Beyond Bowers: Ranking the Top Rookie Tight Ends in the 2025 NFL Draft
The tight end position has evolved dramatically in the NFL. No longer are they just blockers; today’s top tight ends are dynamic playmakers who can line up anywhere and contribute in both the running and passing game. With the 2025 NFL Draft approaching, all eyes are on the next wave of talent ready to make an impact. While the 2024 draft saw Brock Bowers selected early, the 2025 class boasts its own unique set of prospects, each with the potential to become a valuable asset in the league.
The Headliners: Potential First-Round Talents
Tyler Warren, Penn State: Warren stands out as the most complete tight end in this year’s class. At 6’6″ and 257 pounds, he possesses the size and strength to excel as a traditional “Y” tight end, contributing as a blocker in the running game. However, Warren is more than just a blocker; he also displays impressive receiving skills, making him a versatile threat in the passing game. According to PFF, Warren is a “do-everything tight end” whose versatility is “incredibly valuable in the run-and-pass games,” making him worthy of a first-round selection. His ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game makes him a highly sought-after prospect. In 2024, Warren had 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns.
Colston Loveland, Michigan: Loveland is a dynamic receiving tight end with the potential to be a mismatch nightmare for opposing defenses. At 6’5″ and 245 pounds, he possesses a combination of size, athleticism, and natural receiving skills that make him a dangerous weapon in the passing game. Loveland excels at creating separation with his route running and has reliable hands, making him a quarterback-friendly target. Drafttek.com ranks Loveland as the No. 2 tight end in the class, highlighting his potential to “create mismatches from multiple alignments in the passing game.” PFF notes that Loveland “lacks the density to play as an inline tight end consistently,” but brings “plenty of value as a tall, long pass catcher with natural hands and crisp routes.”
The Rising Stars: Day Two Prospects
Mason Taylor, LSU: With NFL bloodlines (his father is Hall of Famer Jason Taylor), Mason Taylor possesses a polished game and the potential to rise up the draft boards. At 6’5″ and 255 pounds, Taylor is a smooth route runner with reliable hands and enough athleticism to stretch the field. While he needs to improve as a blocker, he has shown progress in that area, making him a well-rounded prospect with the potential to become a valuable contributor at the next level. Bucky Brooks notes that Taylor’s “NFL bloodlines and polished game could make him a late riser up the charts.”
Terrance Ferguson, Oregon: Ferguson is a big, strong tight end with good hands and solid run-blocking ability. At 6’5″ and 250 pounds, he looks the part of an NFL red-zone target and has the versatility to align across the formation to seek out mismatches. While he may lack elite speed and athleticism, his reliability as a receiver and blocker makes him a valuable prospect with day-two potential. BNB Football notes that Ferguson “looks the part of an NFL redzone target, with the versatility to align across the formation to seek out mismatches.”
Elijah Arroyo, Miami (FL): After multiple injury-riddled seasons, Arroyo exploded in 2024, leading all tight ends in the nation in yards per catch. Arroyo has prototypical size for an NFL receiving tight end and a ton of athletic ability to match. He’s a mismatch against tight ends over the middle of the field, and does a good job fighting through contact in his routes. Arroyo has soft hands and appears natural tracking the ball, while also doing a great job of staying with his QB and working himself open on broken plays.
Sleepers and Potential Gems: Day Three and Beyond
Gunnar Helm, Texas: Helm is a versatile tight end who can contribute as a receiver and blocker. At 6’5″ and 241 pounds, he possesses good hands, solid blocking skills, and the ability to find soft spots in the defense. While he may not be a star, his reliability and versatility make him a valuable prospect with the potential to develop into a solid contributor at the next level. The Huddle notes that Helm has “great hands that almost never drop a pass” and is a “smart receiver that can find the soft spots in a defense.”
Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green: Fannin is a strong receiving tight end with great value after the catch. His blocking reps are good enough to keep him inline as a TE2 or as a wingback on occasion, but his bread and butter in the NFL will be as a tight end who you can quickly get the ball to for after-the-catch production in a tight end-centric passing attack.
Luke Lachey, Iowa: Lachey projects as a high-upside tight end prospect with day two draft potential. He is viewed as a tough and physical blocker at the point of attack while also being a functional receiver. He needs to put together a healthy season before going pro. Lachey looks like he has the potential to be a starting Y tight end in the NFL.
Joshua Simon, South Carolina: Simon tested like a beast. He had 78th percentile marks or higher in every testing metric I care about for a tight end. Add in that last year, among FBS tight ends with at least 20 targets, he ranked 25th in yards per route run and seventh-best in yards after the catch per reception. We might have found a diamond in the rough for fantasy.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 NFL Draft offers a diverse group of tight end prospects, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. While Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland are the clear headliners, players like Mason Taylor, Terrance Ferguson, and Gunnar Helm offer intriguing potential and could become valuable contributors in the right system. As teams evaluate these prospects, they will be looking for players who can not only block and catch but also provide versatility and playmaking ability. The tight end position is more important than ever in today’s NFL, and the 2025 draft class is sure to provide teams with a wealth of options to upgrade their offenses.