2025 NFL draft: Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland lead loaded tight end class

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Traditionally, tight end is a position that takes time for young players to get up to speed. Prolific college tight ends often need to develop as serviceable blockers in order to stick in the NFL. Many were essentially learning how best to be an extra lineman on Sundays after not worrying much about that in college.

That's not been the case in recent years. In 2023, a talented class saw multiple contributors taken early on. Dalton Kincaid was second on the Bills in receptions as a rookie. Sam LaPorta was a second-team All-Pro as a rookie after catching 10 touchdowns.

Last year, Brock Bowers broke a rookie record that'd stood for six decades by tallying 1,194 receiving yards, surpassing Mike Ditka's record set in 1961. His 112 receptions were a rookie record as well, regardless of position.

This year's tight end class has a some of the same qualities from the last two classes. Penn State's Tyler Warren and Michigan's Colston Loveland could be top receiving threats in their future offenses as rookies.

There's fantastic depth beyond the first round, too. LSU's Mason Taylor, son of Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor, will be one of multiple tight ends to hear his name called on Day 2. Miami's Elijah Arroyo is a fascinating Day 2 prospect, as is the versatile and prolific Harold Fannin Jr. of Bowling Green.

Fifteen tight ends should be drafted this year with contributors all the way through Day 3. Here's what to know about our top 10 prospects at the position:

2025 NFL draft: Top 10 TE prospects​

1. Tyler Warren, Penn State​

• Strengths: Ideal NFL size at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds. Huge catch radius with outstanding burst after the catch. Natural, reliable hands. Positional versatility as he was used in multiple spots, even quarterback, for the Penn State offense. Strength and commitment to block in the run game. Competitive attitude should endear him to the locker room.
• Weaknesses: Route running could use improvement to reach NFL level. Hand placement could be better in run blocking.
• Draftprojection: Round 1 (top 15).

2. Colston Loveland, Michigan​

• Strengths: Game translates better to the NFL level after playing in a run-heavy system in Michigan. Natural receiver who is a good route runner and ideal contested catch threat. Playmaker with the ball skills, body control and athleticism to be an attacking force in the passing game. Likely won't need much time to get up to speed in the NFL.
• Weaknesses: Leaner frame (6-6, 248 lbs.) caps his ceiling as an effective blocker. Footwork out of his breaks needs improvement.
• Draftprojection: Round 1.

3. Elijah Arroyo, Miami​

• Strengths: Vertical threat with size at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds. with an excellent wingspan. Savvy with how he manipulates defenders on his routes. Soft hands. Comfortable working over the middle. High-effort blocker who keeps his pads low into contact.
• Weaknesses: Multiple knee injuries in 2022 and 2023 may keep him off some teams' boards. Not built to get yards after contact due to high cut frame. Blocking technique needs improvement.
• Draftprojection: Round 2.

4. Mason Taylor, LSU​

• Strengths: Good size at 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds. with Hall of Fame bloodlines. Fluid athlete with very reliable hands that work instinctually to safely pluck the ball from harm's way. Physical at the catch point and great body control. Converted 68% of his catches for first downs in 2024.
• Weaknesses: Play strength is average and that, along with a high pad level, may cap his effectiveness as a run blocker. Not as athletic as other prospects in the class. Could improve breaks at the NFL level.
• Draftprojection: Round 2.

5. Gunnar Helm, Texas​

• Strengths: Fantastic ball skills with NFL-caliber size (6-foot-5, 241 pounds). Good athlete and solid route runner who sells fakes to defenders. Skilled at finding holes in zone in the short and intermediate areas. Committed, NFL-caliber run blocker who won't need much development to make it as a Y tight end in the league.
• Weaknesses: Lacks separation gear after the catch. Could improve strength at the point of attack when blocking. Struggles at time to play through contact in man coverage.
• Draftprojection: Round 3.

6. Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green​

• Strengths: Natural receiver who was used all over the formation at Bowling Green, including in the backfield and the slot. Proven ability to make contested catches in busy areas of the field. Led college football in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555) in 2024. Athleticism to be a run-after-catch threat.
• Weaknesses: Despite solid size (6-foot-3, 241 pounds), will need a lot of work as a blocker at the NFL level. Lacks the strength to hold up at the point of attack and technique needs improvement. Ran limited route tree at Bowling Green.
• Draftprojection: Round 3.

7. Terrance Ferguson, Oregon​

• Strengths: Great athlete with impressive burst off the line at 6-foot-5 and 247 pounds. Ideal wingspan and athleticism to be a threat down the seam. Fantastic ball tracking skills that combines well with his contested catch abilities and catch radius. Aggressive enough to break arm tackles after the catch.
• Weaknesses: Run blocking skills are average at best when anchor is set. Lacks the strength in his frame to move defenders off the line.
• Draftprojection: Round 4.

8. Thomas Fidone II, Nebraska​

• Strengths: Great linear speed at 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds with a high motor and explosion to high-point the ball over defenders. Committed blocker with good technique from his time at Nebraska. Fluid mover in his routes who has untapped potential as a receiving threat in an offense.
• Weaknesses: Will likely need to add mass to last in the NFL. Can be knocked off his route by physical defenders. Injuries impacted two years of his college career.
• Draftprojection: Late Round 4/early Round 5.

9. Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech​

• Strengths: Good size (6-foot-5, 253 pounds) with lots of strength. Best blocking tight end in the class and ready for that role in NFL. Ideal technique with a track record of handling increase in competition from his move to the ACC with Georgia Tech. Impressive hand usage for a college tight end. Experienced being used in motion pre-snap to find advantages in run schemes.
• Weaknesses: Not a proven receiver with just 16 receptions in 2024. Limited athleticism in the open field caps his abilities as a route-runner. Footwork coming back to the ball needs improvement.
• Draftprojection: Round 5.

10. Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame​

• Strengths: Sturdy frame at 6-foot-5 and 258 pounds which should translate as a blocker in the NFL. Powerful punch and strong hands will be an asset in that area. Took on myriad blocking assignments at Notre Dame. Great catch radius and physicality to win contested catches. Good acceleration.
• Weaknesses: Limited by injuries prior to 2024 (broken foot in 2022, torn ACL in 2023). Not a threat after the catch despite physical presence. Not a threat beyond the intermediate area.
• Draftprojection: Round 5.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NFL draft: Tyler Warren leads top 10 tight ends in deep class

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