traffic and through contact. Unlike most tight ends, he’s a weapon after the catch, capable of weaving through a defense or overpowering defenders near the goal line.
As a route runner, Loveland displays quick lateral agility and the acceleration to gain separation at the tops of his routes. He can run a full downfield route tree and isn’t limited to underneath zone routes. Safeties and linebackers are mismatched against him, given his size/speed combo, and he routinely beats them in one-on-one coverage. Loveland isn’t a plus blocker for the position, but he’s a willing one, able to hold his own in the run game and provide resistance in pass protection.
Part of Loveland’s struggles when blocking come from his lack of leverage. Getting lower in his stance will help him fire off the ball faster and with more punch, helping him move bodies in short-yardage situations. Sustaining blocks can also be an issue for him, something that will ideally be coached up in the NFL.
Another mid-to-late-first round pick, Loveland has the potential to be a game-changing receiving tight end in the NFL. He can win from multiple alignments and at all three levels of the field, making an offense more dynamic through the stress he places on defenses. I doubt he’ll ever be a blocking weapon, but he also doesn’t have to be. As a move tight end, you can’t ask for much better than Loveland.
3: Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
Originally a four-star recruit from Colorado, Ferguson spent a productive four years in Eugene. He caught 17 passes as a freshman, following that with 32, 42, and 43 catch seasons, with 1,396 yards and 14 touchdowns between them. He made first-team All-Pac-12 as a junior and third-team All-Big 10 as a senior, earning a reputation as a reliable threat in the Ducks’ passing offense.
At 6-5, 255 pounds, Ferguson has prototypical NFL size. He pairs that with impressive long speed and quick acceleration, able to threaten the seams and middle of the defense right off the snap. His long wingspan gives him a wide catch radius, combining with his soft hands to routinely snare passes well outside his frame. As a route runner, he displays excellent lateral agility at his size, capable of making quick cuts and gaining consistent separation. Ferguson has a knack for making plays on the ball, with solid contested catch and red zone work on his tape.
When asked to block, Ferguson showcases both his strong upper body and well-built lower half. He has the leg drive to move defenders off the line of scrimmage and the anchor ability to seal the edge. With consistent production from the slot and out wide, teams can line Ferguson up all over the formation, as his advanced route-running ability lets him win from multiple alignments.
For all his strengths in the receiving game, Ferguson is limited by his average speed. He won’t be a deep threat at the next level, and his best work will be done in the short and intermediate routes. Additionally, he doesn’t create much after the catch, too often going down on first contact and profiling more as a possession receiver. His blocking techniques could use additional refinement, as well, with pass blocking in particular being more of a work-in-progress for him.
Ferguson’s strong blocking and route running profile makes him a compelling Day 2 prospect. While likely won’t be a star at the next level, I like his potential as a lead tight end in a strong rotation. He can play every down and is a weapon in short-yardage and goal-line situations as both a receiver and blocker. Versatile, high-floor tight ends like Ferguson can be hard to come by, and he’ll be a good add in the second round.
4: Gunnar Helm, Texas
Hailing from Cherry Creek, Colorado, Helm was a three-star recruit out of high school and didn’t get much run his first few years in Austin. As a junior, he was honorable mention All-Big 12 despite making just 14 catches on the year, playing behind Ja’Tavion Sanders. In 2024, with Sanders now on the Carolina Panthers, Helm broke out in a big way. 58 catches for 744 yards and seven touchdowns (and counting) earned him first-team All-SEC honors and turned him into a real NFL prospect.
At 6-5, 250, Helm stands out from the pack with his ability to threaten defenses vertically. He’s a sure-handed receiver, with natural hand-eye coordination to secure passes on the move and from difficult positions. Most tight ends can’t run routes the way Helm can, as he stresses defenses with the separation he generates, particularly on downfield routes. Watching the tape, I was impressed with how consistently he made big downfield catches, some contested and others wide open thanks to his ability to break free from coverage.
Helm isn’t the most elusive runner, but he can break tackles and make plays with the ball in his hands. He eats zone coverages alive, routinely finding soft spots in the defense to settle down and stay open. A trained understanding of defensive tendencies permeates his game, as he knows how to win leverage battles on routes and how to manipulate zones to create space for himself and others. Helm can line up all over the formation, as well, with wins on tape all over the field.
Where Helm struggles more is as a blocker, though there is some hope for his development here. He’s got the size and frame you want to see for a blocking tight end, but he doesn’t translate that into functional power at the point of attack. In the run game, he doesn’t consistently win one-on-one, and he gets overpowered when trying to pass protect. He also isn’t quite the athlete the players above him are, raising potential concerns about his ability to win against man coverage in the NFL, given the athletes he’ll be facing.
A rock-solid Day 2 prospect, Helm has a lot of translatable skills that modern offenses covet. He’s a chess piece in the receiving game, where you can deploy him in a variety of formations and ask him to provide consistent production. Sure hands and smart route running give him a solid floor as a prospect, and I like his upside as a blocker. There’s potential here for a three-down offensive contributor.
5: Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
A 6-5, 236-pound senior from Florida, Gadsden moved from wide receiver to tight end prior to his sophomore season in 2022. The move was transformative for him, setting multiple school records in 2022 on his way to a first-team All-ACC selection. Though a Lisfranc injury cut his junior year short, he returned with a vengeance in 2024, once again earning first-team All-ACC nods and headlining the Orange’s passing attack. Between his two All-ACC seasons, he had 134 catches for 1,903 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Gadsden is a pure receiving threat at tight end, but he’s exceptional at what he does. He deals much of his damage from the slot, where he can use his bigger frame in mismatches against slot cornerbacks and safeties. When matched up against linebackers, he’s too quick for them, gashing defenses for chunks of yardage downfield. He’s an elite speed threat for a tight end, with legitimate deep-field usage and easy acceleration off the line.
Lateral agility is not a problem for Gadsden. He’s an advanced route runner, using his smooth hips to wheel and cut on a dime. Strong hands and long arms let him compete for passes in tough situations, such as over the middle of the field and on back-shoulder sideline throws. After the catch, he almost turns into a running back, with legitimate moves and tackle-breaking capabilities with the ball in his hands.
For all his strengths as a receiver, Gadsden could struggle to see the field in the NFL because he’s simply not a blocker. He lacks the size and strength to be a factor in the running game, as he can’t drive people off the line and often gets moved back himself. In pass protection, he’s not good for much more than chipping off his routes. He is a pure Y-tight end, a move weapon that can line up across the formation, and he can do serious damage there.
For a player who’s so new to the position, Gadsden does a lot of things masterfully. Makes sense, given his background as a receiver. He doesn’t have the frame or build to develop into a blocking weapon in the NFL, but as a receiver, he’s a dangerous mismatch weapon. Gadsden was invited to the Shrine Bowl, and his performance there could be big for where he goes come April.
6: Harold Fannin Jr, Bowling Green
A fan-favorite and breakout star of 2024, Fannin had the best statistical season of any tight end as a junior. With back-to-back first-team All-MAC awards and plenty of All-American nods after his monster 117-catch, 1,555-yard, 10-touchdown 2024 season, Fannin was the talk of college football fans when it came to small-school love. Deservedly so, as well, as Fannin was an absolute beast this year, building off what he accomplished an underclassman and jumping on the NFL’s radar.
Measuring at 6-4, 230 pounds, Fannin spends a lot of his time in the slot and out wide. He can get down the field in a hurry, knowing how to beat coverage off the line and stack defenders on vertical routes. Crisp cuts and smooth transitions dot his tape, highlighting his plus athleticism and bend for the position. Fannin showcases some advanced route running ability, with multiple head-fakes and different types of salesmanship in his bag.
After the catch is when he’s at his most dangerous, with receiver-like ability to hit creases, accelerate through holes, and force missed tackles. He has vise-like grips at the catch point, showcasing considerable hand strength on some of the toughest catches he makes. Notably, he’s shown flashes in perimeter blocking, specifically on screens, where he can hold his man and create space behind him.
The fact remains that Fannin is significantly undersized for an NFL tight end. He lacks the size and strength to be a factor as an in-line blocker, and he occasionally gets bullied at the catch point. An acquiring NFL team would essentially need to use him as a jumbo receiver, but he still has plenty of utility there. My bigger concern is his college route tree. A lot of his production came on schemed underneath touches, allowing him to get the ball in space and make plays. Fannin won’t have a sizeable athleticism advantage in the pros like he did in college, particularly in the MAC, and I question how much of his production can translate.
Fannin is undoubtedly a college superstar, and despite some of my concerns with his tape, he’s still got a lot of potential in the league. I’d rate him as a later-Day 2 or early-Day 3 option for a team looking for a slot receiver or move tight end, but he’ll be best used in a creative offensive system that won’t ask him to perform traditional tight end duties. In the right hands, Fannin can be a dangerous weapon at the next level.
7: Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
A 6-5, 260-pound senior from Ohio, Evans backed up Raiders TE Michael Mayer for two seasons before taking over as the starter in 2023. He caught 29 passes in 2023 and bumped that up to 34 (and counting) as a senior, as Notre Dame made the College Football Playoff national championship. Evans has been a model of consistency for the Fighting Irish as an upperclassman, providing the offense production in both phases when they need it.
Evans is a weapon over the middle of the field, with a large catch radius and strong hands in traffic. He displays a good feel for zone coverages, sitting down in soft spots and using leverage to open throwing windows. A contested catch guru, Evans can box out defenders and secure tough catches through contact. This skill is highlighted in the red zone, where Evans becomes a significant offensive threat.
For a player his size, Evans has decent burst and acceleration off the line, able to get to his spots quickly and threaten the intermediate levels of the field. As a blocker, he can move people at the point of attack. His strong lower half gives him good leg drive, and he can use his long arms to connect with defenders and create lanes for rushers.
That said, his pass blocking is very hit-or-miss, with him looking stiff at times and unable to properly mirror edge rushers. Evans lacks the speed or athleticism to consistently threaten defenses deep or against man coverage, especially considering his route tree isn’t properly developed. He relies on underneath targets and feeling out zone coverage to produce, rather than beating his man on a route.
Evans is a solid blocking tight end with some nice receiving ability as well. He doesn’t profile as an offensive star, but he’ll do everything you ask him to and make timely plays when needed. In a class with a lot of pure receivers at the tight end position, Evans will be attractive to teams looking for one with blocking upside, which Evans has in spades.
8: Mason Taylor, LSU
The rock-solid true junior from Florida, Taylor started all three seasons for the Tigers. At 6-5, 255 pounds, he has ideal size and a proven track record of production. He’s caught at least 36 passes each of his seasons, jumping up to 55 as a junior, to go with 546 yards, earning first-team All-SEC acknowledgement. Multiple seasons on the SEC Academic Honor Roll highlight his character and intelligence off the field, as well.
Taylor is as sure-handed as they come in this class, a truly natural pass catcher. The Tigers offense asked him to line up in multiple positions and he answered the bell when called upon. He has soft hands and a wide catch radius, able to make catches away from his frame. Decisive with the ball in his hands, Taylor gets upfield quickly and regularly runs through tackles.
Against zone coverage, Taylor is especially dangerous. He has a natural feel for beating zones, finding soft spots and manipulating defenders. He knows how to adjust his routes and breaks to the coverage, getting open and moving the chains. In the red zone, he’s comfortable playing in traffic and securing passes through contact, high-pointing the football.
As a blocker, Taylor doesn’t offer a lot. He gets pushed back off the line too often, especially in the run game, although he’s a solid move blocker. As a pass-catcher, he can struggle against man coverage, as he lacks the athleticism to consistently beat single coverage on his own. Additionally, I didn’t see a terribly developed route tree — much of his production comes from underneath routes and schemed touches. He doesn’t threaten defenses vertically.
As part of an NFL tight end rotation, Taylor can absolutely contribute. He projects as a move tight end specializing in underneath and at-the-sticks production. He’ll provide his quarterback a reliable target, won’t drop passes, and can convert in key situations. You’d like to see him improve as a blocker and as a downfield threat, but he doesn’t need to to be valuable to NFL teams.
9: Luke Lachey, Iowa
An Ohio native and four-star high school recruit, Lachey chose to go to Iowa and continue the Hawkeyes’ legacy of churning out star tight ends. Playing behind Lions TE Sam LaPorta his first two seasons, Lachey had a breakout sophomore season with 28 catches for 398 yards and four touchdowns. With LaPorta departing for the NFL, the hope was Lachey would shine as the primary tight end in Iowa’s offense. That didn’t happen his junior season, in part due to injury, but he bounced back as a senior to catch another 28 passes.
Standing at 6-6, 247, Lachey has always excited scouts with his blend of size and agility. He routinely makes tough, contested catches look easy, over the middle or down the sideline. What’s noteworthy in his game is that, for a tight end, he’s savvy in timing his jumps and gaining positioning on his sideline routes to win back-shoulder and jump balls. He’s as reliable at the catch point as anyone in this class, vacuuming in throws with his large hands and long wingspan.
When running routes, Lachey showcases good feel for the game, settling into soft spots in zone coverage and adjusting his breaks to find open space. His releases off the line are advanced for a tight end, giving him some versatility when lined up out wide, and he can beat press coverage off the line better than most at his position. He separates well down the field, creating mismatches against linebackers in man coverage.
Of particular concern with Lachey’s profile is his lack of signature production. With the asterisk that Iowa’s passing offense struggles, to say the least, he was never able to get over 400 receiving yards in any season and hasn’t scored a touchdown since he was a sophomore. He’s not a plus blocker, either, though he’s solid enough to not be a liability. Additionally, he’s not an explosive athlete, potentially preventing him from consistently beating man coverage at the next level.
On Day 3 of the draft, teams select a lot of tight ends in the hopes they can develop into something. It’s one of the positions that takes the longest to develop in the NFL, so teams don’t always expect day one contributors with their picks. Lachey has a lot of traits that teams covet, but he’s still refining his game and could never quite get over the hump in college. He might be one of those players who’s a better pro than college player, even if it takes him a few years to get there.
10: Jake Briningstool, Clemson
An unheralded tight end from Tennessee, Briningstool has quietly put together two excellent seasons for the Tigers. Checking in at 6-6, 240, he caught 50 passes for 498 yards and five touchdowns as a junior, bumping those numbers to 49 catches for 530 yards and seven touchdowns his senior season. He earned third-team All-ACC honors both seasons and got a Senior Bowl invite to continue to showcase his abilities in the lead-up to the Draft.
The downfield passing game is elevated with Briningstool on the field. He has the speed to stretch the defense and threaten vertically, especially on the seams. With true 6-6 height and long arms, he has a massive catch radius, snatching in passes over the middle of the field. Briningstool lined up across the formation at Clemson, comfortable releasing from the slot or out wide.
Smooth routes and clean breaks are all over Briningstool’s tape. He runs a full route tree and displays advanced skills running those routes, utilizing fakes and choppy feet to sell defenses and get himself open. That route-running ability translates against both man and zone defenders, capable of breaking open against either.
Unfortunately, Briningstool is limited as a blocker. His lean frame is almost gangly in nature — he doesn’t possess the natural leverage or power to be effective. He doesn’t always catch passes cleanly, letting the ball get into his pads a little too often. Additionally, he’s not a quick-twitch athlete, limiting his effectiveness against tight man coverage and after the catch.
Briningstool has his limitations, but he’s also a legitimate threat to burn the defense on any play. His route-running will translate, as will his ability to break down a defense up the seam. While he’s unlikely to significantly improve as a blocker, I like what he brings to the table in the receiving game, as he can be a reliable target to convert on third down and in the red zone. That has value, and he can be a good mid-round pick.
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