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2025 NFL Draft Preview: Tyler Warren and the Value of a Great Tight End

Photo of Scott Kacsmar Scott Kacsmar04/04/2025 - 01:02 pm
Tyler Warren of Penn State
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

The 2025 NFL season will see the first $40M wideout (Ja’Marr Chase) and the first $20M running back (Saquon Barkley). But the Arizona Cardinals also reset the value of the tight end market this week after extending Trey McBride to a 4-year extension worth $76M ($19M per season).

That is relatively cheap if you’re talking about a player who can be your leading receiver and a blocker, which McBride can be. But not every tight end can do those things, and that’s why it is so valuable to find a great one.

They rarely come around, but the NFL has been blessed in the last 15 years with some of the greatest tight ends ever such as Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce, and George Kittle. You can see McBride step up his game in Arizona, and last year’s draft was heavily focused on what Brock Bowers can do for an NFL team after he helped Georgia to back-to-back championships.

Sure enough, Bowers was an instant stud and first-team All-Pro as a rookie for the Raiders. He caught 112 balls for 1,194 yards and passed the eye test. Find him a legitimate quarterback and the Raiders could be in business.

It’s one thing that the last two NFL dynasties (Patriots and Chiefs) both used a tight end as their primary receiver. It’s a schematic advantage when you can line these guys up on linebackers, safeties, and lesser corners. It’s also a financial advantage when you can pay a great tight end less money than a very good No. 2 wide receiver based on current NFL economics.

But it is not easy to find these players in the draft. We covered last year how Bowers could be an outlier in being so great as a high first-round pick. Gronk and McBride were second-round picks, Kelce and Jason Witten were third-round picks, Kittle went in the fifth round, Shannon Sharpe was a seventh-round pick in 1990, and the great Antonio Gates was undrafted.

Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but maybe teams are going to get better at identifying what makes a great tight end. Either way, the 2025 NFL draft expects to have at least one highly-drafted tight end in Penn State’s Tyler Warren. Just don’t expect him to live up to the Bowers standard.

Using the prospect rankings from NFL Mock Draft Database, we are going to look at the top five tight ends this year who should go in the first two nights, how their skills might translate to the NFL, and which team would be the best landing spot for them.

1. Tyler Warren (Penn State) – No. 9 Overall Prospect

The experts and sportsbooks agree that Tyler Warren is the top tight end prize in the 2025 NFL draft. Warren, a fifth-year senior from Penn State, is -700 at bet365 to be the first tight end drafted this year.

The Nittany Lions weren’t big on throwing the ball in Warren’s career, but he really exploded in 2024 on his way to winning the John Mackey Award, which is given to college football’s best tight end. Winning that award doesn’t guarantee NFL success as past winners include Harrison Bryant (2019), Jake Butt (2016), and Nick O’Leary (2014).

But it’s also been won by Dallas Clark (2002), Heath Miller (2004), Mark Andrews (2017), Kyle Pitts (2020), Trey McBride (2021), and Brock Bowers in back-to-back years (2022-23). So, it’s still a good thing for the resume.

Warren finished 2024 with more catches (104) than he had in his previous four seasons combined (49). He tied a college football record for tight ends with 17 catches against USC. He finished with 1,233 yards and 8 touchdowns, and it’s not like he had a stud quarterback like some of these prospects.

Warren has the kind of size the NFL loves for tight ends as he stands at nearly 6’6” and over 250 pounds while still being as athletic, tough, and competitive as any tight end in his class. He’s also versatile as Penn State lined him up everywhere, including in the slot and he had 30 snaps at quarterback/wildcat as he’s not afraid to run the ball, making him a Tush Push candidate as long as that play is still allowed.

Maybe it’s seeing him wear that No. 44 on the field, but watching Warren reminds me a bit of watching Dallas Clark from the 2000s Colts. A great receiving tight end who may not be your ideal blocker, but he can make contested catches and will do whatever it takes to win.

If Warren gets in an offense with a good quarterback, watch out. He should be able to have some instant impact as we’ve seen in recent years with Sam LaPorta (Lions), Dalton Kincaid (Bills), and Brock Bowers (Raiders).

Scrolling Through the Options for Tyler Warren

Currently, the betting favorites to land Warren are the Jets (+200 at bet365) and Colts (+300), two teams we certainly discussed last year that could have used Bowers in that draft. Warren’s draft position is over/under 10.5 and the under is currently favored at bet365 (-160 odds).

He could easily be a top 10 pick, which would be higher than where Bowers (No. 13) went last season, though that doesn’t necessarily make him a better prospect. There just aren’t going to be six quarterbacks in the top 12 picks this year like last year.

But every NFL team would love a potentially elite tight end, assuming they aren’t one of the lucky few to already have one. Warren would be a great pick for some teams and a luxury for others. Let’s go through the options.

It’s probably safe to say the top four teams are unlikely to take Warren as the Titans need a quarterback (Cam Ward), the Browns could go quarterback or edge rusher (Abdul Carter), and the Giants and Patriots would likely be better suited for Travis Hunter, a dual-threat weapon.

The Jaguars (No. 5) lost Evan Engram, so it’s possible that’s where the Warren watch truly begins, because we know Trevor Lawrence was fond of throwing to his security blanket.

The Raiders (No. 6) aren’t going to double up with Bowers and Warren, obviously. Unless minority owner Tom Brady wants to recreate his New England 2-TE offense, hoping that Warren doesn’t turn into a serial ki—Moving on.

The Jets at No. 7 are certainly an option now that Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are out of the building. Rodgers was always too WR-centric of a passer, which is why I never bought into Bowers going there last season. The Jets have a new coach and a new quarterback in Justin Fields, so this is a real possibility.

You also could see him go to the Panthers at No. 8 to help Bryce Young, who was possibly turning things around late last year. But coach Dave Canales is more of a WR offensive guy than a tight end, and they’ve built up the backfield in Carolina too.

The Saints (No. 9) are likely out as they have more pressing needs and have already re-signed Juwan Johnson to a 3-year deal worth just over $30M.

The Bears (No. 10) could be a fun pick in that Ben Johnson offense, but they should have learned last year that flashy skill guys aren’t the way forward if you don’t have a good offensive line. They also have Cole Kmet, who Johnson can easily help turn into his Sam LaPorta.

The 49ers (No. 11) could acknowledge that George Kittle is about to turn 32, but I think he still has some good years left, so this would be overkill for a team with some legitimately more pressing needs.

The Cowboys (No. 12) have a viable option in Jake Ferguson as do the Dolphins (No. 13) in Jonnu Smith, who Tua Tagovailoa fell in love with last season.

The Colts (No. 14) really have been snakebitten at this position for years with injuries, and Warren could easily become their best tight end since the aforementioned Dallas Clark. I think this would be a nice pick, but I also have my doubts in Anthony Richardson (or Daniel Jones) making the most of it.

The Falcons (No. 15) have Kyle Pitts and the Cardinals (No. 16) just locked up Trey McBride. The Bengals (No. 17) could be a lot of fun, but really, how much help does Joe Burrow need in terms of receiving talent? Get a defender or offensive lineman.

The latest pick I’ll entertain for Warren still being on the board is Seattle at No. 18. They just lost DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. While they added Cooper Kupp for Sam Darnold, it’s not the same receiving corps and certainly a downgrade from what Darnold had in Minnesota. Warren could be the kind of hard-nosed player that excites Mike Macdonald, who was in Baltimore where the team had a couple of good players at that position. It’s a fit.

But what’s the best fit?

Best Fit – Indianapolis Colts (No. 14 Pick)

I came really close to just sending Warren to the Jaguars, but I’m going to count on teams like Jacksonville, Jets, Panthers, and the Bears to view tight end as too much of a luxury while there are players in the trenches to select in the top 10.

So, I think going to the Colts and giving those quarterbacks another tall target to go along with Michael Pittman Jr. makes the most sense. Bring back the Dallas Clark tradition in Indy, No. 44.

But it’d be hard to disagree with the Jags, Jets, or Panthers taking Warren in the top eight picks. Chicago, I just think you have to give Cole Kmet a year with Johnson’s offense to show he can be a star.

Send Warren to a team that’s been missing out on the luxury of a great receiving tight end.

2. Colston Loveland (Michigan) – No. 20 Overall Prospect

There is absolutely another tight end with first-round potential this year in Colston Loveland, a unique name to say the least, from Michigan. His numbers are nowhere near as good as Warren, but Loveland had 582 yards and 5 touchdowns last season in just 10 games for a Michigan offense that really wasn’t built for passing after losing J.J. McCarthy and some key players to the NFL.

In fact, Loveland was asked to carry the passing game in 2024. He had 56 catches when no other Wolverine had more than 27. His 582 yards were more than the next three players combined on the team. Loveland also caught 5 of the team’s 12 touchdown passes, and he did all of this despite missing three games. That shoulder injury may also explain a dip in blocking.

Loveland was also the team’s leading receiver in the 2023 national championship game victory when he had 3 catches for 64 yards. He’s not built for that Gronk/Kelce domination of the ball, but he can be a productive player that helps a competent team win.

Warren is the better talent, but Loveland has the skills to be an adequate receiving tight end in the NFL. He could even end up going to a playoff team from last year that is already set at quarterback and has some other decent receivers to draw attention.

Best Fit – Los Angeles Chargers (No. 22 Pick)

May be a bit on the nose, but it would make plenty of sense for Jim Harbaugh to draft another Michigan player to help Justin Herbert. The Chargers have signed Tyler Conklin (Jets) in free agency, but I don’t see that as the long-term answer for a TE1 for the franchise known for Kellen Winslow and Antonio Gates.

Herbert lacked reliable targets outside of Ladd McConkey last season. While Herbert struggled in the playoff game in Houston with interceptions, one of those was a flat drop by Will Dissly. The Chargers could use an upgrade at this position, so if Loveland is there at No. 22, that Harbaugh connection from the 2023 championship team seems like a good callback.

If Loveland drops further in the first round, then the Commanders (No. 29) should certainly take a look as Zach Ertz is one of the oldest tight ends in the league.

3. Mason Taylor (LSU) – No. 53 Overall Prospect

Moving firmly into Day 2 prospects, LSU’s Mason Taylor has football in his blood. His father is Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, and even his uncle is Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas. That one confused me too at first, but apparently, it’s because Taylor was married to Thomas’s sister, so Mason grew up with a couple of Hall of Famers in his immediate family.

Like Warren and Loveland, Taylor is a receiving tight end first and a blocker second. But he has enough speed to run a varied route tree and could be a threat in the right system with the right quarterback.

In fact, Taylor was part of that 2023 LSU juggernaut offense with Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas Jr. – three studs from the 2024 NFL draft. If Daniels was a fan, maybe that could influence Washington’s pick in the second or third round.

Best Fit – Carolina Panthers (No. 57 Pick)

Once you get past the top 50 picks and into Taylor’s range, there are several intriguing landing spots for him:

  • The Seahawks could take him with the No. 52 pick they got from Pittsburgh for the DK Metcalf trade.
  • The Chargers hold the No. 55 pick, so if they don’t go for a first-round tight end, here’s a backup plan.
  • The Commanders could reunite Taylor with Daniels at No. 61.
  • If the Chiefs want a Travis Kelce replacement, they could look into building up Taylor at No. 63, though they may want to give Noah Gray a shot at filling those shoes first as someone who knows the offense so well.
  • Taylor’s been compared to Dallas Goedert, and the Eagles happen to hold the No. 64 pick.

But I’ll go with the Panthers getting more of a receiving tight end for their offense at No. 57. Give Bryce Young a big target as he’s still leaning heavily on Xavier Legette to get much better, an older Adam Thielen, and not a whole lot at tight end.

4. Elijah Arroyo (Miami) – No. 67 Overall Prospect

Elijah Arroyo was a 4-year player at Miami, but he only shined in 2024 when Cam Ward, the assumed No. 1 pick, came to lift the offense to the highest-scoring team in the nation. Arroyo finished 2024 with 35 catches for 590 yards and 7 touchdowns. He missed 11 games in 2022-23 with knee injuries.

He averaged 16.4 yards per catch at Miami, which is a big number for a tight end. He’s smaller than the first three tight ends in this class at 6’4” and 235 pounds. Does that make him faster and more of a deep threat? Not necessarily, but his athleticism is very obvious on tape.

A team looking for a quality backup tight end to scheme up some big plays for should be interested in Arroyo in the late second or early third round.

Best Fit – New York Jets (No. 73 Pick)

If the Bears don’t snatch him first at No. 72, then the Jets should be very interested in Arroyo at No. 73. He could be an improvement over Ty Conklin and give Justin Fields someone to look for on broken plays, or to target him over the middle as a security blanket.

5. Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green) – No. 77 Overall Prospect

The experts seem more split on Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. While he didn’t dominate the toughest competition in the MAC, he had ridiculous production in his 2024 senior season with 117 catches for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games.

Are you kidding me? He became the first tight end in FBS history to lead in yards and catches in the same season, and yes, those numbers are both single-season NCAA records for the tight end position.

Fannin Jr. is also only going to turn 21 years old in July, so he’s younger than most prospects. He was on the way up in 2023 when he had 44 catches for 623 yards, but he took things to historic levels last year.

But despite his production last year, scouts are worried his route tree is limited, and he’s smaller (6’3”, 241 pounds) and slower than his peers in this draft class.

Conversely, if they can’t stop you from producing on the same routes, that’s on the defense and a credit to Fannin for being so productive anyway. The MAC competition might be a legit beef, but in back-to-back weeks last season, Fannin Jr. had 11/137/1 against Penn State and 8/145/1 against Texas A&M. Both games were on the road too.

Best Fit – Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 70 Pick)

If you’re the Jaguars, you owe it to Trevor Lawrence to get him a productive tight end who can replace Evan Engram, who caught a lot of short passes in that offense the last few years. Fannin Jr. can be that guy for the Jaguars, who have a pick high in the third round and another at No. 88.

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Photo of Scott Kacsmar Scott Kacsmar04/04/2025 - 01:02 pm