Johnny Mundt brings a hard-hitting, finisher's mentality to the tight end room and can be a great addition to a team's 12 and 13 personnel packages. He understands and executes several blocks, lines up defenders on the move well, and stays engaged throughout the rep. He struggled with drops relative to his target volume last year, with a 25% drop rate, and was more of a release-valve option when targeted. Mundt will bring a needed blocking presence to the Eagles' tight end room that it hasn't had in a few seasons.

Having a tight end who can do a little bit of both as a "Y" tight end, block and catch the ball, is a good utility piece to have for an offense. While he struggles with one-on-one blocks in-line, Ben Sinnott is useful as an H-back and on double teams to the next level, where he can seal off linebackers and help create bigger gains for rushers. Using him on the move gives him better opportunities to create rushing lanes and find space in the flat as a receiver. Sinnott flashes route nuance and the ability to create space and is a physical run-after-the-catch player, but he's more useful as a blocker in Washington.

Suffering a season-ending injury, like an ACL tear, is never easy to come back from, but doing it at 35 years old with a ton more miles and injuries has to make it more difficult for Zach Ertz. He found a resurgence in 2024 with Jayden Daniels at quarterback, with his zone prowess on full display, and continued it for much of 2025 before his injury. That's where Ertz shines; when his football IQ takes over and he settles down in space, it's pitch and catch. His ability after the catch and against man continues to deteriorate, and he didn't add much as a blocker, but if he can find a way back this season, his brain will help out an offense somewhere.

The Cowboys' run game was a big part of their success last season, and they should have included Brevyn Spann-Ford in their plans more than they did. He's a physical run blocker who wants to punish defenders whenever he gets the chance. There are moments when he uproots players in line and delivers big hits, but he needs to work on his hand usage to stay engaged more often. Spann-Ford flashes in the passing game with big gains down the seam and using his big frame to make catches over the middle of the field, but he isn't a consistent presence. If Spann-Ford can earn more reps this season, he could take a step forward and help the Cowboys' offense even more.

Playing for the Jets offense brings about certain challenges already, but throwing in three different quarterbacks and the rookie curve, Mason Taylor had a lot to deal with in 2025. Missed assignments, timing mistakes, and drops littered on his tape didn't make for the cleanest year, and it ended prematurely with a neck injury. Taylor showed clean technique and ability as a blocker, but needs to continue to learn the proper angles to attack to stay on blocks. He's a smooth route-runner and moves well on the field, but drifts into coverage underneath and needs consistent concentration. The former second-rounder flashed his talents as a rookie; with a new challenge in the room, he's going to need to up his game in year two.

Mo Alie-Cox won't make the first pursuit defender miss after the catch, but he'll drag him a few yards in the process. He's a physical player with the ball in his hands who does most of his work for the Colts as the "Y" tight end. He spends ~70% of his snaps blocking and provides extra utility as a pass blocker. Alie-Cox will get outleveraged in the run game, but he creates lanes for the running backs by using angles and consistently turning his body. He'll continue to have a spot in the Colts' offense because of his willingness to do the dirty work.

Reliable, effective, and smart. These are the reasons Sean Peyton brought Adam Trautman with him from New Orleans to Denver. He's consistently making the right block at the right time and helping to create lanes for their backs to the second and sometimes third levels of the defense. His versatility between pass pro and run blocking helps keep him on the field for the Broncos' offense, too. Trautman brings a steady presence as an outlet receiver who reads the defense well and settles in soft spots. He's not an overwhelming receiving option, but he doesn't need to be to bring good value as a snap earner.

Despite the limited usage in the passing game, Payne Durham is a physical presence on the football field and has shown the ability to make contested catches. He's a physical blocker, which is where he does most of his work and executes several assignments well in the run and passing game. He does a great job working blocks, getting to the second level, and keeping his head on a swivel to find work. Durham will never be the focal point of a passing attack, but with more 12-personnel sets on the way for the Bucs, he'll have the chance to earn more targets with his ball skills and reliability.

The Falcons want to utilize more 12- and 13-personnel under Kevin Stefanski, and beginning with Austin Hooper is one way to streamline that process. He's a true "Y" tight end who can move around the blocking formation and give the run game what it needs. Hooper does a nice job timing to the second level, giving the effort and physicality needed in-line, and he will help open lanes for the running backs. He's a reliable receiver with good hands and adjusts to the football well, but his route tree is limited at this stage in his career. Hooper could see the field a lot for the Falcons' offense next season.

The inconsistencies with Evan Engram make him an unreliable tight end to count on at this stage in his career. Sean Peyton used Engram's yards-after-catch ability and gave him opportunities on screens and in space to make plays for the offense. His concentration drops have been an issue throughout his career; contact through the route throws him off, and he isn't impacting the game as a blocker, nor is he asked to. The former first-rounder is a big slot who locates space over the middle of the field and brings versatility after the catch. Engram is entering the final year of his deal with the Broncos, and they've added some competition to the room, so he'll have to earn it.

Oronde Gadsden was a great surprise for the Chargers last season and immediately became one of the best deep-threat tight ends in the NFL. His tracking and catch radius made him a player Justin Herbert could trust to haul in most targets thrown "off target" or into coverage. While he isn't a natural athlete in space, getting the ball to him in stride lets Gadsden locate space to exploit and accelerate. The former fifth-round pick was the best and healthiest option in the Chargers' tight end room last season, which sustained multiple injuries, even though he doesn't help the run game. With multiple new additions at tight end, Gadsden will have his work cut out for him battling for reps.

After a rejuvenation back in 2024, Jonnu Smith reunited with Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh and had a completely different season. His targets were cut in half, his yards per reception were the lowest of his career (5.8), and his yards after catch over expected, via NFLPro, were +1 yard, his lowest. The talent after the catch is still there, but the creativity to get Smith into space was drastically different in 2025. The alignment variety makes him fun to watch, but funneling screens to him on a bad offensive team isn't the best way to get the most out of his unique skill set.

One of the rare utility men in the NFL, Charlie Woerner brings a bevy of blocking experience, utility, and versatility to the tight end position. He's not going to light up the stat sheet, but he'll line up anywhere and bring his best with him. From motion blocks to in-line capability, Woerner does it all, and the intelligence to handle all of his duties and play on the fly is truly impressive. He won't be the strongest blocker or even the most disruptive, but the different ways he's utilized are special around the NFL.

The Cardinals like having tight ends who can serve as receivers and move all around the formation, and as a former college receiver, Elijah Higgins fits the bill. He's a smooth mover who can sink his hips to get in and out of his breaks well and find space. Higgins has sure hands and settles down in zone well, but he's still improving as a blocker and fits more as a tweener at this point in his career. He's a more capable receiver than an in-line blocker and helped the Cardinals exploit space underneath with sneaky yards after the catch.

Opportunity awaits Charlie Kolar in Los Angeles, as he's been stuck behind Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews as the blocking tight end for Baltimore. He's a physical and effective blocker with great timing on double teams and a strong understanding of his blocking assignments, which will work well for Mike McDaniel and John Harbaugh. But there's more under the surface for Kolar as a receiver that wasn't unearthed in Baltimore. He's a good and efficient mover for his size, and his impact as a blocker makes him an ideal target for "leak" and play-action concepts. He's going to pair well with David Njoku in 12 personnel sets, with room to grow in that offense.

Running the football in Carolina is a requirement of Dave Canales' offense, and they've paired a couple of tight ends together who help with that. Adding Mitchell Evans to Tommy Tremble united former Notre Dame alums and created a Bash Brothers scene for the Panthers. Evans has good hands and the ability to exploit and find space in the passing game well, but his value as a rookie was his blocking ability. He could hold his own against a number of defensive ends, helped cave in sides of the defense to create holes, and uses his hands well as a blocker. Evans has room to grow as a receiver, but his impact as a blocker will continue to be important for the Panthers going forward.

The entire offense for the Commanders was plagued by injuries and inconsistencies throughout 2025. While John Bates didn't have his most consistent performance, he's still one of the premier blockers at the position in the NFL. He brings power, maintains connectivity, and wants to finish plays to the ground whenever possible. Bates can open run lanes with force or with angles created through body positioning, and does a nice job of working double teams to the next level. He's also a sound pass protector when asked to do it. Bates isn't going to be out on the field to showcase his impact as a receiving option, but in David Blough's offense next season, we should expect better results in the run game.

From the minute he stepped on the field for the Miami Dolphins last season, Darren Waller was instant offense. You wouldn't know he was away from football for over a year, working his way back to the field in Week 4 of the 2025 season. He showed the ball skills and top-tier athleticism that made him one of the dominant forces at the position for a time during his career, and he put up six touchdowns in the process, the second-most of his career. However, the injuries were constant and prevented him from having any staying power; he only played 233 snaps last season. Waller isn't going to block for an offense, but if he's healthy, he's still a dangerous weapon to utilize.

Coming off a season where he was nicked up and played the fewest snaps of his career, Noah Fant hasn't lived up to expectations. The straight-line speed is still there, and he's a good natural receiver, but he drifts into coverage, and unless there's room for him to get up to speed, he doesn't provide much after the catch. He fumbled the ball three times last year, which is a bit of an anomaly, but generally doesn't put the football on the ground. While not a natural blocker, he gives good effort and extends, but needs to work on his hand placement. Fant isn't in the position to be an every-down starter, but can provide solid reps.