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With significant holes at receiver, running back, cornerback, and defensive tackle, plus uncertainty in the offensive line, linebacker, safety, and edge positions, selecting a tight end is a long shot for the Dallas Cowboys. The position would definitely be a luxury pick, with Jake Ferguson starting at least another season and two seasons left on second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker's rookie deal. After last year's draft, Dallas also paid Brevyn Spann-Ford the largest bonus for any undrafted free agent.
That doesn't mean it's impossible for them to take a tight end. Dallas needs weapons around Dak Prescott, and can only currently boast of CeeDee Lamb. Ferguson is the only starting-caliber tight end and will be a free agent after the 2025 season. Last year, he had a poor season with under 500 receiving yards and zero touchdowns. If the Cowboys plan on not bringing back Ferguson, they could look to one of these top five options as his replacement after the year.
Height: 6-foot-5, Weight: 247 RAS: 9.32
Terrence Ferguson is a receiving tight end who makes his living playing underneath, beating zone coverages. He isn't a vertical threat, creating separation down the field isn't his game, and he doesn't do well in contested catching situations.
His hands are excellent, and he will stretch to get the ball away from him, but he finds open holes before doing so. Ferguson is a go-to in clutch situations on third down or in the red zone. Over 70% of his receptions went for a first down or a touchdown. He has the size to be an inline guy but plays like a move tight end. He has too many poor effort blocks and chips that will need to improve at the NFL level. Ferguson is 6-foot-5 and 247 pounds with a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.32 out of 10. He should be able to block and make more plays as an athlete than he does currently, so he has an upside, but he can be a monster against zone defense immediately for whoever drafts him.
Height: 6-foot-5, Weight: 250, RAS: N/A
Elijah Arroyo was in a system that focused on the tight end being a blocker, and while he competes in that area, even with the extra 30 pounds he put on while in college, he was never very good at it.
He is more of a big slot receiver than a true inline tight end. He led the FBS in yards per catch at 9.1. Over 30% of his receptions went for 20 yards or more. Like Ferguson, Arroyo is good at finding room in zone coverages and making clutch receptions. He also had over 70% of his receptions go for a first down or a score. His best plays come from his ability to move with a scrambling quarterback on a broken play and find a throw for them to make. With only had a single drop in his entire college career, Arroyo should be a Day 2 prospect who is a big play machine that makes clutch receptions.
Height: 6-foot-5, Weight: 251, RAS: 8.88
Mason Taylor has a great NFL build, like his Hall of Fame father, defensive end Jason Taylor. At 6-foot-5 and 251 pounds, he ran a 4.68 in the 40-yard dash, a 7.06 three-cone, and bench-pressed 28 reps. The physical tools for the position are all there.
He isn't overly athletic and doesn't separate in man coverage, but can get up the seam well. He finds open spaces in zone coverage, and his length helps him make contested catches. He ended his college career with the most receptions and yards of any tight end in LSU history. He primarily played inline but needs to improve his power as a blocker. He certainly got an NFL head start from his dad passing down his great frame and some knowledge of the game. Some team will likely take a chance on him in the top 50 because of the tools he brings to the table.
Height: 6-foot-6, Weight: 248 RAS: N/A
If a team wants a match-up receiving weapon from their tight end position, Colston Loveland could be their pick early in the draft. He is a three-level receiving threat who can win underneath, find holes behind the linebackers, and get over the top vertically.
Loveland has a top-notch route tree that is a mismatch for linebackers and safeties but he also won 1-on-1 against corners. He is the best receiving prospect at the position, getting off the snap and into his route. Pro Football Focus had his receiving grade over 90. He was trustworthy for Michigan and only had a single penalty in the last two seasons combined. He isn't a perfect prospect, blocking to get in the way more than being impactful, and injuries and poor quarterback play hurt his final season. Loveland could have a rookie season like Sam LaPorta if he is drafted to a team that fits him well.
Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 256 RAS: N/A
Tyler Warren is the top prospect as the only dual-threat tight end within the group. He enters the league as a good run blocker. He was in the 51st percentile in positively graded run-blocking plays. He was a lead blocker for many runs. He moved all over the formation, Inline, in the slot, on the outside, and was even under center for short-yardage runs.
Warren even threw a 17-yard touchdown pass this past season. He holds the Penn State record for most receptions by any player, at any position both in a single game, 17, and over a season, 104. He is the fourth tight end ever to record at least 104 receptions. Warren was tough to tackle and is an elite pass catcher, dropping only three passes on 135 targets. He could end up as the next George Kittle.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or Bluesky @mike-crum-cdpiglet.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Best 5 tight end fits for the Dallas Cowboys
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That doesn't mean it's impossible for them to take a tight end. Dallas needs weapons around Dak Prescott, and can only currently boast of CeeDee Lamb. Ferguson is the only starting-caliber tight end and will be a free agent after the 2025 season. Last year, he had a poor season with under 500 receiving yards and zero touchdowns. If the Cowboys plan on not bringing back Ferguson, they could look to one of these top five options as his replacement after the year.
5. Terrence Ferguson, Oregon
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Height: 6-foot-5, Weight: 247 RAS: 9.32
Terrence Ferguson is a receiving tight end who makes his living playing underneath, beating zone coverages. He isn't a vertical threat, creating separation down the field isn't his game, and he doesn't do well in contested catching situations.
His hands are excellent, and he will stretch to get the ball away from him, but he finds open holes before doing so. Ferguson is a go-to in clutch situations on third down or in the red zone. Over 70% of his receptions went for a first down or a touchdown. He has the size to be an inline guy but plays like a move tight end. He has too many poor effort blocks and chips that will need to improve at the NFL level. Ferguson is 6-foot-5 and 247 pounds with a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.32 out of 10. He should be able to block and make more plays as an athlete than he does currently, so he has an upside, but he can be a monster against zone defense immediately for whoever drafts him.
4. Elijah Arroyo, Miami (FL)
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Height: 6-foot-5, Weight: 250, RAS: N/A
Elijah Arroyo was in a system that focused on the tight end being a blocker, and while he competes in that area, even with the extra 30 pounds he put on while in college, he was never very good at it.
He is more of a big slot receiver than a true inline tight end. He led the FBS in yards per catch at 9.1. Over 30% of his receptions went for 20 yards or more. Like Ferguson, Arroyo is good at finding room in zone coverages and making clutch receptions. He also had over 70% of his receptions go for a first down or a score. His best plays come from his ability to move with a scrambling quarterback on a broken play and find a throw for them to make. With only had a single drop in his entire college career, Arroyo should be a Day 2 prospect who is a big play machine that makes clutch receptions.
3. Mason Taylor, LSU
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Height: 6-foot-5, Weight: 251, RAS: 8.88
Mason Taylor has a great NFL build, like his Hall of Fame father, defensive end Jason Taylor. At 6-foot-5 and 251 pounds, he ran a 4.68 in the 40-yard dash, a 7.06 three-cone, and bench-pressed 28 reps. The physical tools for the position are all there.
He isn't overly athletic and doesn't separate in man coverage, but can get up the seam well. He finds open spaces in zone coverage, and his length helps him make contested catches. He ended his college career with the most receptions and yards of any tight end in LSU history. He primarily played inline but needs to improve his power as a blocker. He certainly got an NFL head start from his dad passing down his great frame and some knowledge of the game. Some team will likely take a chance on him in the top 50 because of the tools he brings to the table.
Colston Loveland, Michigan
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Height: 6-foot-6, Weight: 248 RAS: N/A
If a team wants a match-up receiving weapon from their tight end position, Colston Loveland could be their pick early in the draft. He is a three-level receiving threat who can win underneath, find holes behind the linebackers, and get over the top vertically.
Loveland has a top-notch route tree that is a mismatch for linebackers and safeties but he also won 1-on-1 against corners. He is the best receiving prospect at the position, getting off the snap and into his route. Pro Football Focus had his receiving grade over 90. He was trustworthy for Michigan and only had a single penalty in the last two seasons combined. He isn't a perfect prospect, blocking to get in the way more than being impactful, and injuries and poor quarterback play hurt his final season. Loveland could have a rookie season like Sam LaPorta if he is drafted to a team that fits him well.
1. TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
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Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 256 RAS: N/A
Tyler Warren is the top prospect as the only dual-threat tight end within the group. He enters the league as a good run blocker. He was in the 51st percentile in positively graded run-blocking plays. He was a lead blocker for many runs. He moved all over the formation, Inline, in the slot, on the outside, and was even under center for short-yardage runs.
Warren even threw a 17-yard touchdown pass this past season. He holds the Penn State record for most receptions by any player, at any position both in a single game, 17, and over a season, 104. He is the fourth tight end ever to record at least 104 receptions. Warren was tough to tackle and is an elite pass catcher, dropping only three passes on 135 targets. He could end up as the next George Kittle.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or Bluesky @mike-crum-cdpiglet.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Best 5 tight end fits for the Dallas Cowboys
Continue reading...
