Mike ClayApr 3, 2025, 07:20 AM ET
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- Mike Clay is a senior creator for myth soccer and the NFL at ESPN. Mike is a member of the FSWA Corridor of Reputation. His projections energy the ESPN Fable Soccer sport, and he additionally seems on “Fable Soccer Now” and the Fable Center of attention Soccer podcast.
Prematurely of the NFL draft, Mike Clay is revealing his 2025 myth soccer ratings at every key offensive function, with profiles for every participant. Those ratings don’t come with newcomers, since we’re undecided in their touchdown spot.
In case you are looking for a breakdown of this 12 months’s peak NFL draft potentialities, Mike has profiled the highest 80 ability function avid gamers in his myth soccer rookie ratings.
Place ratings and profiles: QB | RB | WR | TE
1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Bowers is recent off a dominant rookie season through which he produced 262.7 myth issues, simply probably the most via a first-year tight finish. He was once a featured participant proper out of the gate and went directly to tempo the location in routes, objectives, receptions (112 is probably the most ever via a rookie, irrespective of function), yards and myth issues. Bowers’ season may just’ve been even higher had he observed extra goal-line paintings (he was once restricted to 5 TDs and 6 finish zone objectives). He’s already an elite participant and the 22-year-old figures to take pleasure in progressed QB play now that Geno Smith is below heart. Bowers will have to be one of the vital first two TEs off the board on draft day.
2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
Since stepping right into a beginning function in Week 8 of the 2023 season, McBride has a huge 28.4% goal percentage (9.0 in keeping with sport). He averaged 6.8 receptions, 69.3 yards and 15.4 myth issues in keeping with sport all through the span. He was once the poster boy for dangerous TD good fortune in 2024, totaling 3 ratings (two receiving) regardless of completing moment on the function in objectives, catches, yards, finish zone objectives (10) and myth issues. McBride’s TE-high 7.9 anticipated TD overall speaks to his dangerous good fortune and, regardless that he additionally did not rating a lot in 2023 (3 TDs on 108 objectives), he is a candidate for a large development within the space in 2025. McBride is a sturdy wager to steer all tight leads to myth issues.
3. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
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Kittle has completed 6th or higher in myth PPG every of the previous seven years. That features a first-place end in 2024 (15.8 PPG), which was once fueled via a fantastic 13 weeks within the peak 12 amongst TEs in 14 complete video games. Kittle has paced the location in yards in keeping with reception, yards in keeping with goal and yards in keeping with path run every of the previous two seasons and has completed precisely moment in touchdowns 3 years in a row. With Deebo Samuel Sr. traded and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) anticipated to pass over vital sport motion, Kittle has a case to be the highest tight finish off the board on draft day getting into his 9th NFL season.
4. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
After pacing all tight leads to myth issues as a rookie in 2023, LaPorta fell to 8th in 2024. His receiving line dipped around the board (from 86-889-10 on 121 objectives to 60-726-7 on 84 objectives), regardless that it is notable he were given again not off course to some degree after a gradual get started. After averaging 2.8 objectives (11% crew percentage) and seven.1 myth issues all through his first six video games, LaPorta leapt to six.7 objectives (21% percentage) and 13.6 myth issues in his ultimate 11 (together with the playoffs). The ones numbers are just about just like his rookie season and nearer to what we will have to be expecting transferring ahead. Running in Detroit’s elite offense, LaPorta is a cast TE1.
5. Travis Kelce, Kansas Town Chiefs
Kelce is a long term Corridor of Famer, however his days as an elite myth tight finish could also be over. Kelce’s objectives and receptions in reality greater from 2023 to 2024, however he noticed a large dip in yards (823), TDs (3), yards in keeping with goal (6.1) and RAC (3.5), all of that are profession lows. After completing no less than 3rd in myth issues (moment in PPG) in 8 immediately seasons, Kelce fell to 5th (7th PPG) in 2024. Kelce will proceed to take pleasure in Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ pass-heavy offense, however the 35-year-old is now extra of a midrange TE1.
6. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Njoku is getting into his 9th NFL season following a 2024 marketing campaign through which he ignored six video games however was once terrific when lively, averaging a career-high 13.5 myth issues in keeping with sport. He was once a top-10 scorer in seven of eleven video games and completed peak 5 on the function in objectives for the second one season in a row. Njoku has hardly been very productive within the scoring division (his profession excessive is six touchdowns), however he discovered the top zone 5 occasions remaining season and has now led the location in finish zone objectives two years in a row. In spite of Cleveland’s unending QB problems, Njoku has completed Eleventh or higher in 3 consecutive myth campaigns (peak 8 in PPG) and the 29-year-old stays a midrange TE1.
7. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
Hockenson is eyeing a bounce-back following a 2024 season through which he ignored Weeks 1-7 and was once restricted just a little upon his go back whilst rebounding from a torn ACL suffered in 2023. Hockenson seemed in 10 regular-season video games, however was once restricted to 60% of the snaps and averaged 6.1 objectives and eight.7 myth issues in keeping with sport. That is a a long way cry from his 80% snap percentage, 8.5 objectives in keeping with sport and 14.6 PPG the season prior. Hockenson entered remaining season having completed 7th or higher amongst TEs in myth PPG 4 years in a row (peak 5 in each 2022 and 2023), so it is affordable to be expecting him to go back to that stage in 2025. New QB J.J. McCarthy is a wild card, however Kevin O’Connell’s pass-friendly offense will have to lend a hand stay Hockenson within the weekly TE1 combine.
8. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Andrews is a tough analysis after an unusual profession flip in 2024 through which he was once lucky to complete 8th in myth PPG after posting top-5 finishes the prior 5 seasons. After dealing with a goal percentage within the 22-to-28% vary all through 2019-23 (all had been peak 4 on the function), Andrews dipped to fifteen% in 2024 (Twentieth) and completed Twentieth in objectives, 14th in catches, 9th in yards and primary in TDs amongst tight ends. Andrews has all the time been extraordinarily environment friendly when centered (he is by no means completed less than 5th in YPRR), however he is additionally by no means been somewhat as TD dependent (11 TDs in 2024 had been a profession excessive and his 16.2% TD price was once method above his prior profession price of seven.1%). Andrews was once bailed out via the TD outlier and can wish to leap again within the goal space with the intention to go back to elite TE1 manufacturing.
9. Evan Engram, Denver Broncos
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Engram signed with Denver after spending his first 8 NFL seasons with the Giants and Jaguars. The 2017 first-round select is coming off just a little of a misplaced season, as accidents value him seven video games and he discovered the top zone handiest as soon as when lively. Engram was once nonetheless closely centered (his 25% goal percentage ranked 3rd amongst TEs) and, even with remaining season’s dud, he has completed peak 7 in myth PPG in 5 of his 8 seasons. Engram is not a lot of a landing scorer (he hasn’t produced greater than 4 in a season since 2017, however he is becoming a member of a excellent Denver offense led via Sean Payton (who helped Jimmy Graham to a few consecutive top-2 myth seasons) and ambitious second-year QB Bo Nix. Engram stays squarely within the back-end TE1 combine and there is upside for much more.
10. Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins
Smith is again with the Dolphins following a profession 12 months through which he completed peak 5 amongst tight leads to objectives, receptions, yards, myth issues and touchdowns. This after by no means completing higher than fifteenth within the former 4 classes all through his first seven NFL seasons. Smith’s season in reality began slowly (4.9 objectives in keeping with sport and one sport with 12-plus myth issues all through Weeks 1-10), however he averaged 8.5 objectives and a position-high 18.6 PPG from Week 11 on. Smith’s profession resume suggests a go back to earth might be within the playing cards, however he will have to proceed to take pleasure in defenses taking part in two-high safeties on the league’s easiest price with the intention to decelerate Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Smith is most secure as a perimeter TE1.
11. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Expenses
Kincaid did not transparent 13.1 myth issues in one sport remaining season, which is beautiful exhausting to imagine whilst you imagine he treated a 20.3% goal percentage (5.8 in keeping with sport) in a Josh Allen-led offense that averaged 3.6 touchdowns in keeping with sport (the easiest ever via an Allen offense). Kincaid were given seven-plus objectives in six of 13 regular-season video games, however by no means cleared 53 yards in one day out and located the top zone handiest two times. He completed fifteenth at tight lead to objectives regardless of 4 ignored video games, however was once twenty sixth in catches and twenty eighth in yards because of an unsightly 59% catch price and six.0 YPT. Kincaid’s pedigree (2023 first-rounder), heavy utilization and the robust Buffalo offense supply hope for a 12 months 3 jump, however he is dangerous after such an underwhelming 2024. Imagine him a perimeter TE1.
12. Tucker Kraft, Inexperienced Bay Packers
Kraft took over because the Packers’ No. 1 tight lead to Week 12 of the 2023 season and hasn’t regarded again. Within the 27 video games since (together with the playoffs), Kraft averaged 4.3 objectives and 9.4 myth issues in keeping with sport. He performed 85% of Inexperienced Bay’s offensive snaps in 2024 and whilst his quantity was once underwhelming (18th amongst TEs in objectives and receptions), he was once productive (7th in yards and fourth in touchdowns). Kraft completed moment on the function in yards in keeping with reception and yards in keeping with goal, in addition to first in YPRR for the second one season in a row. Kraft completed fifteenth in myth PPG and he’s going to want further quantity in 2025 with the intention to jump into the weekly TE1 combine. The 24-year-old has some upside, however he is most secure as a excellent TE2.
13. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Goedert is getting into his 8th NFL season with some uncertainty, as he seems to be a powerful wager to be traded. The 30-year-old has completed every of the previous six seasons as a top-12 myth scorer on a per-game foundation, regardless that he is struggled with sturdiness (23 ignored video games all through the six-year span) and TD scoring (he is by no means cleared 5 TDs or six finish zone objectives in one season). He is another way been productive (peak 10 in YPRR 5 of the previous six seasons) and, if traded, his new crew will no doubt make him a constant piece of the passing sport. Goedert will have to be valued as a excellent TE2 in the meanwhile.
14. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Ferguson enters 2025 with eyes on a rebound after he fell from tenth in myth PPG in 2023 to twenty third remaining season. He necessarily ignored 4 complete video games, however nonetheless completed 9th amongst TEs in objectives. The principle factor was once touchdowns, as he fell from 5 ratings and a position-high 10 finish zone objectives in 2023 to 0 TDs and two finish zone objectives in 2024. His 88 objectives had been simply probably the most amongst all avid gamers and not using a TD catch. Having Dak Prescott again will lend a hand, as Ferguson averaged 10.2 myth PPG in seven video games with Prescott (no longer a long way off his 10.4 PPG in 2023), in comparison to 5.2 PPG in six complete video games when he was once out. Ferguson is a cast TE2 who may just flirt with weekly top-10 numbers.
15. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
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Henry is getting into his 5th season in New England recent off a profession 12 months in maximum classes. He set career-best marks in goal percentage (20%), objectives, catches and receiving yards, however nonetheless completed sixteenth in myth PPG because of a loss of scoring. Henry discovered the top zone handiest two times, which fits a profession low. The veteran tight finish hasn’t completed a season higher than fifteenth in PPG since 2020 (his ultimate 12 months with the Chargers) and regardless that he was once higher with Drake Maye at the box, he’s going to now wish to triumph over extra goal festival with Stefon Diggs within the lineup. Henry, 30, is more likely to put up midrange TE2 numbers, however there is a shot for extra if Maye makes a large 12 months 2 jump.
16. Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
Gesicki re-signed with the Bengals after a powerful end to his first 12 months with the crew. After falling totally off the myth radar the prior two seasons, Gesicki completed peak 15 in routes, objectives, catches, yardage and finish zone objectives in 2024. He struggled to search out the top zone (precisely two TDs for the 3rd time in 4 seasons), however completed 18th in myth PPG. Gesicki was once increase/bust (4 video games with 14-plus issues, however 11 with 9 issues or fewer), however he peaked overdue with position-best marks in objectives (22), catches (18), receiving yards (154) and myth issues (33.4) all through Weeks 17 and 18. Gesicki is a situational participant, however he’s going to take pleasure in Joe Burrow and the league’s pass-heaviest offense. He is a tremendous TE2 goal.
17. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Following two cast however unspectacular seasons to start out his NFL profession, Otton made a gigantic jump in 2024, completing within the peak 15 amongst TEs in snaps, routes, objectives, receptions, yards, TDs and myth issues. Accidents round him had been an element, on the other hand, as he treated a cast 16% goal percentage (4.8 in keeping with sport) however was once restricted to a 29-307-1 receiving line (6.3 myth PPG and no video games over 11.2) in 10 video games with Mike Evans additionally within the lineup. Then, all through Weeks 7-10 with Evans injured (Chris Godwin additionally ignored maximum of this motion), Otton treated a 25% goal percentage (9.5 in keeping with sport, 8-plus in all 4) and posted a 30-293-3 receiving line (19.3 PPG with 18-plus 3 times). With Evans and Godwin again, Jalen McMillan on the upward thrust and Tampa’s heavy reliance on its RBs, Otton figures to move again to low-ceiling TE2 manufacturing.
18. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
We are now 4 years into the Kyle Pitts enjoy and it is secure to mention issues are not going in addition to anticipated. The 2021 No. 4 total select exploded out of the gate with 1,026 yards and an Eleventh-place end in myth PPG as a 20-year-old rookie, however he is but to come back with reference to the ones marks since, peaking at 667 yards and seventeenth in PPG (each in 2023). Pitts did put up profession highs in TDs (4) and finish zone objectives (seven) remaining season, however his 14% goal percentage was once a profession low and ranked twenty fifth amongst TEs. He wasn’t even taking part in part the snaps all through the general month of the season, leaving his function very a lot in query for 2025. He has the pedigree and continues to be handiest 24 years outdated, however Pitts cannot be relied on as anything else greater than a bench lottery price tag.
19. Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
Okonkwo has settled in as a constant contributor in Tennessee, having completed every of his 3 seasons within the vary of 450 to 528 yards and 5.7 to six.7 myth PPG. The 2022 fourth-round select has but to complete a season higher than fifteenth in objectives, catches, yards or TDs. Scoring has been a transparent factor, as Okonkwo has 10 finish zone objectives and 6 TDs in 51 profession video games. At the plus aspect, he noticed an enormous spike in paintings overdue remaining season, generating 199 yards on 23 touches all through Weeks 15-17 (his 28 objectives ranked first and 43.9 myth issues moment amongst TEs all through the span). There are not many mouths to feed in Tennessee, so it is imaginable the 25-year-old can raise that momentum into 2025, however he’s going to want first rate QB play. He is excellent considered as a back-end TE2.
20. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Freiermuth is getting into his 5th NFL season having but to emerge as a viable myth starter. The 2021 second-round select peaked with an Eleventh-place end in myth PPG in 2022 and, regardless of catching a career-high 65 passes and matching a profession excellent with seven TDs remaining season, he ended up 14th in PPG. A priority here’s that the TD output is unsustainable, as Freiermuth ranked Twentieth in anticipated TDs (3.1, which aligned with the place he was once when he scored two TDs in each 2022 and 2023) and a career-low two finish zone objectives. Freiermuth was once extra productive after Russell Wilson changed Justin Fields, so a possible Aaron Rodgers signing would lend a hand his purpose, however he’s going to even have extra goal festival with DK Metcalf becoming a member of George Pickens at broad receiver. Freiermuth is a back-end TE2.
21. Brenton Extraordinary, Jacksonville Jaguars
Extraordinary is the brand new No. 1 tight lead to Jacksonville following the discharge of Evan Engram. We were given a preview of this remaining season when Engram was once sidelined for 8 video games. In the ones weeks, Extraordinary performed 72% of the snaps and treated a cast 14.6% goal percentage (4.9 in keeping with sport). That led to 1 giant myth day out (12-11-73-0 in Week 15), however he another way averaged 6.9 myth PPG and did not transparent 12.4 issues in any of the opposite seven video games. Possibly Extraordinary will get to some other stage in 12 months 3, however the 2023 second-round select turns out more likely to settle in as a low-ceiling TE2.
22. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
Kmet enters 2025 having completed higher than sixteenth in myth PPG as soon as in his profession, a ninth-place end in 2023. He completed within the peak 10 amongst TEs in all key classes that season, however plummeted to outdoor the highest 20 in objectives, catches, yards and myth issues in 2024. In what was once just a little of a peculiar season, Kmet seemed in all 17 video games, paced all tight leads to snaps, completed 5th in routes and led the location with an 84% catch price, however ended up twenty seventh in myth PPG. He had two video games with double-digit objectives however 3 with 0. Possibly the 26-year-old will leap again in Caleb Williams’ moment season, with Ben Johnson calling performs and Keenan Allen long gone, however he is more likely to stay a perimeter TE2.
23. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
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Ertz returns to Washington for his thirteenth NFL season after an overly a hit debut marketing campaign with the crew. One season after being waived via Arizona and failing to search out his option to some other 53-man roster, Ertz received the Commanders’ beginning TE gig and ended up within the peak 12 on the function in routes, objectives, catches, yards, TDs and myth issues. His 10 finish zone objectives ranked moment on the function. Ertz is now 34 years outdated and has added festival for objectives with Deebo Samuel Sr. on the town and Ben Sinnott getting into 12 months 2, so a step again in manufacturing is possible, however he’s going to proceed to take pleasure in taking part in a job in a Jayden Daniels-led offense. Ertz is excellent considered as a low-ceiling TE2.
24. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
Schultz is eyeing a rebound in 2025 after he adopted up 4 consecutive top-12 myth campaigns with a Twentieth-place end (twenty eighth in PPG) in 2024. Schultz posted a productive 59-635-5 receiving line in 15 video games in 2023 (his first season in Houston), however noticed his utilization dip remaining season regardless of score fourth amongst tight leads to cross routes. Schultz turned into a nonfactor close to the target line, totaling two finish zone objectives and two TDs, either one of that are his fewest since taking over a normal offensive function in 2020. His historical past suggests a go back to the fringe-TE1 combine is imaginable and he may just see a slight spice up in objectives with Christian Kirk changing Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell (knee) doubtful for the season, however he additionally may just lose paintings to second-year TE Cade Stover. Schultz does not have a lot late-round attraction.
25. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Johnson returns for his 6th season in New Orleans after a cast 2024 appearing through which he set profession highs in catches and yardage whilst showing in each and every regular-season sport for the primary time in his profession. The transformed broad receiver has completed between 18th and twenty sixth in myth PPG every of the previous 3 seasons, regardless that it is notable that he noticed a spice up in utilization and manufacturing following Taysom Hill’s damage overdue remaining season (12-plus issues in 3 of his ultimate 5 video games). Hill is an extended shot to play in 2025, regardless that the crew can be in higher form at broad receiver with a wholesome Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, in addition to newcomer Brandin Chefs. Johnson, 28, is not more than a perimeter TE2.
26. Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Fant is again for his fourth season in Seattle having but to come back with reference to repeating his reasonable myth good fortune all through his 3 seasons in Denver. The 2019 first-round select has but to put up a top-10 myth marketing campaign on a per-game foundation, and after completing peak 12 amongst TEs in objectives, catches, yards and myth issues in each 2020 and 2021, he is failed to complete higher than fifteenth in any of the ones classes all through 3 seasons with the Seahawks. Fant has scored a complete of 1 landing over the last two seasons and really well may just lose paintings to second-year TE AJ Barner in 2025. The 27-year-old isn’t value late-round attention.
27. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
Higbee is ready for his tenth NFL season (all with the Rams) after lacking maximum of 2024 whilst getting better from a torn ACL and MCL suffered all through the 2023 playoffs. Higbee made his season debut in Week 16 and went on to look in 5 video games, together with the playoffs. Unsurprisingly, he did not play a lot of a job first of all, however he gave the impression again to his standard self within the playoff sport in opposition to the Eagles, posting a 7-54-1 receiving line on 10 objectives. Higbee has loved spurts of fantasy-relevance now and then all through his profession, however he is by no means completed higher than tenth in PPG, or even that was once long ago in 2019. The 32-year-old will settle in no upper than 3rd in goal precedence at the back of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, so he is not value your consideration within the overdue rounds.
28. Theo Johnson, New York Giants
Johnson is getting into his moment NFL season after taking part in a hefty 84% of the Giants’ offensive snaps as a rookie. The fourth-round select did not see a lot paintings within the passing sport early on and ignored the general 5 video games because of damage, however he was once selecting up steam previous to taking place. After totaling a 14-150-0 receiving line on 20 objectives (7% percentage) all through his first 8 video games, Johnson leapt to a 15-181-1 line on 23 objectives (19%) within the ultimate 4 outings. The myth output wasn’t nice within the Giants’ punchless offense, however the build up in reliance is notable and it’s going to handiest lend a hand having Russell Wilson below heart. The 24-year-old Johnson is a tremendous sleeper goal within the overdue rounds.
29. Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers
Sanders is headed into his moment NFL season following a cast rookie marketing campaign through which he performed 55% of Carolina’s offensive snaps. He flashed just a little whilst taking part in an expanded function when Tommy Tremble was once sidelined for 4 video games close to midseason (5.0 objectives and 10.9 myth issues in keeping with sport), however the rookie was once restricted to a situational function within the 11 video games Tremble was once lively (2.0 objectives and a pair of.6 PPG). Sanders can be a candidate for extra paintings in his moment season, however he is nonetheless very younger (22) and can proceed to percentage paintings with Tremble. The 2024 fourth-round select is handiest value a overdue flier in deeper leagues.
30. Isaiah Most probably, Baltimore Ravens
Most probably is again for his fourth NFL season after somewhat the head-scratcher of a season in 2024. He got here out with a bang with 12 objectives and a TE-high 26.1 myth issues in Week 1, however failed to come back with reference to both quantity the remainder of the season. He did to find the top zone six occasions in 16 video games, however a loss of quantity allowed him handiest 6.5 myth PPG after the season opener. Enjoying at the back of (or along) Mark Andrews the previous 3 years, Most probably has but to complete a season a number of the peak 20 tight leads to snaps, routes, objectives, catches or yardage. His Twentieth-place end in myth PPG remaining season was once a profession excellent. Possibly Most probably’s excellent days are forward of him, however constant myth worth is an extended shot so long as Andrews is at the roster. The 25-year-old does no longer wish to be drafted.
