It’s a down 12 months for the tight finish market, with just a few beginning choices on the place hitting free company. A pair of tight ends might 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 bunch 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 are going to take away gamers from the record as they re-sign with their present groups all the best way as much as the opening of free company in March.
Pending free agent tight ends heading into 2025
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 task 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; just 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 considered one of three tight ends to earn a first-place vote, however he was additionally left off two ballots utterly. He’s younger, however taken a again seat to Zach Ertz in Washington. He solely has 84 receiving yards this years consequently.
7. Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts
The 31-year-old has by no means performed for a workforce apart 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 getting into his first free company, loads goes to rely upon 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 utterly left him off their record. He’s the primary starting-caliber choice on this record, however he simply turned 34, so his worth is restricted. A heady participant, he makes the suitable 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 in addition some low votes, it’s powerful to guage gamers on the dysfunctional Jets proper now. He turns 30 this offseason however has been a strong contributor on two groups with a number of quarterbacks relationship again to getting into the beginning lineup in Minnesota in 2021. Nonetheless, he’s coming off a down 12 months in Jersey.
3. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Johnson obtained a first-place vote from our panel however was exterior the highest 5 on two different ballots. A former undrafted large 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 a protracted time frame, 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 obtained all however two of the first-place votes. He was superb for the Dolphins in his first 4 seasons, however phased out beneath Mike McDaniels in 2022. He’s spent one 12 months every with the Patriots and Bengals since. His 12 months with Mac Jones in New England was not good, however he bounced again with Joe Burrow in 2024 and has strong numbers getting into {the marketplace}. He may get significantly better cash than the $2.5 million he made in 2024. UPDATE: Gesicki signed a brand new deal on the weekend earlier than free company opened.
Different free agent tight ends
- 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)
Lately launched tight ends
These tight ends had been launched after our rankings had been put collectively within the lead as much as the 2025 league 12 months.
Durham Smythe
It’s laborious to guage Smythe along 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 laborious to think about him taking a giant leap in his eighth NFL season, particularly coming off a 12 months when he managed simply 9 receptions. UPDATE: Signed with the Beats on a one-year deal.
Gerald Everett
The Bears launched Everett one 12 months after signing him to a two-year, $12 million deal. He underperformed within the Bears anemic offense (eight catches for 36 yards) however he may match into the beginning lineup on some groups, even at age 31. He had 58 catches for 555 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2022 and 51 catches for 411 yards and three touchdowns in 2023 with the Chargers.
Evan Engram
A marquee signing in 2023, the Jaguars launched Engram who was due $15.75 million in 2025. He’s 31 and solely performed 9 video games for the Jags in 2024 on account of a torn labrum. In 2023 he barely missed a 1000-yard season and remains to be able to enjoying 75% of a workforce’s offensive snaps.
Free agent tight ends who had been signed to new offers
- Durham Smythe signed a one-year deal in Chicago
- Tanner Hudson signed a one-year extension with the Bengals
- Mike Gesicki signed a multi-year extension with the Bengals
