RADIO
Quincy Milton projects and ranks all 32 starting NFL tight ends for the 2025 season. From George Kittle to Tommy Tremble, see where your favorite tight end falls.
NFL Tight End Power Rankings: Projecting All 32 Starters Ahead of Training Camp
NFL teams are days from reporting for training camp. We are very close to seeing our beloved players back on the field in pads once again. Tight ends are becoming one of the most important positions in the NFL. As such, they will garner as much interest during training camp as quarterbacks and wide receivers. Let’s dive in and see where tight ends rank across the league ahead of training camp.
32. Tommy Tremble - Carolina Panthers
Tommy Tremble is a quality player, but he is not a large contributor to Carolina’s success. They could use a legitimate threat at the position. For now, Tremble will continue his role of catching a pass or two per game.
31. Theo Johnson - New York Giants
Theo Johnson flashed solid potential as a rookie in 2024, but he never truly broke out. With an upgrade at the quarterback position in 2025, Johnson has a chance to show what he can do. After all, tight ends tend to take a year or two to develop in the NFL.
30. Brenton Strange - Jacksonville Jaguars
Brenton Strange is taking over for Evan Engram, who departed for Denver this offseason. Strange is entering Year 3 and put forth a valiant effort filling in for Engram in Year 2. He has a chance to move up this list as the season progresses.
29. Will Dissly - Los Angeles Chargers
Will Dissly is returning to the Chargers as a do-it-all tight end. He has been around the block, but he is exactly the type of player that head coach Jim Harbaugh likes to have on his team.
28. Chig Okonkwo - Tennessee Titans
Chig Okonkwo is an athletic freak who has shown flashes of being great in the past. He has never fully put all that athleticism together, and he is now entering a contract season. Okonkwo could level up, but odds are that we will see another status quo season from him.
27. Noah Fant - Seattle Seahawks
Noah Fant has never lived up to his first-round pedigree. Additionally, the Seahawks’ tight end room is very crowded with the promising AJ Barner and rookie Elijah Arroyo in the fold. Fant’s time in Seattle is likely coming to an end soon, and his job in Seattle could be in jeopardy based on the play of others at his position.
26. Mason Taylor - New York Jets
Mason Taylor is a rookie tight end with a very famous last name. As the son of all-time great pass rusher Jason Taylor, Taylor has big shoes to fill. He is in a great position to succeed in this offense, where he has very little competition for tight end targets.
25. Darren Waller - Miami Dolphins
After getting rid of Jonnu Smith, the Dolphins made the shocking move to bring Darren Waller out of retirement. Prime Darren Waller was a force to be reckoned with, but injuries caught up with him. He will be a nice red zone threat for Miami, but do not expect the high-end production we once saw from him.
24. Juwan Johnson - New Orleans Saints
Juwan Johnson is a rock-solid player for a team devoid of many quality pass-catching options. Johnson could see a lot of attention this season with the Saints having to deploy one of two young quarterbacks.
23. Colston Loveland - Chicago Bears
Colston Loveland was a surprise selection by the Bears at No. 10 in April’s draft. However, his scheme fit in head coach Ben Johnson’s offense is undeniable. Loveland falls this low on this list because of his significant competition for targets, even within his position.
22. Hunter Henry - New England Patriots
Hunter Henry has been a solid, if not good, player for several years. He seems to be getting even better with age. During his time in New England, he has been a great security blanket for young quarterbacks. That is unlikely to change in 2025 with quarterback Drake Maye entering year 2.
21. Dalton Schultz - Houston Texans
Dalton Schultz has not fully recreated his success experienced in Dallas during his time in Houston, but he has been a solid player for quarterback C.J. Stroud. Schultz’s role as an underneath target should continue without interruption in 2025.
20. Cade Otton - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cade Otton began the 2024 season on fire, but he cooled off over the back half of the season. The Buccaneers have weapons at every level and added wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the 2025 NFL Draft. As such, Otton is likely going to be relegated to a small role once again.
19. Tyler Higbee - Los Angeles Rams
Tyler Higbee is returning as one of Matthew Stafford’s most trusted targets. However, the addition of tight end Terrrance Ferguson in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft complicates Higbee’s future. Ferguson is a promising young rookie who could make a name for himself sooner rather than later.
18. Dalton Kincaid - Buffalo Bills
Dalton Kincaid was supposed to take over as a high-end No. 2 pass catcher in the Bills’ offense. That has yet to happen as he enters Year 3 in the NFL. To be fair, Kincaid battled injuries in what could have been a breakout second season in 2024. He will look to take a huge step forward in 2025.
17. Kyle Pitts - Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Pitts is likely entering his final season in Atlanta after three straight underwhelming campaigns. Perhaps being in a contract year will ignite a higher level of play from the former No. 4 overall pick.
16. Tucker Kraft - Green Bay Packers
Tucker Kraft displayed that he has what it takes to be a quality NFL tight end with a huge 2024 season. He was a touchdown machine and could repeat that success in 2025.
15. Tyler Warren - Indianapolis Colts
Tyler Warren is entering an offense without an elite pass-catching option. As such, he has a chance to immediately take over that role. Warren was the No. 1 tight end prospect in 2025, but he was ultimately drafted as the No. 2 tight end behind Colston Loveland. His talent and production profile could propel him to serious heights depending on the quarterback play in Indianapolis this season.
14. Mark Andrews - Baltimore Ravens
Mark Andrews is nowhere near the athlete he once was, but he knows the game very well and should have another solid season in an offense that caters to his skill set. His days in Baltimore may be numbered, but expect Andrews to find the end zone repeatedly once again in 2025.
13. Jonnu Smith - Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers shook up their team in a big way in recent weeks. Jonnu Smith is one of their newest additions and will pair with Pat Freiermuth. The move hurts both players, given that there are only so many targets to go around in this offense. However, Smith should experience solid success in Pittsburgh.
12. Jake Ferguson - Dallas Cowboys
Jake Ferguson is returning as a quality option in the Cowboys’ offense. He fits into the offense perfectly as a red zone threat, and he is one of Dak Prescott’s favorite targets.
11. Mike Gesicki - Cincinnati Bengals
Mike Gesicki is returning in an offense featuring Joe Burrow at quarterback. Joe Burrow put together an MVP-caliber season in 2024. If he repeats that effort, Gesicki will have another solid season despite the plethora of other weapons in the offense.
10. Zach Ertz - Washington Commanders
Zach Ertz is a timeless veteran. He quickly established himself as one of Jayden Daniels’ most trusted targets in 2024. Ertz may not have the athleticism he displayed in his 20s, but he knows where to be and seems to always be open when it matters most.
9. Evan Engram - Denver Broncos
Evan Engram is on his way to Denver and could have a career year in the Sean Payton-led offense. If quarterback Bo Nix takes a step forward, Engram will be a force in an already solid offense.
8. Dallas Goedert - Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Goedert enjoyed a nice playoff run with the Eagles. He has become an invaluable part of the Eagles’ offense and will continue to be so in 2025.
7. David Njoku - Cleveland Browns
David Njoku’s power ranking is on delicate ground right now. The uncertainty around the Browns’ quarterback situation will significantly affect Njoku’s ability to produce in 2025. However, this athletic freak has put on a serious display over the last couple of years, and he should be at least solid with whomever the Browns roll out at quarterback.
6. T.J. Hockenson - Minnesota Vikings
T.J. Hockenson has not had a chance to enjoy a full, healthy season with the Vikings yet. Hopefully, he will experience a healthy season in 2025 as the team will roll out the young J.J. McCarthy at quarterback. McCarthy will need a player like Hockenson who can dominate in the middle of the field.
5. Travis Kelce - Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce, like others on this list, is entering a portion of his career where he will need to rely more on his football IQ than his athleticism. Given that Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are often in full sync with each other, that should not be a problem.
4. Sam LaPorta - Detroit Lions
Sam LaPorta experienced a bit of a sophomore slump in 2024, but he came alive down the stretch of the season and will look to carry that momentum into 2025.
3. Trey McBride - Arizona Cardinals
Trey McBride has established himself as one of the truly elite tight end options in the NFL. McBride was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2024, and he is the Cardinals’ No. 1 pass-catching option.
2. Brock Bowers - Las Vegas Raiders
Brock Bowers is off to a very auspicious start to his career. Bowers had the greatest rookie tight end season of all time in 2024. With no real competition added to the Raiders’ pass-catching core, Bowers could have an even better second season in 2025.
1. George Kittle - San Francisco 49ers
George Kittle is the best tight end in the league right now due to everything he brings to the table. The guy relishes in blocking, but he is a threat to crush teams in the receiving game as well.
