Ideal Landing Spots in 2025 Free Agency: Tight End

Aside from the recently released Evan Engram, there isn’t another tight end guaranteed to hit 2025 free agency that finished inside last season’s top-18 on a fantasy points per game basis at the position. Similar to (though not as potent as) the running backs, the incoming rookie tight end class is much more appealing than the list of free agents.

Tight end production is tougher to project than running backs or wide receivers. Players like Kyle Pitts and Michael Mayer, who were productive and efficient in college, have had trouble consistently standing out in the NFL despite their respective high draft positions.

Landing spot matters in many situations. That’s especially true with the 2025 free agency tight end group. Before a new class of rookies with enticing potential arrives, hopefully some of the available veterans end up on teams that increase their value for fantasy football purposes.

Check out the other entries in our ideal fits series: QB | RB | WR

Ideal Landing Spots in 2025 Free Agency: Tight End

Evan Engram

Age: 31

Evan Engram was just released by the Jacksonville Jaguars Thursday, so he is free to sign with another team immediately. Engram is by far the best available veteran tight end heading into 2025 free agency. Not only should he sign first, but a team that may have been interested in drafting one of the top rookies may now pivot to the viable veteran.

Engram’s time with the New York Giants was injury riddled, with a few brutal drops. However, he did log 115 targets as a rookie in 2017. Engram then logged 109 targets with quarterback Daniel Jones in 2019 and a career-high 143 targets with Trevor Lawrence in 2023. He has a regular season career average of 6.79 targets per game with a variety of quarterbacks throwing his way.

As Engram hits the open market, I think his ideal landing spot is a team with a second-year quarterback or one projected to select a rookie. Engram can handle a high target share, move the sticks and keep drives alive. He should receive a multi-year deal from a team with a significant amount of cap space.

Ideal Landing Spot: New England Patriots

Juwan Johnson

Age: 28

Prior to Engram’s release, Juwan Johnson looked like the top available tight end in 2025 free agency. Johnson has just 146 total receptions for 1,622 yards across five seasons with the Saints. He has scored a notable 18 receiving touchdowns, all in the last four seasons, including a team-high seven in 2022.

Nine different quarterbacks have started at least one game during Johnson’s five seasons in New Orleans. That includes three different starting quarterbacks in 2024. Despite that mishmash last year, Johnson is coming off a career-best season with a 50/548 receiving line with 3 touchdowns.

In 17 games, Johnson logged double-digit fantasy points just five times in 2024. He scored a season-high 15.0 points in Week 14. At the very least, Johnson should have a prominent role in the red zone. I don’t think Johnson will ever solidify himself high up in fantasy football rankings, but the potential is there to be a high-end streamer.

Ideal Landing Spot: Denver Broncos

Zach Ertz

Age: 34

Only wide receiver Terry McLaurin (117) had more targets than Zach Ertz (91) on the Washington Commanders last season. No other Commanders pass catcher logged more than 64 targets. Around the league, Ertz’ 2024 numbers rank inside the top-10 in targets (91), receptions (66), yards (654), touchdowns (7) and first downs (38) amongst the tight end position.

Despite the success across the board, Ertz’ meager 187 yards after the catch ranked 27th. He had a specific role in Washington. For quarterback Jayden Daniels, Ertz was a huge asset to the rookie quarterback’s arsenal in his first season. That’s even more evident by Ertz’ league-leading 11 end zone targets amongst tight ends. He scored all seven of his receiving touchdowns on end zone throws, as well. It’s hard to imagine Ertz signing anywhere else during 2025 free agency.

Ideal Landing Spot: Washington Commanders

Mike Gesicki

Age: 29

On a one-year deal for just $2.5 million, Mike Gesicki’s 2024 season with the Bengals should earn him a larger pay day in 2025 free agency. He logged over 80 targets for the fourth time in his seven-year career, last doing so in 2021 with the Dolphins. Gesicki’s 65 receptions are the second-most of his career while his 665 yards are his third-highest total.

For those that don’t know, Gesicki was franchise tagged by the Miami Dolphins in 2022 as a tight end. However, a debate ensued as to whether he should be tagged as a tight end, worth approximately $10 million at the time, or as a wide receiver for roughly $18 million. Gesicki is a tight end but lined up in the slot or out wide for the Dolphins 85% of the time the season prior.

For the Bengals, Gesicki provides similar value in the slot. Furthermore, with wide receiver Tee Higgins absent for five games last season, Gesicki averaged over seven targets for 62.4 yards per game. That includes three games with over 70 receiving yards, including one with 100. Considering the Bengals look to be spending big on both Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins this offseason, spending a little more to bring back Gesicki for 2025 may be tough, but beneficial to the entire offense.

Ideal Landing Spot: Cincinnati Bengals

Honorable Mentions

These guys aren’t technically free agents (yet?), but there are rumors they could be on the move this offseason one way or another.

Mark Andrews

Age: 29

I swear this has nothing to do with Mark Andrews’ drop of a potential game-tying two-point conversion against the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. It has everything to do with moving on from him a year before his contract ends.

The Ravens will eat nearly $6 million in dead money while saving $11 million if Andrews is traded this offseason. Isaiah Likely is also set to hit free agency next year. There is a benefit for Baltimore to receive some sort of compensation for Andrews now. Whichever team potentially trades for Andrews could get ahead of next year’s market and offer him an extension following the trade.

After a slow start to the 2024 season, likely due to a season-ending leg injury the year prior and his involvement in a late-summer car crash, Andrews found his stride toward the end of last season. From Week 10 onward, Andrews averaged 48 receiving yards on five targets per game. More notably, Andrews scored exactly one receiving touchdown in seven of the Ravens’ final eight regular season games, including each of the last six. Any team needing reliable pass catchers, but especially a tight end, should be calling the Ravens.

Ideal Landing Spot: Los Angeles Chargers

Dallas Goedert

Age: 30

After a Super Bowl win, but before the final year of his current deal, now may be the time to move on from Dallas Goedert The Philadelphia Eagles likely won’t be in a position to pay Goedert next offseason considering the contracts already on the books and deals at other positions yet to be done. Goedert himself probably wants one more multi-year deal before calling it a career.

Considering cornerbacks Darius Slay Jr. and James Bradberry IV are expected to be the team’s two post-June 1 releases, trading Goedert saves less than $1 million in 2025 cap space while taking a hit of just over $11 million. The only reason trading Goedert now makes sense for the Eagles is to get some sort of return for him in the form of draft picks. That’s instead of letting him hit 2026 free agency for nothing next offseason.

Goedert is a strong pass catcher who has a track record of stepping up when needed. He has the size and speed combination that would elevate any passing game. He is an intentional route runner but often won his matchups due to the focus on A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Goedert fits just about anywhere, but a team familiar with his skill set that takes pressure off other pass catchers is ideal.

Ideal Landing Spot: New Orleans Saints

Tyler Conklin

Age: 30

Tyler Conklin has four straight seasons of at least 70 targets. That includes exactly 87 targets in each season from 2021 through 2023. He’s surpassed 600 receiving yards just once in 2023, but 500 yards three times. Conklin’s four receiving touchdowns in 2024 are also a career high. He caught passes from six different quarterbacks over three seasons with the New York Jets. Conklin won’t be a hot commodity in 2025 free agency, but a team desperate for passing game production and a need at tight end should consider signing him.

Ideal Landing Spot: Indianapolis Colts

Taysom Hill

Age: 35

There’s a lot of theorizing that Broncos head coach Sean Payton will look to add Taysom Hill to fulfill “The Joker” role on Denver’s 2025 offense. Hill and Payson obviously have a history from their time together with the New Orleans Saints. Even if the Saints release or trade Hill, he tore his ACL on Dec. 1. Additionally, Hill did not have surgery to repair the knee injury until later in the month. Hill’s role and production is hard to predict as is any given week. Doing so at 35 years old in a return from a season-ending injury complicates matters that much more.

Ideal Landing Spot: Denver Broncos