Devy Tight End Rankings: ’23/24/25 Combined
One theme in the 2023 NFL Draft was the presence of quality tight end prospects. This year, we saw six taken before the third round and three more picked in the 3rd Round. Teams invested in this position as they do every year, so clearly they are searching for security and production as soon as possible. Overall, the future of the position could have seen a turning of the tide with the influx of receiving talent that came in.
Needless to say, last year was strong as well. With 2022’s prospects like Chigoziem Okonkwo, Cade Otton, Greg Dulcich, and even Jake Ferguson all being threats to lead this position in fantasy one day soon. For now, let’s stick to this 2023 class and look forward from there, with 10 tight ends that could become our future NFL starters. We might even find a star or two.
1. Brock Bowers, Georgia
Eligible: 2024
Georgia’s Brock Bowers’ status at tight end is not dissimilar to Ohio States Marvin Harrison Jr.’s value at wide receiver. Both of these players have to wait a year to be put on dynasty football rosters. However, most managers are aware of these two players’ abilities and their projected capital. Dalton Kincaid saw a boost to his fantasy and national profile following his first-round selection. In 2024, Bowers should supersede that capital and his value should be static as a top-five tight end from the moment he’s drafted, onward.
Bowers has done nothing but produce at Georgia while playing as the top option in offenses featuring Zamir White, James Cook, and George Pickens. Bowers plays like a wide receiver at a tight end and has very swift movement for his size. He has elite talents getting open, he’s going to be faster than most linebackers and stronger than most defensive backs. Bowers is likely to be drafted as a first or second option in an offense, similar to what people envision in the future with Kincaid and the Bills. Bower’s only missing piece to his profile is the landing spot, he should be able to succeed nearly anywhere.
2. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
Debates between Dalton Kincaid and Michael Mayer seemed to have been mostly settled following Kincaid’s selection on the first night of the NFL Draft. Kincaid got paired with an elite quarterback and will play a main pass-catching role in the Buffalo Bills offense. Kincaid’s capital is impressive following an offseason and draft process full of recovery and not seeing too much of him on the field, for the fans and media.
That injury worry shouldn’t scare potential owners, Kincaid showed plenty on tape at Utah to inform that decision and it made dynasty managers take notice. Kincaid has already ascended to TE6 on Keep Trade Cut rankings, and Michael Mayer isn’t far behind himself at TE9. Managers are starving for the receiving ability at this position. Winning teams can’t usually be throwing out TE2s every week and hoping it all goes well. Kincaid is one of those talents who can be at the top of the fantasy tight-end list. He commanded high-quality targets in college, and that should continue from Josh Allen in 2023 and beyond.
3. Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders
A certain part of Michael Mayer‘s ranking here comes from his current community view. As stated, he’s being valued as a top-12 tight end without taking a snap. Also, he was considered the top tight end in this class for nearly a year, right up until the end of the process. That matters because Mayer didn’t lose any of his talents, and he may have the most underrated landing spot at the position from this entire 2023 Draft. The Josh McDaniels offenses like to get tight ends involved and following the departures of Foster Moreau and Darren Waller, Mayer should be the guy.
Furthermore, the Notre Dame product can best be described as solid. He can run strong routes and has good hands in the passing game. The Raiders made a good pick here and should have a dependable piece of their offense for the next four years. Mayer is a big body that should also have the ability to be blocking and making lanes for runners. Additionally, he is going to be a top option in the red zone.
Historically, tight ends have been known to produce in this offense, and he doesn’t have a ton of competition to see the field right away. This time next year, Kincaid and Mayer could find themselves Bowers if they have incredible rookie seasons. Really, with the talent in both players, it wouldn’t be too surprising.
4. Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
Eligible: 2024
Between Bowers and now Ja’Tavion Sanders out of Texas, the 2024 tight end class could end up being formidable competition to the strong 2023 and 2022 NFL draft classes. Sanders is a tight end that can show exceedingly athletic talents in the receiving game. He’s a smooth player for his size, which feels like the sentiment around Darnell Washington in this draft process. However, Sanders has less injury concern and had a bit of a breakout in his second year for the Longhorns.
Furthermore, Sanders had 54 catches in the offense last year and in the first six games he played, scored all five of his touchdowns on the season. In those first six weeks, he would also have four games of at least five catches. The Longhorns began showing confidence in Sanders, and he returned that with some production and growth within his own game. That should continue this season with Bijan Robinson gone and Quin Ewers leading the offense. They may put the ball in the air more, which will only improve Sander’s abilities and his future draft stock week by week.
5. Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers
The fifth tight end on this list was coming from the NFC North no matter what. However, let’s discuss the new tight end in Green Bay first, Luke Musgrave. Musgrave is perhaps the largest unknown from this draft from this position at this current time. Additionally, he has speed and good hands, but he isn’t overly strong or with a complete route running tree. What he does have is terrific size and again, impressive speed and athleticism. This pick and this ranking are about projecting where Musgrave could get to after a year or two.
More importantly, he exudes athleticism and the Packers took him with top 50 draft capital. This is a player the Packers want to get the best out of, and Musgrave should be able to get involved with Jordan Love. The good part of Musgrave’s game right now is that he’s very capable with the ball in his hands, evading defenders. Additionally, the Packers’ RPO and play action sets feature a lot of releasing tight ends and lots of opportunities to get the ball in Musgrave’s hands and move the ball downfield.
Finally, Musgrave should also see some slot work when spelling fellow rookie Jayden Reed or when they want more size on the field. Overall, Musgrave’s versatility should lead to production for our fantasy teams, he’s a danger with the ball.
6. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
Sam LaPorta was another tight end prospect similar to Mayer, and they eventually would receive similar draft capital. LaPorta rose quite a bit while Mayer was taken a bit lower than where he was thought to go. Nevertheless, both have the chance to be their team’s top tight ends right away. This Lions team needed some more weapons following T.J. Hockenson’s trade last season and Jameson William’s eventual suspension that’s upcoming.
If LaPorta can become a Hockenson-level player or nearly that in this offense, you should be very happy with that outcome for dynasty leagues. The issue with this landing spot for Hockenson was getting involved in the game plan, with players like Josh Reynold’s and Kalif Raymond at times being more involved on Sundays. I have some personal trepidation with this landing spot, but this regime made this pick and they used a premium pick to do it. LaPorta found a way to be productive in Iowa offenses, in his final two years he had over 600 yards each time. Maybe LaPorta can strike gold twice and turn this position into some production for fantasy teams.
7. Darnell Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers keep on taking good tight ends. Georgia’s Darnell Washington was seen as a very talented tight and may have gone earlier with fewer injury concerns. Someone of his size will always be dealing with those risks, but when you’re dealing with these giants, you can only hope for a few years of production from them before you inevitably move on. Washington is instantly a red zone threat and should be quite the foil to the finesse that Pat Friermuth brings to the position.
Washington being this high is due to the relative unknowns that are in this offense’s passing game. Diontae Johnson is there for now but could find himself moving on if the team doesn’t improve this season. George Pickens is a talented player, but just how good can his game become and where will his volume settle? Najee Harris isn’t going anywhere as of now, and neither is Pat Freiermuth. However, we’ve seen this team be reluctant to overpay receivers and Washington will be a cost-controlled receiving option for the next four years. In the end, that could lead Washington to a surprising amount of targets and perhaps red zone opportunities right away, an area he should excel.
8. Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas Cowboys
Personally, I believe Jake Ferguson gets the first starts in 2023 at tight end for the Dallas Cowboys. Luke Schoonmaker should instantly be the TE2 on this roster and is a superior blocker to Jake Ferguson right now. This team uses its tight ends well, Dak Prescott thrived best with Dalton Schultz alongside him. If Ferguson can’t get himself involved enough early, the Cowboys may turn to their 2023 second-round pick sooner than most think.
Furthermore, Schoonmaker tested well throughout the process and currently has the most investment for tight ends on the Cowboys. This is going to lead to early snaps for the player. Additionally, it would make sense that they enjoyed what they saw from this player as a receiver as well as a blocker.
Needless to say, there are a lot of chances in this Cowboys offense, with Schultz and the team still searching for their WR2 production. This team has returned a certain value at tight end in recent history, and one of Ferguson or Schoonmaker is likely to be the next in that line. Finally, with so much currently up in the air, it’s best to focus on Schoonmaker’s capital and realize he’ll likely get a good chance to prove himself.
9. Davis Allen, Los Angeles Rams
Davis Allen is a personal favorite of mine from this class and the landing spot has me intrigued for the next few years. Allen is a slower but again very smooth tight end who offers a lot of security when catching the ball. Additionally, he has a fair amount of athleticism, but his main skills will come through ball catching and being a red zone capable player. The Rams are looking to the future and elite tight ends won’t be a priority at the beginning of this rebuild.
Allen is a good receiver and Tyler Higbee is getting older. Allen is similar to Higbee, even with some more athletic ability closer to Logan Thomas during his productive years. The Rams don’t have too many viable proven targets on the roster right now. There are seemingly always rumors about them moving players and that should go on again until this year’s trade deadline.
Moving forward, Allen could be one of the largest benefactors. Higbee is due to move on and the team is likely to have a new face of the franchise this time next year. Allen could be a solid tight end that transitions the team to a new leading quarterback. If he produces and is a good low-cost option for the Rams, he becomes a player we can use in our lineups for up to the next half-decade.
10. Donovan Green, Texas A&M
Eligible: 2025
Tight end is difficult to project two years out, evidenced by players like Jaheim Bell and Arik Gilbert being players touted at the position this time two years ago. The position comes down to where they’re playing and how that team is preparing them to become professionals at the next level. Like Aggie’s wide receiver Evan Stewart, Texas A&M’s Donovan Green is a player who has something behind his name and also has the athletic ability you want to see from the position.
The Aggies went through a rough season in 2022, but this team will always have talents and be able to produce intriguing prospects for the NFL. Devon Achane was a question mark the entire process, then he was able to find himself with ideal capital and a terrific landing spot. That may happen with a player like Donovan Green. Outside of Stewart, this offense is in need of playmakers and Green could end up being that man from the tight end position. He should have two strong years on his resume come his draft class in 2025 and could be the best tight end in that class. That’s why he’s joining these ranks of talented players as well.
Tight-end futures are some of the most difficult projections in the entire fantasy football space. People attach to new young names every offseason, and the backend of the top 10 tight ends seems to change every year. Eventually, some of the young talents will solidify themselves among the top six, among the top five at the position. When they do achieve that, you’ll be relieved you were able to grab them at a reasonable price and be able to insert them into your lineup without a worry for your team’s near future. When a tight end hits, it certainly gives your dynasty rosters a boost. Finally, you can focus on filling out your team, so keep these names on your mind or in your trade discussions.
Stats via sports-reference
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