NFL Draft

12/24/24

11 min read

2025 NFL Draft: Superlatives For This Year's Tight End Class

By James Foster

NFL Analyst
Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) celebrates with linebacker Dominic DeLuca (0) after an interception for a touchdown during the first half against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) celebrates with linebacker Dominic DeLuca (0) after an interception for a touchdown during the first half against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Beaver Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

With the 2025 NFL Draft approaching, I’ve started a superlatives series to preview each position group.

This series will cover a wide range of prospects and highlight the players who stand out the most in specific categories. Today, we’re breaking down the tight end class.

QB Superlatives | RB Superlatives | WR Superlatives

2025 Draft TE Superlatives

BEST CONTESTED CATCH

Tyler Warren, Penn State Penn State Nittany Lions logo

Tyler Warren has been absolutely dominant at the catch point this year. While he isn’t quite as automatic as Rob Gronkowski, Warren’s the first tight end prospect where I don’t roll my eyes at the comparisons. He has the toughness to survive contact between the hashes, and his basketball experience translates to exceptional timing and focus when high-pointing jump balls.

This play is a 50-50 ball in its purest form. Warren has a defender draped over him and pulling down both of his arms, but he makes an acrobatic in-air adjustment, reels in the throw with his eyes, and reaches back to secure the catch in traffic:

On this play from the Big Ten Championship game he’s able to track the ball through bracket coverage. He times his jump perfectly so that he high-points the ball and plucks it away from the underneath defender. He also shields it from the crashing safety and maintains possession through contact:

Warren doesn’t have elite speed to consistently pull away from defenders down the seam, but he’s open even when he’s covered.

On this play, Lathan Ransom is running with him step-for-step but doesn’t have sight of the ball. To avoid giving the defender a signal to turn around, Warren flashes his hands at the latest possible moment and clamps down on the throw:

He also has rare flexibility and ball-tracking skills to convert back-shoulder fades with minimal catch space:

Honorable Mention: Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame

Michigan Wolverines tight end Colston Loveland runs with the ball against Indiana Hoosiers in college football game action at Memorial Stadium
Michigan Wolverines tight end Colston Loveland (18) runs with the ball in the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

BEST SEPARATOR

Colston Loveland, Michigan Michigan Wolverines logo

Colston Loveland was slightly less productive in 2024, but that’s entirely due to the dropoff in quarterback play. His tape was actually better this year, and NFL teams will still give him credit for his long reel of open but uncatchable targets.

There are other tight ends in this class that offer more of a complete package, but no one can compete with Loveland as a separator. He’s the best route running tight end I’ve ever evaluated and will be a reliable intermediate target as a rookie.

Loveland has fluid hips and smooth change of direction skills to sink into breaks and make crisp horizontal cuts. He’s also a technician with highly advanced footwork, who uses salesmanship and tempo change to set up his breaks. He runs routes like he’s been doing cone drills since he could walk; every step is purposeful and every release, stem, and break is executed at maximum efficiency.

This jerk route shows his hip flexibility to sink at the defender’s outside shoulder and then redirect inside. He also uses his right hand to subtly hook the defender and extend his separation:

This play is a great example of Loveland’s deceptive stem-work and explosiveness out of breaks. He’s running an out route against Xavier Scott, a cornerback with early Day 2 grades from some NFL teams, who is playing with outside leverage.

Loveland accelerates off the line of scrimmage with his head and body pointed towards the end zone for the entire duration of the stem. This sells the vertical route and prompts Scott to bail deep with his back to the sideline. Loveland makes a clean break, which Scott can’t mirror because he’s facing the opposite direction and leaning too far downfield:

Here, Loveland sells an over route, causing the safety to flip his hips and break inside before making a sharp cut in the opposite direction:

He also has a varied release package to defeat press coverage. On this play, he uses a foot-fire release, where he attacks the defender’s leverage with choppy steps to widen him out and create space for an inside release.

As he transitions into his route, he wipes down the defender’s hand to break contact:

Here, he uses a single jab with his outside foot to get the defender to lean backward before releasing inside. He uses the stem to sell the vertical route and force the defender to respect his speed.

Then, he explodes off of his plant foot and creates several steps of separation over the middle of the field:

Honorable Mention: Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse

BEST VERTICAL THREAT

Elijah Arroyo, Miami Miami Hurricanes logo

Elijah Arroyo wasn’t on many draft radars heading into the year, as he missed the majority of 2022 and 2023 with a knee injury and only recorded 11 receptions in his first three seasons. This year, he’s finally healthy and has emerged as the best deep threat in this tight end class.

Arroyo finished the regular season with 31 receptions, 526 yards, and six touchdowns. He had the third most receptions of 20 or more air yards among Power-4 tight ends.

To get a sense of Arroyo’s speed, you don’t even need to watch him run a route. This chase-down tackle on a Cam Ward interception from Week 5 is a remarkable display of athleticism and effort:

But his speed and explosiveness also show up as a receiver. Arroyo can stretch the seam and effortlessly outpace linebackers and defensive backs. He’s also skilled at dodging and wiping down catch coverage before stacking defenders vertically:

Arroyo is a bit under the radar right now, but I expect him to be selected somewhere on Day 2. Strong performances at the Senior Bowl and Combine will be key to solidifying his draft stock since he only has one year of tape.

Honorable Mention: John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming

Bowling Green Falcons tight end Harold Fannin Jr. catches a pass during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium.
Bowling Green Falcons tight end Harold Fannin Jr (0) catches a pass during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

BEST AFTER THE CATCH

Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green Bowling Green logo

Harold Fannin Jr. is the most productive tight end in this class after the catch, leading FBS tight ends in total YAC and missed tackles forced.

Despite average athletic traits and below-average size, Fannin Jr. is just a pain to bring down. He undoubtedly benefitted from facing weaker competition, but he was just as productive against Penn State and Texas A&M. In those two matchups, he totaled 178 yards after the catch.

He's elusive in the open field, executing hurdles, cuts, and sudden speed changes to shake defensive backs:

While he only weighs 231 pounds, Fannin Jr. has excellent contact balance and can bounce off of tackles immediately after securing the ball. He frequently added 5-10 yards after the catch on drift routes, turning routine chain-movers into explosive plays:

He can also tightrope the sideline and use a stiff arm to discard angle tackles:

It wouldn’t surprise me if Fannin Jr. enters the transfer portal, but if he declares for the draft, he’ll be one of the most dynamic weapons available, regardless of position.

Honorable Mention: Tyler Warren, Penn State

BEST BLOCKER

Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets logo

Inline blocking is a lost art for modern tight ends, but that’s where Jackson Hawes is at his best. After thriving as a blocking specialist at Yale, Hawes transferred to Georgia Tech for his fourth college season and had no difficulties adjusting to a higher level of competition. The fact that he’s valued by the NFL despite such a modest receiving profile speaks to how dominant his blocking tape is.

His hands are unreliable, as evidenced by his 12.3 percent career drop rate. He’s a mechanical route runner, and linebackers can keep pace with him at a light jog. He was only targeted 10 or more yards past the line of scrimmage once in 2024. But his impact in the run game was enough to earn him a Senior Bowl invite and will likely get him drafted on Day 3.

At 260-pounds, he has the ideal play strength and toughness to succeed as a blocking tight end in the NFL. Hawes’ technical consistency allows him to sustain blocks for extended intervals and win matchups against defenders that outweigh him. He engages with tight inside hands and chops his feet to overwhelm his opponent’s anchor.

While he isn’t a very dynamic route runner, Hawes has the functional athleticism to reach landmarks as a move blocker and connect to defenders in space.

When Hawes locks on to a linebacker or defensive back, his size advantage results in some dominant finishes. He buries stationary targets on pulls or slice blocks and frequently drives second-level targets to the sideline:

Hawes is an outstanding move blocker, but this skill set isn’t particularly rare. Many H-backs and flex tight ends are just as effective in this role since winning reps against sub-240-pound defenders is more dependent on effort than size.

What sets him apart from the majority of today’s tight ends is his proficiency as an inline blocker. Hawes has the mass to compete with edge rushers and defensive ends at the point of attack and can serve as a sixth offensive lineman in heavy personnel packages.

He can seal the front-side edge on stretch runs or generate a couple of yards of displacement on Duo. He understands the proper timing and angles to cleanly execute combo blocks. He can bulldoze a 5-technique on an angle block and clear out the C-gap entirely:

He doesn’t win every rep on the line of scrimmage, but he gets his share of highlight blocks and avoids decisive losses that result in negative plays.

Honorable Mention: CJ Dippre, Alabama

Texas Longhorns tight end Gunnar Helm (85) stiff arms Clemson Tigers linebacker Sammy Brown (47) during the second half of the CFP National playoff first round.
Texas Longhorns tight end Gunnar Helm (85) stiff arms Clemson Tigers linebacker Sammy Brown (47) during the second half of the CFP National playoff first round. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

MOST WELL-ROUNDED

Gunnar Helm, Texas Texas Longhorns logo

There isn’t one aspect of Gunnar Helm's game that’s the best in this class, but he’s above average to good in the majority of critical traits and skills for tight ends. At 6051/252, his size and frame are sufficient for a Y-TE.

Helm isn’t in Loveland’s tier as a separator, but he’s a smooth route runner who can consistently shake linebackers in man coverage. He’s fluid in and out of breaks and can manipulate defenders at the stem or top of the route to maximize separation:

He has reliable hands and has only dropped two passes in his college career. He’s usually open when he gets targeted, so his contested catch sample size is limited, but he’s flashed the ability to use his size at the catch point and play above the rim:

He isn’t dominant in the run game, but he’s a capable blocker with the flexibility to block in-line or on the move. He’s also an excellent pass protector:

He has an effective blend of power and elusiveness as a runner and ranks fourth among FBS tight ends with 376 yards after the catch this year:

Helm doesn’t have the highest upside in this tight end class, but he does so many things at a starting-caliber level that it’s hard to envision him not finding a role in the NFL.

Honorable Mention: Mason Taylor, LSU

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Tags: 2025 NFL Draft, Colston Loveland, Elijah Arroyo See More

James Foster

NFL Analyst

James Foster is an NFL writer who creates film-based analysis of NFL players and teams. He previously worked for A to Z Sports.

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