With some prime time rivalry games on the college football slate for the holiday weekend, players will have their focus on improving their teams’ chances of playing in a significant bowl game—or the College Football Playoff. But they’re also building their resumés for next year’s NFL draft.
We’ve already looked at the quarterbacks, receivers, running backs, interior offensive linemen, and offensive tackles who rank near the top of their positions for the 2025 draft. Now, let’s turn our attention to the tight ends to finish the offense.
Over the past few years, tight ends have become an increasingly vital part of offensive game plans across the NFL. Players are big—many played basketball in high school and some in college—but they’re also athletic enough to make an impact as receivers. This year’s crop has good size and versatility to help teams at the next level soon.
Colston Loveland
Michigan 6–5, 245 56 catches, 582 yards, 5 touchdownsLoveland was a primary piece in the passing game for Michigan’s national championship team in 2023, recording 45 catches for 649 yards. This year, after so many members of that team moved on to the NFL, he’s been the only reliable weapon for Michigan’s ever-changing quarterback situation and has still been productive. He’s your prototype reliable NFL tight end.
Tyler Warren
Penn State 6–6, 257 Receiving: 75 catches, 910 yards, 5 touchdowns Rushing: 18 carries, 157 yards, 4 touchdownsWarren is a big, physical tight end who has emerged as a primary target for the Nittany Lions during his senior season. He has more than doubled his previous career bests in receptions and yards this season. What makes him additionally intriguing for NFL teams is how Penn State has used him out of the backfield; that versatility will help his stock tremendously.
Mason Taylor
LSU 6–5, 255 52 catches, 518 yards, 2 touchdownsTaylor has the size NFL teams will want in a tight end. He’s caught at least 36 passes in each of his three seasons in Baton Rouge, so there’s also been consistency in his game. LSU has always spread the ball around so the individual numbers might not be as high as others’, but the skill is there to be an impact player at the next level.
Oscar Delp
Georgia 6–5, 245 14 catches, 192 yards, 3 touchdowns
Delp doesn’t have a long resume (43 career receptions in three seasons at Georgia) but he was behind Brock Bowers on the depth chart in 2022 and 2023. His production hasn’t been big this year, but he’ll be one of the guys who grabs attention at the combine and gets drafted higher than his stats would indicate he should because of his athletic ability.
Terrance Ferguson
Oregon 6–5, 255 31 catches, 442 yards, 1 touchdownFerguson has recorded at least 31 receptions in three straight seasons for the Ducks and is averaging a career-best 14.3 yards per reception as a senior. He is an athletic player with the size NFL teams covet at the position.
Joe Royer
Cincinnati 6–5, 255 43 receptions, 490 yards, 3 touchdownsRoyer spent three years buried on the depth chart at Ohio State before moving downstate to Cincinnati, where he’s been a solid, productive tight end for the Bearcats. Guys who start at big-time programs then produce after leaving for a more advantageous situation get plenty of attention with scouts.
Gunnar Helm
Texas 6–5, 250 42 catches, 544 yards, 5 touchdownsHelm is another guy who has a fairly limited resumé; he had 19 catches before this senior season. But he’s averaged 13.7 and 13.0 yards per reception over his last two seasons and has been a solid red-zone target for a very good Texas team.
Bryson Nesbit
North Carolina 6–5, 235 24 catches, 264 yards, 3 touchdownsNesbit has been used out of the backfield a fair amount and might be viewed as an H-back in the draft. But he has 107 receptions and 13 touchdowns for his career and was over 500 receiving yards during his sophomore and junior seasons.
