The Triple Take crew of Dale Lolley, Matt Williamson and Mike Prisuta take a look at the top prospects in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, which will be held in April. Today, they delve into the tight end position.
The opinions expressed here are their own and not those of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dale's Take
The tight end class in the 2025 NFL Draft looks like a good one. And that makes sense as more offensive coordinators at the NFL and collegiate levels see tight ends as the matchup issue that they can be.
Last year, we saw Brock Bowers reset the record books for the position as a rookie, catching 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. And given the Raiders' success in utilizing Bowers as a rookie chess piece, expect other teams to try to accomplish that same thing with both Tyler Warren of Penn State and Coleston Loveland of Michigan, two tight ends expected to be first-round selections in this year's draft.
But the draft is deep with talented players beyond those two, giving tight end-needy teams further options in later rounds.
Dale's Rankings
1.Tyler Warren, Penn State, 6-5 ½, 256 lbs. - Big and athletic, Warren caught 104 passes for over 1,200 yards in Penn State's offense last season. He also lined up as a Wildcat quarterback, ran the ball and did everything you might expect a former high school quarterback to do. He was the straw that stirred the drink. He's also a capable blocker.
2. Colston Loveland, Michigan, 6-5 ¾, 248 lbs. - Loveland had a better season in 2023 during Michigan's national championship run, but that was largely due to Michigan's issues at quarterback in 2024. He's a talented player and good all-around tight end who has been on the NFL radar since his freshman season. He is extremely athletic as a pass catcher and should continue to develop as a blocker as his frame fills out.
3. Mason Taylor, LSU, 6-5 ⅛, 251 lbs. - The son of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end and Pittsburgh native Jason Taylor, Mason Taylor is a plus athlete at the position who understands how to get open and uses his big frame to shield off defenders. He'll need to continue to grow as a blocker, but will give a team a valuable receiving chip until that happens.
4. Elijah Arroyo, Miami (Fla.), 6-5 ⅛, 250 lbs. - Arroyo had two seasons cut short by injury in college, but took off in 2024 with Cam Ward at QB. With 33-inch arms, he plays bigger than he is and is a seam stretcher. He averaged nearly 17 yards per catch with seven TDs in 2024 and followed that up with a solid performance at the Senior Bowl practices. Medical checks will be big for Arroyo.
5. Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame, 6-5 ⅜, 258 lbs. - Evans has prototypical size and is a solid blocker who offers good ability in the passing game for teams looking for a combination tight end. Evans might not ever be a star at the position, but he could be a long-time starter in a league starved for tight ends who can block – he's a plus blocker in the run game – and also catch the ball effectively.
Sleeper - Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech, 6-4 ½, 253 lbs. - A nasty blocker, Hawes transferred from Yale to Georgia Tech and did miss a beat showing he could compete at a higher level. Hawes wasn't used much as a pass catcher at Georgia Tech, bringing in 16 passes for 195 yards, but he's capable there. Tight ends with his brand of nasty in the run game tend to hang around a long time in the NFL.
Matt's Take
It is pretty widely known that the running back and defensive line classes this year are extremely strong and headline the 2025 NFL Draft. But the tight end position isn't far behind. This is a very strong group that should feature two first-round picks and very good depth throughout all seven rounds.
In a draft class that isn't particularly rich with first-round quarterbacks and offensive tackles, it will be very interesting to see when the first tight end comes off the board. Penn State's Tyler Warren and Michigan's Colston Loveland could both hear their names called in the top 20 picks. And it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see as many as 20 tight ends drafted overall.
Lastly, if you look at the teams that have advanced the farthest in the playoffs the past few years, you also see a direct correlation to the best tight ends in the league. Kansas City epitomizes this with Travis Kelce, but top tight ends George Kittle, Mark Andrews, Sam LaPorta, and Dallas Goedert have certainly also helped their respective teams win a lot of playoff games of late.
Matt's Rankings*1. Tyler Warren, Penn State, 6-5 1/2, 256 lbs. -* Warren is a weapon and Penn State treated him as such, getting the ball into his hands in any way possible. A high school quarterback with a very high football IQ, Warren is consistently a friendly target to his quarterback and provides a lot after the catch. Warren is highly competitive, difficult to get on the ground and demonstrates very light and nimble feet for a big man.
2. Colston Loveland, Michigan, 6-5 3/4, 248 lbs. - Loveland is much more receiver than blocker. But he is a mismatch in the passing game. After helping Michigan win the National Championship in 2023, Loveland's final season was injury-marred and not as productive. He still led the Wolverines in receiving in nine of his 10 games in 2024, nonetheless. Loveland is an excellent mover than can align anywhere within the formation and attack all levels of the field.
3. Mason Taylor, LSU, 6-5 1/8, 251 lbs. - The great Jason Taylor's son, Mason is a natural. He is a very effortless and balanced athlete that does everything well on the football field. Taylor isn't a devastating blocker, but usually gets the job done in the run game. But as a receiver, Taylor really shines with crisp yet fluid routes and a great ability to pluck the football away from his big frame.
4. Elijah Arroyo, Miami, 6-5 1/8, 250 lbs. - Arroyo is an athlete that can really run and stretch the seam. He accelerates quickly and can run past linebackers. But Arroyo isn't just a straight-line athlete. He gets in and out of his breaks very well and with crispness. Arroyo isn't much of a blocker and will need to improve his overall physicality, but he should also be an instant headache for NFL defensive coordinators.
5. Terrence Ferguson, Oregon, 6-5 3/8, 247 lbs. - Ferguson really stood out at the Combine, but his blocking skills are a little underwhelming. Still, there is a lot to work with here as a potential every down player at the next level. Ferguson finished his college career as the Ducks all-time leader in receptions (134) and touchdown receptions (16) by a tight end. He has good ball skills and body control but hasn't been used deep downfield all that much.
Sleeper: Luke Lachey, Iowa, 6-5 3/4, 251 lbs. - An Iowa tight end? That speaks for itself! Lachey is the son of great NFL offensive tackle Jim Lachey and while Luke might not be quite the blocker that his father was, Lachey is one of the best blockers in this entire class - and he loves it. Lachey has great size and tested very well in Indianapolis but did not run the 40-yard dash. He isn't a dynamic receiving threat, but Iowa's run-first offense didn't help Lachey's stat line and he does consistently show soft hands combined with a great catching radius. Lachey is a two-time captain at Iowa and will be another year removed from a serious 2023 season ending leg injury that might have hampered him last season.
Mike's Take
When the New England Patriots reeled off a run of four Super Bowl appearances and three Super Bowl victories in a span of five seasons from 2014-18, they did so thanks in large part to the blocking, pass-catching and earth-shattering spikes of tight end Rob Gronkowski.
"Gronk" also won a championship with his old QB, fellow ex-Patriot Tom Brady, in 2020 in Tampa.
And when the Kansas City Chiefs made it to five Super Bowls in six seasons, including the last three in succession, and wound up on the right side of the confetti three times from 2019 through last season, tight end Travis Kelce was often the player quarterback Patrick Mahomes looked to when a play had to be made.
Anyone else sensing a trend?
A great tight end can be worth his weight in Lombardi trophies.
It remains to be seen if the next Gronkowski or Kelce is available for selection in the upcoming NFL Draft.
But if he's out there somewhere, you can't draft that guy too high.
Mike's Rankings
1. Tyler Warren, Penn State (6-51/2, 256 lbs.) - The John Mackey Award winner in 2024 can beat you in whatever capacity is required. Warren caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns and carried 26 times for 218 yards and four scores last season. He even threw six passes and completed three for 35 yards and a touchdown. Warren's "Wildcat QB" versatility is the icing on the cake. NFL comparisons that have been thrown around include Brock Bowers and Tyler Eifert.
2. Mason Taylor, LSU (6-5 1/8, 251 lbs.) - Bloodlines help separate Taylor, who is the son of Hall-of-Famer Jason Taylor and a nephew of Hall-of-Famer Zach Thomas. When it comes to performance and approach, Mason Taylor gets it. "Everything he does he just does in a professional manner," NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah assessed. Added Jason Taylor regarding his son: "He's not about all the nonsense, he's just about ball." Mason Taylor's performance at the Senior Bowl justified the great expectations.
3. Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green (6-31/8, 238 lbs.) - Fannin set FBS single-season records for receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555) by a tight end in 2024, along with 10 receiving touchdowns, on the way to earning First-Team AP All-America honors. And it wasn't all dominance against Old Dominion. Fannin's monster campaign included 11 catches, 137 receiving yards and a touchdown against Penn State and similar productivity (8-145-1) against Texas A&M.
2. Colston Loveland, Michigan, 6-5 3/4, 248 lbs. - Loveland was Michigan's second-leading receiver in 2023 (with 649 yards, behind Roman Wilson's 789) and No. 1 among Wolverines in 2024 with 56 catches, 582 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions. He's reliable in clutch situations and physical after the catch. And he plays with a swagger that borders on arrogance.
5. Elijah Arroyo, Miami (6-41/2, 251 lbs.) - NFL comparisons have been made to Detroit's Sam LaPorta. Arroyo can stretch the field, he embraces blocking responsibilities and he was one of the standout performers during Senior Bowl Week. He's a player on the rise after accounting for seven of his eight career touchdown receptions in 2024.
Sleeper: Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech (6-41/8, 252) - Hawes' career statistics (51-566-6) pale in comparison to what more prolific pass-catching prospects amass in a single season. But former Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy considered Hawes the best of the bunch in Mobile, Ala. this year when it comes to in-line blocking. Hawes spent his first three collegiate seasons at Yale and showed he's passing-game capable if need be at the Senior Bowl.
