Lance's 2025 Rookie TE Dynasty Outlook
They'll start, but...
Colston Loveland (Chicago): Top ten pick spent on him, so Cole Kmet or not, it's Loveland's job to lose. "but..." I have my doubts about how good he can actually be. He'll also have to fight for third rung on the targets list behind D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze.
Tyler Warren (Indianapolis): There's no actual threat to beat him out for the starting job in Indy. This is the Tight End they wanted in Brock Bowers last season. "but..." look at who is throwing him the ball this season. Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson, either way it's lackluster and it's going to hurt his value. However, if you're looking at the future, the Colts should be in prime position for a high end QB in next year's class. If you're trying to decide between Warren and Loveland, take Warren.
I like the landing spots a bit more than the guys above
Mason Taylor (NY Jets): He is the expected starter for the Jets after they selected him in the second round. His competition is Jeremy Ruckert and Stone Smartt. If he takes the starting role like he's supposed to, his competition for targets behind Garrett Wilson is Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard. Taylor has a legitimate chance to have the best rookie Tight End season this year. Don't expect Brock Bowers or Sam LaPorta numbers though.
Terrance Ferguson (LA Rams): The Rams just selected him in the second round. The two Tight Ends ahead of him on the depth chart are Tyler Higbee (a 32 year old that suffered a torn ACL and MCL two seasons ago, and only made it back for the final 3 weeks of the regular season last year), and Colby Parkinson who had the opportunity to show he could be the TE1 while Higbee was out last year but failed in doing so. Ferguson is pretty athletic, he had a solid career at Oregon, and again the Rams just took him in the second round. Not to mention, the targets are there for whoever wins the starting job.
The draft capital is there, but they might have to wait
Elijah Arroyo (Seattle): I had an undrafted grade on Arroyo. The only reason he's here and not at the bottom is because the Seahawks took him in the second round. Noah Fant seems more likely to be traded than to be the starter in Seattle for this season, so perhaps Arroyo won't have to wait too long to get his chance to start. He'd still have to worry about A.J. Barner though, another player I had an undrafted grade on.
Harold Fannin Jr. (Cleveland): Uber-productive in college. The athleticism wasn't as good in the testing as some had hoped, but it was solid enough. The Browns snagged him in the third round to be what I would assume is the heir apparent to David Njoku. Given the state of Njoku's contract (dead money after the 2025 season), I would be surprised if they didn't at least try to work out an extension heading into next season, but as of right now he's no longer under contract after this season ends.
Bench stash if you’re into that sort of thing with Tight Ends
Oronde Gadsden II (LA Chargers): Gadsden is a matchup nightmare, slot type. Big guy, solid athleticism, good hands. He's better suited for standing up than the traditional hand in the dirt role, and I think Harbaugh could have some fun finding ways to use him. He is behind Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin though, so nothing more than a bench stash right now.
Mitchell Evans (Carolina): Ja'Tavion Sanders was just getting into a groove last year when he suffered that neck injury. He should be locked in as the TE1 again this season. Tommy Tremble has had four seasons already to prove himself, if he hasn't to this point, than I doubt he will this year. Which is why, if Sanders were to suffer another injury, I would value Evans higher than Tremble.
Watchlist them
Thomas Fidone II (NY Giants): I had a day 2 grade on him, and I heard some sleeper buzz around his name leading up to the draft. The Giants have a young Tight End (Theo Johnson) that they really like, and that they spent much higher draft capital on last season. That's why Fidone is just a watchlist player. But should something happen to Johnson you'll want to watch Fidone even more.
Gunnar Helm (Tennessee): The athleticism was shockingly bad, not bad enough to earn an undrafted grade from me, but it wasn't pretty. I feel like Okonkwo is safe as the TE1 for the Titans, and Josh Whyle is safe as the TE2, but the Titans selected Helm in the 4th, so maybe they see something and have a plan for him in the future.
Gavin Bartholomew (Minnesota): An intriguing 6th round selection by the Vikings. Hockenson is locked in as the TE1. There's an injury history there though, and should something happen to him the Vikings like to utilize Josh Oliver along with one or two other guys. The Vikings let most of their Tight End room leave this offseason, making Bartholomew the current projected TE3. All of that to explain why he's watchlist, and not the tier below.
The remaining drafted players that I don't see having a particularly bright future
Luke Lachey (Houston), Moliki Matavao (New Orleans), and Jackson Hawes (Buffalo):
I had undrafted grades on all three, and Lachey and Matavao were taken in the 7th round to boot. Hawes should have a long career, but the reason he'll stick around and why he was drafted in the 5th round, is because of his blocking prowess, not what he offers in the pass game, so he can be avoided for fantasy purposes.
