Tight Ends

TE1: Colston Loveland, Michigan

Colston Loveland is a fluid, explosive tight end with a tall frame and smooth movement skills that make him a dangerous receiving threat at all three levels. He accelerates well off the line with quick releases, runs clean routes, and shows the ability to track and high point the ball downfield. His ball skills stand out, and he has enough agility and run-after-catch ability to be featured on the move. However, his current frame lacks ideal mass and strength for consistent in-line duties. While he gives solid effort as a run blocker and shows flashes, he struggles to sustain blocks or generate movement due to his lack of functional strength. He’s better blocking on the move or in space than on the line of scrimmage. His hands can also be inconsistent, particularly in contested situations where he struggles to finish through contact. As a pass catcher, he needs to be more consistent when dealing with physical coverage and could benefit from quicker separation on short routes, where defenders close space fast. Loveland has amazing pass-catching traits and enough experience in-line to project developmental upside there, but right now he profiles best as a tight end who should be used for his great skills as a receiving threat.

Grade: Round 1

TE2: Tyler Warren, Penn State

Tyler Warren is a versatile, physically imposing tight end with elite size, strong hands, and a vertical skill set that makes him a constant big-play threat. His ball skills are impressive—he tracks and secures deep passes with ease, demonstrating the ability to win in contested situations. He’s a powerful runner after the catch, flashing the strength to overpower smaller defenders. His strength also shows up in the run game, where he can generate movement and block effectively in space. However, his in-line blocking remains a work in progress. His technique, pad level, and consistency vary significantly from rep to rep. As a route runner, Warren consistently struggles to separate, and his speed and burst are often lacking. Too often, his routes lack detail and urgency, limiting his ability to create easy throwing windows. Warren’s value lies in his versatility and the explosive vertical element he brings to an offense. While he has the potential to carve out a valuable role as an offensive chess piece, he’ll need to improve his route running and grow as a blocker to reach his full potential as a complete tight end.

Grade: Round 1

TE3: Elijah Arroyo, Miami

Elijah Arroyo is a fast tight end who wins with athleticism and clean route running. Arroyo consistently creates separation using his speed and fluid movement. He has natural hands and strong ball skills that make him a legitimate vertical threat, with flashes of impressive RAC ability. As a route runner, he’s crisp for a tight end and shows a good feel for timing and spacing. In pass protection, Arroyo generally holds up well, often playing with solid technique and leverage. However, while decent, he isn’t the biggest or most powerful in-line blocker, and that can limit his consistency in the run game. There's also a recurring issue where he seems slow off the line, and his lack of initial quickness can hurt him as a blocker and out of his release occasionally. Overall, Arroyo is a versatile receiving threat who shows enough as a solid blocker to have true long-term starting tight end potential.

Grade: Round 2

TE4: Mason Taylor, LSU

Mason Taylor is a high upside receiving tight end who brings athleticism and fluid movement skills to the position. He shows impressive speed for his size, allowing him to separate against linebackers and find soft spots in zone coverage. His hands are reliable, and he’s a natural hands catcher who tracks the ball well on the move. He also offers good RAC ability, showing balance and agility in the open field. His routes are efficient, and he gets into them quickly with a clean release. However, his physicality is more of a finesse profile, he’s not a reliable blocker yet and struggles to sustain blocks or hold his ground in pass protection. He also doesn’t consistently win in contested situations downfield despite his size. Taylor projects best as a move tight end who can stress defenses in space and work in space, but he’ll need to improve as a blocker and play stronger at the catch point to be a good full-time starter.

Grade: Round 2

TE5: Gunnar Helm, Texas

Gunnar Helm is a reliable receiving tight end with strong ball skills and an advanced feel for creating separation. He consistently shows the ability to high point passes and make plays down the field, and he brings enough functional strength to fight through contact and pick up yards after the catch. While he doesn’t possess standout speed, he moves well enough to be a threat on intermediate and vertical routes. However, his impact as a blocker is limited—he struggles to sustain blocks, often gets driven backward in the run game, and lacks the consistent technique needed to hold up in-line. His strength and effort are there, but his blocking remains a liability. Helm projects best as a high-end backup or low-end starter who can contribute as a reliable pass-catching option, and if he continues to develop as a blocker, he has the talent to take on a larger role.

Grade: Round 3

TE6: Terrance Ferguson, Oregon

Terrance Ferguson is a solid tight end with good size and impressive play speed in the open field, which allows him to showcase his athleticism and make plays after the catch. He’s a reliable hands-catcher who consistently shows the ability to pluck the ball away from his frame and turn up field with fluidity. His quickness helps him separate and create space in the short-to-intermediate game. However, his route running can lack consistency, as he doesn’t always stay crisp or controlled through his breaks. Blocking is his biggest weakness right now. He struggles to sustain in-line blocks and lacks the strength and leverage to anchor against more physical defenders. He’s also not a consistent vertical threat and doesn’t win often downfield. Ferguson has enough traits to be a useful receiving option as a good backup, but he’ll need to take some strides as a blocker and route technician to earn a full-time starting role.

Grade: Round 4

TE7: Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse

Oronde Gadsden is a big-slot prototype tight end with great play speed and athleticism that allows him to make plays as a receiver. He runs clean routes and is capable of creating consistent one-on-one separation against defenders. While his release could improve, particularly with strength at the line of scrimmage, it doesn’t severely hinder his effectiveness overall. Gadsden’s ball skills are a strong point, and he exhibits reliable hands outside of the occasional concentration drop. However, his ability to make plays after the catch is somewhat limited due to a lack of strength and physicality. His blocking remains a major weakness, and he struggles as an in-line tight end where he’ll be asked to handle bigger defenders. Still, his combination of athleticism and receiving skills makes him a promising prospect as a big-slot weapon, though he’ll need to develop in other areas to have a larger role. 

Grade: Round 4

TE8: Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame

Mitchell Evans is a big-bodied tight end who shows the ability to adjust to off-target throws and make catches outside his frame. While he’s not the fastest, he has more speed in the open field than expected and flashes solid burst at the top of his routes. He displays a good understanding of how to settle into zones, and outside of a few concentration drops, his hands are generally reliable. His run blocking is serviceable, though his technique and consistency need refinement. He tends to be slow off the ball both as a blocker and in his release, and with limited pass protection reps, it’s hard to fully evaluate his in-line upside—though his size does give him potential there. Overall, Evans is a fairly solid tight end prospect who does a lot of things well but doesn’t have any amazing traits.

Grade: Round 4

TE9: Ben Yurosek, Georgia

Ben Yurosek is a fast tight end with solid blocking skills, making him an appealing prospect for teams in need of a reliable offensive piece. While he’s lighter and lacks the physicality to break tackles after the catch, his quickness and play speed help make up for it. His route running and hands are decent but could use improvement, and his separation ability and vertical threat are limited. However, his blocking technique and overall athletic profile provide a solid foundation for growth. Yurosek’s potential lies in improving his receiving skills to become a more well-rounded contributor in the passing game. His strong blocking and speed make him a promising project for teams seeking a tight end who can develop into a larger role over time.

Grade: Round 5

TE10: Harold Fannin Jr, Bowling Green

Harold Fannin is a tight end with a fun playstyle built on reliable ball skills and impressive run-after-catch ability. He consistently catches well when not heavily contested and has a natural feel with the ball in his hands. However, his blocking—particularly in the run game—is a major concern, as he frequently struggles with in-line assignments. He also has issues with separation, often getting tied up at the line or during routes and can be easily disrupted by defenders. While his speed is serviceable, it doesn’t project as a real asset at the next level. Fannin’s flashes after the catch are impressive, but overall, he’s a smaller, less polished player who lacks impact as a blocker or route runner. Given those limitations, he’s not someone I’d invest in early, though he does offer some intrigue as a developmental project.

Grade: Round 6