NFL's top 20 TEs: Travis Kelce suffers a significant drop, two rookie tight ends sneak their way on the list, and more
Just a few years ago, many believed the tight end position lacked true game changers outside of the cream of the crop like Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and a couple of others. Thankfully, the last few NFL Draft classes have helped add needed talent to the position, with Brock Bowers and Trey McBride already leaving […]
Just a few years ago, many believed the tight end position lacked true game changers outside of the cream of the crop like Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and a couple of others. Thankfully, the last few NFL Draft classes have helped add needed talent to the position, with Brock Bowers and Trey McBride already leaving their mark, and rookies like Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland poised to take their turn in the spotlight. Here at A to Z Sports, our staff took a look at the TE position as a whole and ranked our top 20 players, but before you check out the list take a look at how we compiled it.
In order to find the official consensus 2025 A to Z Sports NFL positional rankings, 16 of our staff members ranked their Top 20 TEs in order.
If a player was ranked 1st, they received 20 points. Ranked 2nd? 19 points. And so on, down to 20th, where players received just one point. Why use this method? If we simply used the average ranking, we may errantly include outliers that were ranked too highly by just one or two staff members.
This method allowed us to find a more true collaborative consensus that properly represented where the majority of our staff felt players belonged in overall positional rankings from 1st to 20th in the NFL.
1. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Highest Ranking: 1
Lowest Ranking: 3
The debate as to who is the best tight end in the NFL has mostly been between Kittle and Travis Kelce over recent years. With Kelce taking a clear step back in 2024, Kittle is the obvious choice for No. 1. Statistically, a case could be made for Brock Bowers, but he needs to prove he can replicate his production as a rookie again. Kittle has caught 90+ plus passes and eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his last two seasons, totaling 14 touchdowns. With the question marks the 49ers have at wide receiver entering the 2025 season, Kittle is in line for another huge year. – Nick Roesch
2. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Highest Ranking: 1
Lowest Ranking: 4
Brock Bowers should be No. 1 on this list. But, I get it, some think he will have a sophomore slump. That's understandable considering no one has ever had an amazing first year as a tight end and then topped it in their second year. But that doesn't mean there can't be a first time. Bowers was virtually the Las Vegas Raiders' only option last season, besides Jakobi Meyers. That was without a quarterback and a bad offensive line that was pretty banged up for most of the year. Now, they have Geno Smith, hopefully an actual run game with new OC Chip Kelly and rookie RB Ashton Jeanty, and the offensive line appears to be healthy. The Raiders should be throwing TE1 out on the field every single week. – Justin Churchill
3. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
Highest Ranking: 2
Lowest Ranking: 7
The next generation of elite tight ends is led by Trey McBride and Brock Bowers. McBride has snuck up on people because he hasn't been part of an explosive passing attack that has been on national games often. But the talent is fantastic, and he's become the most reliable pass-catcher in the NFL at the position. Equally dangerous as a route-runner from the slot or being in-line, McBride is too quick for linebackers to stick with and powerful after the catch. With a 1.8% drop rate and 57% contested catch win rate on high volume targets, McBride is the guy you can bank on for a breakout season as his touchdowns catch up to the rest of his production and ability. – Ian Valentino
4. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
Highest Ranking: 3
Lowest Ranking: 9
Sam LaPorta had a down year in season two, but he was still very important to the success of the Lions' offense in 2024. That's going to continue in 2025 for sure. LaPorta should bounce right back and have a stronger season due to the fact that the Lions' offense could be a little more simplistic. If he can improve upon some stuff outside of catching the ball, like run blocking, he could move up this list even more. – Mike Payton
5. Travis Kelce
Highest Ranking: 1
Lowest Ranking: 10
It became apparent in 2024 that Kelce isn't the same caliber player he has been during his Hall of Fame career. However, that's an extremely high bar, and he's still among the best tight ends in the league. Landing at No. 5 on our list is pretty fair, although I had him ranked over LaPorta, who Kelce has outpaced in receptions and receiving yards each of the last two years. Kelce's superior knowledge of route running makes up for him losing a step, and it's not like he doesn't have any juice left at all. He has slimmed down for what could be his final season in 2025, and although he likely won't produce like he did in his prime, Kelce will remain a vital piece of the Chiefs' passing game. – Nick Roesch
6. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
Highest Ranking: 4
Lowest Ranking: 9
Having T.J. Hockenson all the way down to sixth overall is too low, but it also makes some sense because he played just half the season after suffering a torn ACL against the Detroit Lions on Christmas Eve in 2023. His production didn't dip throughout all the changes the Vikings have endured over his tenure, including his knee injury. He thrives running choice routes and getting open on his own without needing scheme to get him open.
The underrated aspect of Hockenson's game that doesn't get enough attention is his blocking. Unlike guys ahead of him like Sam LaPorta, Hockenson is a stout blocker on the outside, allowing the run game to thrive. He's a true dual-threat that should be higher on this list. – Tyler Forness
7. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Highest Ranking: 4
Lowest Ranking: 12
It's a shame that Andrews' season ended the way that it did in Buffalo. It was a catastrophic showing with a costly drop and a fumble that helped leave the Ravens on the losing side of a narrow loss. His full body of work from last year is still very impressive. He's posted single-digit drop rates for four straight years and every year of his NFL career except one. Andrews set a career high in touchdown receptions, percentage of targets caught (78.5% on 79 targets), and passer rating when targeted (141.1). He's been credited with two penalties in the last three seasons combined.
This is a tight end who is about as steady as they come, despite getting ready to turn 30 in September. – Kyle Crabbs
8. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagels
Highest Ranking: 6
Lowest Ranking: 13
Dallas Goedert has only proven to be a reliable target for quarterback Jalen Hurts when healthy; however, injuries have kept him off the field for 15 games since 2022, including 10 games over the last two seasons. But despite the missed time, he remains a key Eagles piece who has consistently made an impact.
He did finish the 2024 season hauling in 42 catches for 496 yards and two touchdowns through 10 games, which marked his lowest performance since his 2018 rookie season. The hope now is that he can return to his old form in 2025. Over seven seasons in Philly, Goedert has reeled in 349 receptions for 4,085 yards and 24 touchdowns. Keep in mind, he has come up with these kinds of numbers among an offense stacked with weapons, and that makes him that much more impressive. – Kelsey Kramer
9. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Highest Ranking: 4
Lowest Ranking: 13
David Njoku had a breakout second season in the NFL before missing most of the 2019 campaign. Since then, he has steadily blossomed into one of the better tight ends in the league. When healthy and properly utilized, it’s hard to name more than a few tight ends you’d take over him.
In 2023, Njoku posted 882 receiving yards and developed a strong connection with Joe Flacco during the back half of the season. Despite missing six games last year, he still totaled 505 yards and five touchdowns. One of the most athletic players at his position, Njoku is poised for a big 2025 season in what will be a crucial contract year. – Brandon Little
10. Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
Highest Ranking: 6
Lowest Ranking: 17
Likely is an emergent star who appears to be "next" in Baltimore. After a career year in 2024, he's poised to be the mismatch weapon the Ravens need in the middle of the field once again in 2025. When teams commit to taking away Lamar's legs and Derrick Henry, it's usually Likely that's made the big play. The Ravens should feel a lot of pressure to get this contract extension done before the season because another year like the one Likely had in 2024 will earn him some robust offers next spring on the open market. – Kyle Crabbs
11. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
Highest Ranking: 5
Lowest Ranking: 16
Not only did Tucker Kraft surpass Luke Musgrave as the Packers' starting tight end in their second NFL season, but the former third-round pick also became a huge part of Green Bay's passing offense. Kraft had 50 catches, 707 yards, and seven touchdowns last year. He led the NFL among tight ends in yards after the catch per reception (9.3) and was also top 5 in passer rating when targeted. Kraft is the Packers' tight end with the most yards through his first two seasons in franchise history, ahead of Jermichael Finley, Richard Rodgers, Paul Coffman, and Bubba Franks.
His passer rating when targeted was 121.7 in 2023 and 134.6 in 2024—and this includes basically three full games with Malik Willis at quarterback. Tucker Kraft is special. His complete playing style makes him be on the field all the time, and his ability to generate yards after contact makes him create a lot of points even when the volume isn't there. – Wendell Ferreira
12. Evan Engram, Denver Broncos
Highest Ranking: 8
Lowest Ranking: 19
The acquisition of Evan Engram is a fascinating one for Denver’s offense under Sean Payton. Back to the days of Jimmy Graham – the longtime NFL HC has valued the TE position and the receiving value that can come from it. Nothing proved that to me further than Engram being the main passing game addition to the Broncos roster this offseason. I won’t be surprised if he creates a strong rapport with Bo Nix rather quickly because a TE like Engram can be a young QB’s best friend. – Adam Holt
13. Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers
Highest Ranking: 8
Lowest Ranking: Unranked
The first of two Steelers tight ends that make our list, Jonnu Smith, finds himself at 13 in our rankings after the best season of his career with the Dolphins. A 2024 Pro Bowler who recorded career highs in receptions (88), yards (884), and touchdowns (8), Smith was often the most reliable weapon on an offense that featured De'Von Achane, Jaylen Waddle, and Tyreek Hill. That proves how dynamic he can be, and it's why the Steelers traded for him and gave him a massive raise on top of it. Back with a familiar face via OC Arthur Smith, it's safe to say that Smith is still on an upward trajectory headed into year nine. – Rob Gregson
14. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Highest Ranking: 10
Lowest Ranking: Unranked
Otton is one of the league's most well-rounded youngsters at tight end. Having played just short of 3,000 snaps across his first three seasons in the league, he's been charged with a lot of football and has increased his receiving efficiency annually. He set career best marks in receptions (61), receiving yards (632), and yards per route run (1.31) despite logging a career low in average depth of target and seeing his in-line usage eclipse over 50% of snaps for the first time in his career. Otton is certainly a beneficiary of a good group of receivers around him, but he serves as an effective counter-punch when teams get complacent in the middle of the field and can serve as an asset in the run game. – Kyle Crabbs
15. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Highest Ranking: 11
Lowest Ranking: Unranked
The odd thing here is that Pat Freiermuth finds himself two spots lower than Jonnu Smith in our rankings, but will be the TE#1 on the Steelers depth chart. What Freiermuth hasn't had, that Jonnu did in Miami, is the presence of a Pro Bowl quarterback. Instead, Muth has played with everyone from Big Ben to what soon will be Aaron Rodgers. And he's managed to produce regardless. Coming off a 2024 season that saw him tie a career high in touchdowns despite the QB changes, Muth continues to be a quiet producer in the league. With what figures to be the best quarterback play he's had and year two in Arthur Smith's TE-heavy scheme, I expect more targets for Muth as he approaches his prime. – Rob Gregson
16. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
Highest Ranking: 8
Lowest Ranking: Unranked
Tyler Warren hasn't played a single snap in the NFL, yet he finds himself at 16 on this list. That tells you exactly why the Colts and multiple other teams were willing to use a first round pick on the Penn State TE. Warren's ability to impact the game at so many different levels makes him arguably one of the most valuable TEs in the NFL; if he can replicate his college success at the pro level, that is. The Colts QB situation is less than ideal, but that honestly makes a reliable target like Warren, who was the top dog in a Big 10 offense a year ago, more enticing. Rookie TEs often struggle, but Warren has the makeup of a player who could make an immediate impact on the Colts' offense. And if he does, I think a year from now we will be talking about him as a lock to be a top 10 TE in the NFL. – Destin Adams
17. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
Highest Ranking: 9
Lowest Ranking: Unranked
Colston Loveland, cracking the Top-20 at his position without even practicing with the Chicago Bears' offense yet, shouldn't be seen as a surprise. What is a surprise is seeing Tyler Warren's name one spot above him. The Bears made Loveland a Top-10 pick over Warren for a reason, and that's because Ben Johnson sees a lot of great potential in his game as a rare downfield threat at tight end. And he's not alone. After the Bears made the pick, calls about moving up in the first round quieted down, proving multiple teams were higher on this guy coming out of college. Once Loveland gets cleared to practice after rehabbing from a shoulder surgery earlier in the year, we'll quickly see some reports dropping that show how impactful this rookie is going to be in 2025, playing in this offense. – Kole Noble
18. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Highest Ranking: 12
Lowest Ranking: Unranked
Pitts hasn't been able to recapture the magic of his rookie season in the years that have followed, but he still presents as a length/size mismatch that is difficult to account for in the passing game. A unique talent like Pitts can be difficult to assimilate into a traditional tight end role, which is something the Falcons appeared to wrangle with at times during the 2024 season. He played 120 more snaps in-line than he did in the previous season, and struggled to get field-stretching opportunities last year.
Yet with the state of affairs at tight end in the NFL, unicorns can still land on this list even if they aren't playing to their full potential. – Kyle Crabbs
19. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Highest Ranking: 11
Lowest Ranking: Unranked
Hunter Henry's impact both on and off the field can't be denied. Despite all the Patriots' struggles over the past two seasons, Henry has remained a consistent presence on offense, showing off his leadership. Specifically, last year and during the early days of spring and summer heading into the 2025 season, Henry was Drake Maye's most reliable weapon. And it's clear that he's become a "security blanket" in a sense, with Maye targeting him because he knows that Henry will always be able to make the catch. – Sophie Weller
20. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
Highest Ranking: 13
Lowest Ranking: Unranked
Zach Ertz continues to fight against Father Time and produce on the field after reviving his career in Washington in 2024. Reuniting with OC Kliff Kingsbury is exactly what he needed to get back to doing what he does best, being a reliable target for his QB, and add to his career resume as one of the best to ever do it.
Ertz was certainly one of Jayden Daniels’ favorite targets in his Rookie of the Year campaign, as he finished second on the team in catches, yards, and touchdowns. He found the end zone seven times last year and collected 66 catches for 654 yards by the time the season was over. Ertz’s season was highlighted by key moments such as the game-winner against the Falcons to send the Commanders to the playoffs. He showed no signs of slowing down and looks to pick up where he left off in 2025. – Josh Taylor
Other players receiving votes
- Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills (7)
- Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (6)
- Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (6)
- Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears (4)
- Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals (3)
- Juwann Johnson, New Orleans Saints (2)
- Mason Taylor, New York Jets (1)
- Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins (1)
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