NFL Combine tight ends disappointed, but a few top talents surprisingly impressed as 2025 NFL Draft season continues to ramp up
The 2025 NFL Combine featured one of the most disappointing classes of athletes at the tight position this century overall. As the forty-yard dashes were being run you could almost hear the collective disappointment of onlookers as the tight ends struggled to break 4.7 seconds almost across the board. However, there were a few exceptions […]
The 2025 NFL Combine featured one of the most disappointing classes of athletes at the tight position this century overall. As the forty-yard dashes were being run you could almost hear the collective disappointment of onlookers as the tight ends struggled to break 4.7 seconds almost across the board. However, there were a few exceptions at tight end that tested better than the narrative surrounding the position might have you believe this week.
Let's take a dive into all the significant NFL Combine winners among the tight ends in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
Terrance Ferguson, TE Oregon
We have been a bit spoiled in recent years with a handful of tight ends logging solid combine performances in each of the last few draft classes, but this year only one name stood out above the rest. Terrance Ferguson told me both at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine that the most underrated aspect of his game was athleticism and he proved that, and then some.
At 6'5", 247 pounds, Terrance Ferguson ran the fastest forty-yard dash among all the tight ends in this 2025 NFL Draft class at 4.62 seconds. That is good for 85th percentile all-time. Then, even more impressively, Ferguson leaped 39 inches in the vertical jump and over 10 feet in the broad, bringing his burst score to the 94th percentile. He should firmly be a third round tight end prospect now.
Jalin Conyers, TE Texas Tech
Jalin Conyers came in super stout at 6'3", 260 pounds (89th percentile BMI), so a few analysts I spoke to didn't expect him to test that well this week. Wrong. Yes, he only managed a 4.75 in the forty-yard dash but that's actually above average for the position. He also posted 83rd percentile burst and agility scores too. Conyers likely just gave his draft stock a couple-round boost on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
CJ Dippre, TE Alabama
CJ Dippre was always going to profile like more of a blocking tight end, so he didn't need to test especially well, but he surprised some at the NFL Combine anyway. His 4.7-second forty was actually a full tenth (or more) faster than many expected for Dippre and his jumps were above average as well. Teams should confidently select him in the final rounds of the NFL Draft now.
Thomas Fidone II, TE Nebraska
Fidone has a bit of a strange gait when he runs, so it wasn't a surprise when just managed a 4.7-second forty. However, his lower body strength and agility impressed more than many thought it might. Fidone always used his strength well at Nebraska (when healthy), but a 93rd percentile burst score via his jumps was a shockingly positive result for him.
Joshua Simon, TE South Carolina
When I spoke to Joshua Simon he mentioned teams love his versatility and experience in a variety of offensive schemes. Now they're going to like his raw athleticism too. Simon put up the second fastest forty-yard dash time among tight ends at the NFL Combine this year and just like Fidone impressed with his jumps. 38 inches in the vert. Nearly 10 and a half feet in the broad. That's a strong performance that gets him drafted now.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE Bowling Green
It was a bit of a shock that Harold Fannin couldn't crack 4.7 seconds in the forty-yard dash given his slightly undersized stature, but his speed score was almost NFL Combine historical average. And outside of that he tested near the 70th percentile with both his jumps and agility. So all in all he actually posted a 62nd percentile A to Z Sports Athletic Composite Score. That's plenty athletic to make it in the NFL, despite what some of his doubters would say this week.
NFL Combine highlights elite athleticism for a special handful of rising cornerback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft
Elite athletic cornerbacks continue to rise following NFL Combine
We'll be back with more NFL Draft coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
If you want to watch some of the impressive plays Terrance Ferguson made for the Oregon Ducks you can find his highlights from last season in the video below!
