Penn State Nittany Lions standout Tyler Warren has dominated pre-draft conversation at the tight end position, and rightly so after a sensational season. However, as our 2025 NFL Draft TE rankings reveal, there’s a lot more to this class of versatile offensive weapons than just one do-it-all headliner. Can anyone challenge at the very top? It might be a lot closer than you imagine.
Top 10 TEs in the 2025 NFL Draft
10) Joshua Simon, South Carolina
Joshua Simon is a projection, but he brings elite, freaky athleticism to a position where it historically translates. The South Carolina Gamecocks’ pass catcher was ranked second in the 40-yard dash (4.65 seconds), vertical jump (38”), and broad jump (10’4”) among tight ends at the 2025 NFL Combine.
A sixth-year senior, Simon led the Gamecocks in receptions (40), receiving yards (519), and receiving touchdowns (7), becoming the first tight end in school history to do so. The 6’4”, 239-pound pass-catching tight end has instant speed.
He bursts off the line of scrimmage and has exceptional long speed to win vertically. However, he is only a trying blocker, and Simon doesn’t have the mass to hold up against physicality in-line or at the catch point.
9) Oronde Gadsen II, Syracuse
At 6’5” and 243 pounds, Orande Gadsden is a long wide receiver convert who possesses the large catch radius and physicality to be a mismatch from the slot at the next level. His massive frame allows him to be alignment versatile as a receiver, where his balance, body control, and clean hands will enable him to compete in contested catch situations.
While he doesn’t have the blocking technique to line up in-line, meaning he will be limited to only playing passing downs at the next level, for a team that likes vertical, seams treats to stretch the field, Gadsden would be a good late round pick up.
8) Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
Mitchell Evans isn’t flashy, but he is reliable and does a lot of things right. A physical blocker and dependable pass catcher, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish product projects as an inline tight end at the next level where his sudden hand usage, initial burst, and sturdy base hold up as a blocker.
Meanwhile, Mitchell has the physicality to get off blockers and the nuance to get open on passing downs, where his clean hands and 6’5”, 258-pound frame allow him to be a safety blanket.
7) Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
He doesn’t always get the same flowers as the top tight ends in the 2025 NFL Draft class, but Terrance Ferguson is one of the most well-rounded prospects this cycle. He’s coming off a stellar 2024 campaign at Oregon — 43 catches for 591 yards, with three touchdowns — in which he showed he can be productive in the pros.
At 6’5″ and 247 pounds, Ferguson was one of the fastest and most explosive testers at the NFL Combine, and that athleticism shows up on film. His acceleration is more powerful than energetic, but he’s a nuanced separator, as well as a solid RAC threat and dutiful blocker.
An emphasis for Ferguson at the NFL level should be limiting focus drops over the middle. But, looking at the full checklist, Ferguson fills the boxes. Plus, he has an elite athletic profile to build upon.
6) Gunnar Helm, Texas
Gunnar Helm is a well-rounded tight end whose functional athleticism and stout frame allow him to succeed as a pass catcher and a blocker. The Texas Longhorns prospect is a nuanced route runner in short areas, using his quick footwork and build-up speed to compete through the catch. His large catch radius and ball skills also allow him to win in contested catch situations.
At 6’5” and 241 pounds, Helm is also a functional blocker, and his reliable technique, low stance, and toughness can prevent defenders from impacting the pocket.
5) Elijah Arroyo, Miami (FL)
Elijag Arroyo was criminally underused by the Miami Hurricanes in 2024. With only 35 receptions for 590 yards and seven touchdowns, the proactive pass-catching tight end has the potential to feature more heavily at the next level.
The 6’5”, 250-pound tight end is a fluid route runner who can sell fakes to create separation. The keen athlete breezes up the seam and has the length to claw in passes at the catch point. However, his strength is only questionable at this moment, and Arroyo will likely be used in receiving situations as he continues his development.
4) Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
No prospect was more productive in the 2024 season than Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. He led all FBS pass-catchers — wide receivers and tight ends — in catches and receiving yards, with 117 catches for 1,555 yards and 10 scores.
Not only did Fannin feast against MAC opponents, but he also proved himself against his toughest foes, like Penn State and Texas A&M. Fannin’s production has made him a darling of the NFL Draft community, and it points to his translatable pass-catching skill set.
He’ll never be a great factor as a blocker, and he’s not an elite size-adjusted athlete, but Fannin is sudden and savvy as a route runner and RAC threat, and he’s physical and reliable with his hand-usage across phases. At his maximum, he can be a route-running and RAC specialist in the mold of Jordan Reed.
3) Mason Taylor, LSU
Mason Taylor lacks college production, but his projection to the next level is clear. At 6’5” and 251 pounds, the LSU Tiger is a traditional tight end. He is both a mean blocker and a reliable pass catcher.
As a pass catcher, Taylor is refined in his route running and shows innate intelligence to exploit zone coverage. He is able to create separation with fluid athleticism, and his clean hands allow him to be a reliable chain mover. The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, the Tigers’ weapon has untapped potential at the next level.
2) Colston Loveland, Michigan
- Selected by the Chicago Bears
- 10th overall selection
- First tight end selected
Colston Loveland is right in the thick of the TE1 conversation, and in any class without Brock Bowers or Tyler Warren, Loveland would very likely be the unequivocal TE1. Injuries and incompetent quarterback play impacted Loveland’s production in 2024, and yet, he still achieved a career-high 56 catches and five touchdowns, while racking up 582 yards.
While Warren is more complete, Loveland has the higher pass-game ceiling. At 6’6″ and almost 250 pounds, Loveland moves with truly logic-defying flexibility and bend, which lends itself to elite route-running ability. His route tree is all-encompassing, leveraging razor-sharp instincts, with unmatched athleticism that makes him a mismatch nightmare.
1) Tyler Warren, Penn State
- Selected by the Indianapolis Colts
- 14th overall selection
- Second tight end selected
Tyler Warren is best categorized as an offensive weapon rather than purely a tight end. The spearhead of the Penn State offense, Warren is a dynamic playmaker and wins in several different ways.
The 6’6”, 256-pound prospect is highly versatile. He has an expansive route tree as a receiver and can also work out of the backfield. Plus, he can throw the ball, too. As a receiver, Warren has exceptional athleticism to create instant separation. His large catch radius and instinctual ball tracking allow him to anticipate on deep routes, while he can step and shed blockers in short areas to move the chains.
Meanwhile, Warren is a willing blocker with the hot motor, intensity, and physicality to overpower defenders.
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