2025 NFL draft prospect rankings: Tight ends

Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 24-26). Here are his top 10 tight ends, plus “bonus” players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

— 1. Tyler Warren (Sr., Penn St., 6-foot-5, 256 pounds)

Warren is athletic, tough, features prototypical size and does everything well. He’s a nightmare matchup in the slot and takes pride in his blocking responsibilities. The Mackey Award winner (top tight end) had 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns, ran for 218 yards and four TDs on 26 carries, and completed three of his six passes for 35 yards and another TD. Warren even cleaned up some drop issues from 2023 when he dropped six out of his 40 catchable targets. He only dropped three of his 135 targets last season, and was the first tight end since 1977 (Notre Dame’s Ken McAfee) to finish top-10 in the Heisman Trophy voting (he finished seventh with one first-place vote). Projected: Top-15

— 2. Colston Loveland (Jr., Michigan, 6-6, 248)

Loveland’s a former four-star recruit whose fluid athleticism, outstanding catch radius and ability to line up anywhere will make him a problem for defensive coordinators in the pros. He’s capable of running the entire route tree, while threatening all three levels, and would have easily been the TE2 behind Brock Bowers last year had he been eligible. Loveland’s also a willing and effective run blocker who can create soft edges for running backs, but could struggle initially against NFL strength. His final collegiate season was marred by a shoulder injury and insufficient QB play, but Loveland still led the Wolverines in receptions (56), receiving yards (582) and receiving TDs (five). Projected: Top-20

— 3. Harold Fannin Jr. (Jr., Bowling Green, 6-3, 241)

Fannin was chosen MAC Player of the Year after setting the position’s single-season records for receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555). The former zero-star recruit was the first tight end in FBS history to be selected Player of the Year in any conference. The Canton, Ohio native is a bit undersized and could struggle against physical press coverage, but his hands are automatic and he’s a hassle to bring down once he has possession of the football. Frankly, he was uncoverable last season. If there was a space on the field where there wasn’t a defender, he’d find it, and it wasn’t just against MAC competition. Fannin had 11 receptions for 137 yards and a TD at Penn State, and then produced eight receptions for 145 yards and a TD two weeks later at Texas A&M. Projected: Rounds 2-3

— 4. Mason Taylor (Jr., LSU, 6-5, 246)

The son of first-ballot Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor, and nephew of Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas, Mason rewrote the tight end record book in Baton Rouge, becoming the first to surpass both 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards in a career (he finished with 129 receptions for 1,308 yards in three seasons). Taylor features prototypical size and reliable hands, converting almost 70% of his receptions in 2024 for a first down. The former three-star recruit is a fluid route runner who excels against zone coverage. There’s still work to do as a run blocker, where he’ll need to up his play strength and physicality at the point of attack in the pros, but I actually like him on the move or in space. Taylor didn’t test in Indy, but he looked smooth, and displayed soft hands throughout his on-field work. He ran a 4.68 40-yard dash as his pro day. Projected: Rounds 1-2

— 5. Oronde Gadsden II (Jr., Syracuse, 6-4, 241)

A former three-star recruit at wide receiver, Gadsden was highly productive after switching positions. He produced 61 receptions for 969 yards and six TDs as a sophomore before suffering a season-ending Lisfranc injury two games into the 2023 season. He came back last season with 73 receptions (an ACC record for tight ends) for 934 yards and seven TDs. Gadsden is a smooth athlete, and nuanced route-runner who primarily operates as a big slot with a massive catch radius — QBs just have to get it near him — but he doesn’t add much as a blocker. Gadsden’s father, Oronde Sr., played six seasons in the NFL with the Dolphins and caught Dan Marino’s final TD pass. Marino was Oronde Jr.’s offensive coordinator in Pop Warner. Projected: Rounds 4-5

— 6. Elijah Arroyo (Jr., Miami, 6-5, 254)

The sixth-ranked tight end in the 2021 recruiting class, Arroyo features the size, athleticism and sure hands in traffic the NFL covets in a flex. A whopping 34.3% of his receptions last season went for at least 20 yards, and he led all FBS tight ends with 9.1 YAC per catch. Arroyo didn’t run at the combine — he was recovering from a knee injury he sustained at the Senior Bowl — but he did bench-press 225 pounds 22 times. He missed most of the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to a torn ACL in his left knee. Projected: Round 2

— 7. Gunnar Helm (Sr., Texas, 6-5, 241)

Helm led the Longhorns with 60 receptions last season while garnering second-team All-SEC recognition. He’s a capable route runner with solid hands and a playmaker mentality after the catch. He’s an adequate blocker, but he’ll need to get stronger to hold his own in the pros. Helm’s 4.84 40-yard dash at the combine was disappointing until it was revealed he had twisted his ankle during a false start, ran anyways and decided to complete the rest of his on-field drills before an MRI showed a sprain. This was indicative of his toughness and overall work ethic. Projected: Rounds 3-4

— 8. Terrance Ferguson (Sr., Oregon, 6-5, 247)

Ferguson, a four-year starter for the Ducks, set school records for career receptions (134) and receiving TDs (16) by a tight end. The former four-star recruit is a fluid athlete (9.32 RAS) who has enough vertical speed to threaten a defense up the seam. There’s still much work to do as a blocker and route-runner, but there’s real upside as a run blocker, considering his size and movement skills. Projected: Rounds 2-3

— 9. Thomas Fidone II (Jr., Nebraska, 6-5, 243)

Fidone was the second-ranked tight end in the 2021 recruiting class. He was sidelined for the entirety of his first two seasons in Lincoln after tearing his ACL in his left knee twice in the span of 11 months. Fidone maintains his fluid athleticism despite the injuries, and has the ability to stretch the seam — his 9.49 RAS is tops among tight end prospects in this class. Unfortunately, this all added up to below-average production for the Cornhuskers. Fidone is a smooth route-runner, but he’ll need to get stronger to deal with physical man coverage in the NFL. He’s an effective blocker, in pass pro and the run game, but again, he’ll need to get stronger in the pros. Projected: Rounds 5-6

— 10. Mitchell Evans (Sr., Notre Dame, 6-5, 253)

A former three-star recruit, Evans is sure-handed, with a strong catch radius, and has the ability to thrive as a pass protector and run blocker in the pros. He led the Irish in receptions last season, and caught two-thirds of his contested catches (Pro Football Focus). He’s an average athlete, but he’s versatile enough to line up in-line, split out wide or in the slot, and he’s fearless across the middle. Evans suffered a broken left foot in 2022, and a torn MCL, partially torn ACL in his left knee and concussion in 2023. Projected: Rounds 4-5

— 11. Luke Lachey (Sr., Iowa, 6-6, 250)

The latest product of the Hawkeyes’ tight end assembly line, Lachey was the Big Ten’s Comeback Player of the Year after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in 2023. He was also a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy (Academic Heisman). Lachey has NFL size, strong hands and a big catch radius, but was primarily used as a blocker in college. The two-time team captain is polished in that regard. His father, Jim, was the 12th overall pick in 1985 by the Chargers, and ended up a four-time All-Pro offensive tackle and member of “the Hogs” with Washington. Projected: Rounds 6-7

— 12. Jake Briningstool (Sr., Clemson, 6-6, 241)

Briningstool was the top-ranked tight end in the 2021 recruiting class. He was a two-time third-team All-ACC selection for the Tigers and voted team captain his senior season. Briningstool is an above-average athlete with strong hands, and an effective blocker on the move. He features tracking ability and ball skills, but he isn’t going to break many tackles after the catch. He’ll need to continue building his play strength in the pros, especially as a blocker. Projected: Rounds 5-6

— 13. Jaylin Conyers (Sr., Texas Tech, 6-3, 260)

Conyers was the fifth-ranked tight end in the 2020 recruiting class (he turns 24 in July). After redshirting his first season with Oklahoma, he transferred to Arizona State, where he played three seasons before joining the Red Raiders last season. Conyers scored three different ways last season: five TD catches, two TD runs and one TD pass. He’s an impressive athlete (9.28 RAS) for his size with good ball skills. Conyers’ basketball background shows with his quick feet, and his body control when he goes up for a contested catch. His route-running needs polish, as does his technique as a blocker. Projected: Rounds 6-7

— 14. CJ Dippre (Sr., Alabama, 6-5, 256)

A former three-star recruit, Dippre spent two years at Maryland before joining the Crimson Tide in 2023. He possesses more pass-catching talent than his time at Tuscaloosa suggests. Dippre is a good-sized athlete with adequate speed (he ran a 4.69 40-yard dash in Indy), and has the ability to break tackles after the catch. He also bench pressed 225 pounds 32 times at the combine, the fifth most by a tight end this century. At very least, Dippre’s special teams experience should earn him a shot at a roster spot in the pros. He played on both kick return and punt coverages all four years in college. Projected: Rounds 5-6

— 15. Moliki Matavao (Sr., UCLA, 6-6, 260)

Matavao was the fifth-ranked tight end in the 2021 recruiting class. He spent two seasons at Oregon before joining the Bruins in 2023. Matavao led UCLA in receptions (41) and receiving yards (506) last season, but that’s not saying much. His previous three seasons: 33 receptions for 492 yards. However, he does possess what it takes to be an in-line tight end in the NFL. He’s big, strong and aggressive. Projected: Rounds 6-7

— 16. Jackson Hawes (Sr., Georgia Tech, 6-4, 253)

A former three-star recruit at outside linebacker, Hawes signed with Yale as a tight end, and spent five years with the program (graduating with a degree in economics) before joining the Yellow Jackets last season. Hawes doesn’t offer much as a receiver. He operates as an extension of the offensive line. He’s a technician in pass pro, and a heat-seeking missile in the run game. Hawes man-handled Florida State defenders last August. Projected: Rounds 5-6

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