New landing spot for first round tight end prospects emerges after major injury announcement

There are two consensus top tight end prospects who should hear their name called in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but their range is hard to gauge. In terms of talent, both Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland could be top 15 selections. The reality for tight ends is they usually slide a […]

Ian Valentino — National College Football Writer
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Nov 9, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium.
Nov 9, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

There are two consensus top tight end prospects who should hear their name called in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but their range is hard to gauge. In terms of talent, both Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland could be top 15 selections. The reality for tight ends is they usually slide a little further down the board.

The latest news about Cincinnati Bengals tight end Erick All Jr. was bad news for the team and their 2024 fourth-round draft pick. All will miss the 2025 season due to complications with his surgically repaired knee. He'll need two surgeries after re-tearing his ACL that was initially injured in 2023.

All's career is in jeopardy, and the Bengals won't be able to count on him.

Now, the Bengals must consider how to best address a position that has Mike Gesicki hitting free agency and underwhelming options in Drew Sample and Tanner McLachlan. Sample totaled only 154 yards behind Gesicki, All, and Tanner Hudson in 2024. McLachlan played five snaps as a 25-year-old rookie.

With the 17th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bengals might now be a hot spot for the tight end position. Warren and Loveland are routinely mocked in this range, with the Dolphins, Colts, Seahawks, and Broncos seeing more projections for either one. 

It gets easier to imagine Cincinnati could take a tight end early if Tee Higgins is re-signed to a long-term deal. While it's possible Kyle Pitts is traded for, or Gesicki is brought back, the Bengals might prefer to start fresh at a position where they could use stability and three-down impact.

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