The new league year is nearly upon us, and with it comes free agency. Fans of every team except the Seahawks and Patriots are now focused on the offseason and what their favorite team’s roster will look like when the 2026 season starts and which new faces might be on the field in September.
If your team is in the market for a tight end, will be plenty of options on the market for all kind of needs. Want the latest breakout star? Kyle Pitts is ready for a new contract. Need a young player with upside? Isaiah Likely may be the player for you. Looking for a grizzled veteran who still has it? Dallas Goedert may be just want you’re looking for.
With all of that said, here are this year’s best free agent tight ends.
1.) Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
2025 Stats: 17 games played (17 starts), 88 reception for 928 receivingyards (10.5 YPR), five receiving touchdowns
Only still 25 years old, Pitts put together the best overall season of his career in 2025. He caught a career high 88 receptions for 928 yards (second best of career) and five scores, which were also a career high. To top it all off, his catch rate was 74.6 percent. That is 11.1 percent higher than his previous mark set in 2024 (63.5).
After the year he had, it would be shocking if Pitts ended up anywhere else but Atlanta, especially given that Atlanta’s new head coach is Kevin Stefanski who had success using David Njoku and Harold Fannin in the Browns offense this past season.
2.) Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
2025 Stats: 14 games played (7 starts), 27 receptions for 307 receiving yards (11.4 YPR), 1 receiving touchdown, 2 fumbles
The Ravens signed starting tight end Mark Andrews to a three-year contract extension in December and it’s highly unlikely (sort’ve pun intended) they sign Likely to a new deal to continue being his backup. Despite being productive as the team’s TE2, Likely has shown flashes of what he could be as a team’s starter in an offense that values a modern F tight end.
Following John Harbaugh to the Giants is not likely due to New York having a decent duo in Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger. Still, there should be plenty of suitors for the young playmaker who are in need of an offensive mismatch at the first and second levels of the field.
3.) Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
2025 Stats: 15 games played (15 starts), 60 receptions for 591 receiving yards (9.9 YPR), 11 receiving touchdowns
Goedert will be 31 during the 2026 season and he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down in recent years, other than missing seven games in 2024. I’d be shocked if he ends up singing elsewhere over returning to the Eagles, but this veteran still has a ton left in the tank to give to whoever needs it.
Philly quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for a career high 25 touchdowns to go with 3,224 passing yards. A big reason Hurts was able to break his previous high 23 passing scores was Goedert’s propensity for finding the end zone which he did 11 times, blowing past his personal career high of five which he set way back in 2019.
4.) David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
2025 Stats: 12 games played (11 starts), 33 receptions for 293 receiving yards (8.9 YPR), 4 receiving touchdowns
Njoku missed some time in 2025 with an injury that limited him to 111 starts in 12 games played. He finished the year with 293 yards and four scores, the yardage being his lowest output since the 2020 season (213). Some of this was the quarterback situation, but the other was the emergence of rookie Harold Fannin Jr. (72 receptions, 731 yards).
Prior to the 2025 season, Njoku had put together a two-year stretch from 2023-2024 that included 145 catches, 1387 yards, and 11 touchdowns. While the 2026 campaign will be his age-30 season, Njoku is still deserving of being a contributor for a team, it just more likely may come as the backup for an offense that likes to trot out multiple TEs at a high clip.
5.) Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
2025 Stats: 13 games played (13 starts), 50 receptions for 504 receiving yards (10.1 YPR), 4 receiving touchdowns, 1 fumble
Ertz started 13 games for the Commanders before suffering a season-ending injury for the second time in the past three seasons. He still collected 50 receptions for 504 yards and four touchdowns which was just about the same pace as his 66-654-7 stat line he put up in 17 games during the 2024 campaign. It remains to be seen how he will return from his injury, but with his style of play, his suitors will be few and I fully expect him to return to Washington on a team-friendly deal if he chooses to continue playing.
6.) Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins
2025 Stats: 12 games played (11 starts), 24 receptions for 283 receiving yards (11.8 YPR), six receiving touchdowns
Waller came out of retirement to play in nine games with three starts for the Dolphins in 2025. He caught just 24 passes for 283 yards, but he found the end zone six times which shows he’s still a mismatch in the red zone. That’s a very good place to show you can still win for a veteran and should get him a job if he doesn’t go right back into retirement this offseason.
7.) Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
2025 Stats: 10 games played (8 starts), 25 receptions for 281 receiving yards (11.2 YPR), 3 receiving touchdowns
Higbee had one of his quieter years with the Rams in 2025 and a lot of that had to do with there being a number of other playmakers on the team at receiver and running back. He finished the 2025 season with 25 catches for 281 yards and three touchdowns, but was also a very respectable run blocker. He posted a 69.7 run block grade by Pro Football Focus this year, good for 13th among all TEs with 150 or more run block snaps.
The long-time Rams veteran can still be a serviceable tight end as a co-starter or backup who will give any offense a boost in the run game.
2025 Stats: 15 games played (7 starts), 34 receptions for 288 receiving yards (8.5 YPR), 3 receiving touchdowns, 3 fumbles
Fant paired with Mike Gesicki as the Bengals TE duo during the 2025 season. Fant caught more passes (34 to 28) and touchdowns (3 to 2) but Gesicki came away with more yards (288 to 307). Since entering the NFL in 2019 as a first-round pick, Fant hasn’t been as sensational at finding the end zone like he did at Iowa but he’s averaged a respectable 555 receiving yards per season and a little under three touchdowns.
He’ll be 29 years old next season and can still give a team some juice at an important position, but a co-starter/TE2 is seemingly his ceiling at this point.
2025 Stats: 16 games played (6 starts), 21 receptions for 263 receiving yards (12.5 YPR), 2 receiving touchdowns
Hooper played second fiddle in 2025 to Patriots starter Hunter Henry while finishing with 21 catches for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Like a lot of the notable tight ends hitting free agency this offseason, most of them are veterans that are medium-floor, low ceiling players best suited for a specific role in your team’s offense.
If a team needs a starter in a pinch, they could do much worse than Hooper who has been in the league a decade now. He’s solid, but hasn’t had a season with over 500 receiving yards since 2019.
2025 Stats: 17 games played (2 starts), 4 receptions for 25 receiving yards (6.3 YPR)
Smythe makes this list mainly on his ability to be a team’s H-back, filling the role of both a connected tight end or a fullback in the backfield. The 30-year old only caught four passes for 25 yards in 2025 but that wasn’t all he was able to contribute to a Bears team that not only made the playoffs but got to the divisional round. Smythe won’t likely sign anywhere for much above the veteran minimum, but he’ll be coveted by a team who wants an experienced tight end room from top to bottom.
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![MLB trade deadline: Latest rumors on Tarik Skubal, Hunter Greene, and more If you believe Jeff Passan, today is the day we will start seeing trades ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline, which arrives Monday.So let’s spin around the rumors again.The latest on Tarik SkubalWednesday afternoon, Tarik Skubal exited the Detroit Tigers’ game against the Baltimore Orioles in the top of the seventh, having given up a two-run single. He left to a standing ovation from the Detroit faithful, who were wondering like the rest of us whether it was his last outing for the Tigers. He exited having handed the Detroit bullpen a 7-1 lead with two outs and a pair of runners aboard.What happened after that is, according to one MLB executive, the final “sign” that the Tigers need to move their ace at the deadline.Baltimore scored four more runs in the inning, and went on to win 10-9 in extras. Despite recording his 1,000th strikeout in the performance, Skubal received a no-decision for his efforts.“If there was ever a sign that the Tigers should trade Skubal, that was it. The offers should start flowing in any minute,” said one NL executive to MLB insider Mark Feinsand.Feinsand was not the only one reporting that a deal would be happening. ESPN’s Jeff Passan declared Skubal “will be traded” in his MLB Trade Deadline preview as well.So what teams could be making a move for the ace? As we outlined yesterday the Milwaukee Brewers are among the suitors, and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported that the Chicago Cubs are expected to make a run at the left-hander. But according to Passan, when it comes to potential suitors they are “all almost resigned to the idea that the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to get Tarik Skubal.”A potential reason for that? The lingering health issues for Shohei Ohtani. With the superstar dealing with left knee and right bicep issues, it has put his time on the bump on hold. His last start came on July 3, and manager Dave Roberts indicated earlier this week that his throwing program is on hold. “Trying to mitigate that, we stopped the throwing, stopped the bullpens — hopefully, No. 1, take care of the knee and then not have him try to create velocity with the arm that’s not 100%,” Roberts said.With Ohtani on the shelf — as a pitcher — that could mean a big push for Skubal from the Dodgers.If you’re looking for a sleeper team in the Skubal sweepstakes, keep an eye on Tampa Bay. The Rays saw left-hander Shane McClanahan leave his start on Thursday with “back tightness,” and while it is not considered a “long-term” issue, there is an opening for Tampa Bay. As one MLB source told MLB.com, “[t]he Brewers, Rays and Dodgers have the most high-end prospects to move. It would be somewhat surprising if he didn’t wind up with one of those three teams.”Hunter Greene on the marketWhile Skubal will command the headlines, another top arm could be on the move.According to MLB.com, there is a “50-50” chance that the Cincinnati Reds move flame-thrower Hunter Greene ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline. Greene missed the first half of the season following surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow, as he put off the surgery last season and threw through the discomfort, option for an injection rather than surgery.He ultimately went under the knife in the spring, costing him the start to 2026. Since returning he has gone 2-2 with a 7.06 ERA in four starts this season.But this is a former All-Star, who is under club control for the next few seasons. He signed a six-year extension with Cincinnati in 2023, and is controlled through 2028. Greene is owed $15 million in 2027, $16 million in 2028, and has a $21 million club option for 2029, and his contract comes with a $2 million buyout.His health is probably the biggest concern, as he has missed time beyond the recent surgery. Tommy John surgery in 2018 cost him the entire 2019 Minor League campaign, and he has lost time due to shoulder and lower-body issues.“Health,” said one MLB executive to MLB.com about the concern. “He falls into the high quality and moderate-to-low quantity category.”Still, during his 2024 All-Star campaign, he went 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA, earning Cy Young votes. Teams that miss on Skubal could be enticed to bet on that talent — at that low cost — for the next few years.Our friends at Battery Power are taking about Greene as well:Trade Deadline Discussion ThreadWe had a lot of good conversation yesterday. Perhaps we put all of our trade deadline chatter and thoughts here and get this post pinned through the deadline Monday. Today I want to talk about someone that I don’t think we have discussed which is Hunter Greene. His name has been out there the last few days and while I’m still not convinced that the Reds will move him, I’m curious to what you guys think. I’m in the camp of being reluctant to part with the prospects it would take to get Tarik Skubal, who would essentially be a 2 month + postseason rental. Greene on the other hand is 27 and is signed through 2028 with an option for 2029. Would you be willing to give up the prospects for Greene? Let me know below and lets use this to discuss other potential deals that we might see over the next three days. Rec 1CommentsThin Stroke Comment Icon BubbleReplyRead 53 repliesYankees calling on catchersAs we noted yesterday, the New York Yankees are one of several teams looking for help behind the plate at the MLB Trade Deadline.According to longtime MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees have inquired with the Baltimore Orioles about Adley Rutschman, but from the outside looking in it would seem unlikely that Mike Elias would move the catcher within the division:However, Passan reported on his podcast earlier this week that the Orioles are at least “open” to moving players such as Rutschman. Open is one thing, but making a deal … and one to the Yankees … is another.Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman is another option generating buzz, given last year’s slash line of .278/.323/.520, but the fact that he has three arbitration years coming up before he becomes a free agent in 2030 has pushed the asking price up.Could Mason Miller be moved?With the Los Angeles Dodgers running away with things in the NL West, the San Diego Padres sit in third place, 14 games back in the division.But at one game over .500, the Padres are just two games out in the NL Wild Card chase, so moving a key player ahead of hte deadline does not seem likely.Until you remember general manager A.J. Preller is involvedAfter swinging last year’s biggest move, the deal with the Athletics for closer Mason Miller, could Preller really turn around and trade him at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline? According to Passan it is at least possible, but Preller has been telling teams that no prospect can be listed as off limits in such a deal.With the New York Mets mired at the bottom of the NL standings, they are expected to move some players ahead of the deadline.One of them could be right-hander Clay Holmes.Holmes has not pitched in the majors since mid-May, when he suffered a broken right fibula, but was 4-4 in his nine starts with a 2.39 ERA and WHIP of 1.101. He pitched four scoreless innings for Low-A St. Lucia earlier this week, a game that was attended by scouts from several teams including the Yankees, White Sox, Phillies, Rays, Rangers, Dodgers, according to The Athletic.He is set to hit free agency at the end of the season, but is still expected to have a “strong” market. One AL executive told FanSided that “[i]t would be a surprise if he didn’t [get traded].” #MLB #trade #deadline #Latest #rumors #Tarik #Skubal #Hunter #Greene](https://i1.wp.com/cdn.vox-cdn.com/profile_images/7002597/Braveshat..jpg?ssl=1 "MLB trade deadline: Latest rumors on Tarik Skubal, Hunter Greene, and more If you believe Jeff Passan, today is the day we will start seeing trades ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline, which arrives Monday.So let’s spin around the rumors again.The latest on Tarik SkubalWednesday afternoon, Tarik Skubal exited the Detroit Tigers’ game against the Baltimore Orioles in the top of the seventh, having given up a two-run single. He left to a standing ovation from the Detroit faithful, who were wondering like the rest of us whether it was his last outing for the Tigers. He exited having handed the Detroit bullpen a 7-1 lead with two outs and a pair of runners aboard.What happened after that is, according to one MLB executive, the final “sign” that the Tigers need to move their ace at the deadline.Baltimore scored four more runs in the inning, and went on to win 10-9 in extras. Despite recording his 1,000th strikeout in the performance, Skubal received a no-decision for his efforts.“If there was ever a sign that the Tigers should trade Skubal, that was it. The offers should start flowing in any minute,” said one NL executive to MLB insider Mark Feinsand.Feinsand was not the only one reporting that a deal would be happening. ESPN’s Jeff Passan declared Skubal “will be traded” in his MLB Trade Deadline preview as well.So what teams could be making a move for the ace? As we outlined yesterday the Milwaukee Brewers are among the suitors, and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported that the Chicago Cubs are expected to make a run at the left-hander. But according to Passan, when it comes to potential suitors they are “all almost resigned to the idea that the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to get Tarik Skubal.”A potential reason for that? The lingering health issues for Shohei Ohtani. With the superstar dealing with left knee and right bicep issues, it has put his time on the bump on hold. His last start came on July 3, and manager Dave Roberts indicated earlier this week that his throwing program is on hold. “Trying to mitigate that, we stopped the throwing, stopped the bullpens — hopefully, No. 1, take care of the knee and then not have him try to create velocity with the arm that’s not 100%,” Roberts said.With Ohtani on the shelf — as a pitcher — that could mean a big push for Skubal from the Dodgers.If you’re looking for a sleeper team in the Skubal sweepstakes, keep an eye on Tampa Bay. The Rays saw left-hander Shane McClanahan leave his start on Thursday with “back tightness,” and while it is not considered a “long-term” issue, there is an opening for Tampa Bay. As one MLB source told MLB.com, “[t]he Brewers, Rays and Dodgers have the most high-end prospects to move. It would be somewhat surprising if he didn’t wind up with one of those three teams.”Hunter Greene on the marketWhile Skubal will command the headlines, another top arm could be on the move.According to MLB.com, there is a “50-50” chance that the Cincinnati Reds move flame-thrower Hunter Greene ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline. Greene missed the first half of the season following surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow, as he put off the surgery last season and threw through the discomfort, option for an injection rather than surgery.He ultimately went under the knife in the spring, costing him the start to 2026. Since returning he has gone 2-2 with a 7.06 ERA in four starts this season.But this is a former All-Star, who is under club control for the next few seasons. He signed a six-year extension with Cincinnati in 2023, and is controlled through 2028. Greene is owed $15 million in 2027, $16 million in 2028, and has a $21 million club option for 2029, and his contract comes with a $2 million buyout.His health is probably the biggest concern, as he has missed time beyond the recent surgery. Tommy John surgery in 2018 cost him the entire 2019 Minor League campaign, and he has lost time due to shoulder and lower-body issues.“Health,” said one MLB executive to MLB.com about the concern. “He falls into the high quality and moderate-to-low quantity category.”Still, during his 2024 All-Star campaign, he went 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA, earning Cy Young votes. Teams that miss on Skubal could be enticed to bet on that talent — at that low cost — for the next few years.Our friends at Battery Power are taking about Greene as well:Trade Deadline Discussion ThreadWe had a lot of good conversation yesterday. Perhaps we put all of our trade deadline chatter and thoughts here and get this post pinned through the deadline Monday. Today I want to talk about someone that I don’t think we have discussed which is Hunter Greene. His name has been out there the last few days and while I’m still not convinced that the Reds will move him, I’m curious to what you guys think. I’m in the camp of being reluctant to part with the prospects it would take to get Tarik Skubal, who would essentially be a 2 month + postseason rental. Greene on the other hand is 27 and is signed through 2028 with an option for 2029. Would you be willing to give up the prospects for Greene? Let me know below and lets use this to discuss other potential deals that we might see over the next three days. Rec 1CommentsThin Stroke Comment Icon BubbleReplyRead 53 repliesYankees calling on catchersAs we noted yesterday, the New York Yankees are one of several teams looking for help behind the plate at the MLB Trade Deadline.According to longtime MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees have inquired with the Baltimore Orioles about Adley Rutschman, but from the outside looking in it would seem unlikely that Mike Elias would move the catcher within the division:However, Passan reported on his podcast earlier this week that the Orioles are at least “open” to moving players such as Rutschman. Open is one thing, but making a deal … and one to the Yankees … is another.Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman is another option generating buzz, given last year’s slash line of .278/.323/.520, but the fact that he has three arbitration years coming up before he becomes a free agent in 2030 has pushed the asking price up.Could Mason Miller be moved?With the Los Angeles Dodgers running away with things in the NL West, the San Diego Padres sit in third place, 14 games back in the division.But at one game over .500, the Padres are just two games out in the NL Wild Card chase, so moving a key player ahead of hte deadline does not seem likely.Until you remember general manager A.J. Preller is involvedAfter swinging last year’s biggest move, the deal with the Athletics for closer Mason Miller, could Preller really turn around and trade him at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline? According to Passan it is at least possible, but Preller has been telling teams that no prospect can be listed as off limits in such a deal.With the New York Mets mired at the bottom of the NL standings, they are expected to move some players ahead of the deadline.One of them could be right-hander Clay Holmes.Holmes has not pitched in the majors since mid-May, when he suffered a broken right fibula, but was 4-4 in his nine starts with a 2.39 ERA and WHIP of 1.101. He pitched four scoreless innings for Low-A St. Lucia earlier this week, a game that was attended by scouts from several teams including the Yankees, White Sox, Phillies, Rays, Rangers, Dodgers, according to The Athletic.He is set to hit free agency at the end of the season, but is still expected to have a “strong” market. One AL executive told FanSided that “[i]t would be a surprise if he didn’t [get traded].” #MLB #trade #deadline #Latest #rumors #Tarik #Skubal #Hunter #Greene")
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