It’s a down year for the tight end market, with only a few starting options at the position hitting free agency. A pair of tight ends could be selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, too, further pushing down free agency at the position.
With that being said, there are some okay free agents at the tight end position. We polled a group of writers from around SB Nation to gather consensus rankings about the players. While there are no unanimous picks among the bunch as folks value different WR traits, our groups stands out into some defined tiers.
We will remove players from the list as they re-sign with their current teams all the way up to the opening of free agency in March.
Pending free agent tight ends heading into 2025
Receiving votes
Marcedes Lewis
Luke Farrell
Jordan Atkins
Ian Thomas
Hunter Long
Tommy Tremble
10. Pharaoh Brown, Seattle Seahawks
Set to be 31 this offseason, the veeran journeyman only has 65 yards in 2024 with the Seahawks. He’s a role player at best.
9. Johnny Mundt, Minnesota Vikings
The backup tight end for Minnesota is a mostly reliable target and his time in Minnesota has been consistent; just under 20 catches, between 140 and 170 yards, and one/two touchdowns in each of this three seasons.
8. John Bates, Washington Commanders
Bates was one of three tight ends to earn a first-place vote, but he was also left off two ballots completely. He is young, but taken a back seat to Zach Ertz in Washington. He only has 84 receiving yards this years as a result. UPDATE: John Bates re-signed in Washington.
7. Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts
The 31-year-old has never played for a team other than the Colts, but logged the most starts of his career in 2024. That did not translate to production, as he caught the fewest passes since 2019. He’s never had more than 31 catches or 400 yards.
6. Kylen Granson, Indianapolis Colts
The other Colts tight end, Granson’s numbers are barely better than Alie-Cox. A fourth-round pick entering his first free agency, a lot is going to depend on the GM of the team who signs him and how they scouted him back in 2021. Like his teammate, Mo Alie-Cox, he’s never had more than 31 catches or 400 yards.
5. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
Ertz was in everyone’s top five except one voter completely left him off their list. He’s the first starting-caliber option on this list, but he just turned 34, so his value is limited. A heady player, he makes the right reads and gets in good position. He missed parts of 2022 and 2023 with injuries, but played all 17 games in 2024, catching more than 60 balls and topping 600 yards, and he’s always been a reliable end-zone target. UPDATE: Ertz signed a one-year deal to stay in Washington.
4. Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
With some high votes but also some low votes, it is tough to evaluate players on the dysfunctional Jets right now. He turns 30 this offseason but has been a solid contributor on two teams with multiple quarterbacks dating back to entering the starting lineup in Minnesota in 2021. Still, he’s coming off a down year in Jersey.
3. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Johnson received a first-place vote from our panel but was outside the top five on two other ballots. A former undrafted wide receiver, he made the move to TE in the pros. His best season came in 2022 when he caught 42 passes for 508 yards and seven touchdowns. His production has been consistent but not outstanding otherwise. UPDATE: Johnson re-signed with the Saints on three-year deal.
2. Austin Hooper, New England Patriots
A very consistent performer over a long period of time, Hooper has struggled with inconsistent QB play over the last several seasons since leaving the Atlanta Falcons in 2019. He earned two Pro Bowl nods there after being a third-round pick, and he has talent, but he’s also 30. UPDATE: Hooper signed a one-year deal in New England.
1. Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
Our clear number one, Gesicki received all but two of the first-place votes. He was very good for the Dolphins in his first four seasons, but phased out under Mike McDaniels in 2022. He’s spent one year each with the Patriots and Bengals since. His year with Mac Jones in New England was not good, but he bounced back with Joe Burrow in 2024 and has solid numbers entering the marketplace. He could get much better money than the $2.5 million he made in 2024. UPDATE: Gesicki signed a new deal on the weekend before free agency opened.
Other free agent tight ends
Harrison Bryant
Kenny Yeboah
Chris Manhertz
Tanner Hudson
Ross Dwelley
Eric Saubert
MyCole Pruitt
Hayden Hurst
Tyler Davis
Jack Stoll
Ryan Tonyan Jr.
Quintin Morris (RFA)
Stone Smartt (RFA)
Recently released tight ends
These tight ends were released after our rankings were put together in the lead up to the 2025 league year.
Durham Smythe
It’s hard to evaluate Smythe with his quarterback play in 2024, and he’s going to be 30 before the season starts. He’s only ever played for Miami as a starter but an afterthought in their offense. It’s hard to imagine him taking a big leap in his eighth NFL season, especially coming off a year when he managed just nine receptions. UPDATE: Signed with the Beats on a one-year deal.
Gerald Everett
The Bears released Everett one year after signing him to a two-year, $12 million deal. He underperformed in the Bears anemic offense (eight catches for 36 yards) but he could fit into the starting lineup on some teams, even at age 31. He had 58 catches for 555 yards and four 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 released Engram who was due $15.75 million in 2025. He’s 31 and only played nine games for the Jags in 2024 due to a torn labrum. In 2023 he barely missed a 1000-yard season and is still capable of playing 75% of a team’s offensive snaps.
Free agent tight ends who were signed to new deals
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
Zach Ertz re-upped with the Commanders for one year
Chris Manhertz signed a one-year extension with the Giants
Tommy Tremble signed a two-year deal to stay in Carolina
Austin Hooper is back in New England on a one-year deal
John Bates signed a three-year extension in Washington
Luke Farrell agreed to terms with the 49ers on a three-year deal
Juwan Johnson re-signed with the New Orleans Saints on a three-year deal
Ryan Tonyan, Jr. re-upped with the Chiefs
