Top 5 TE Free Agents to Watch

Starting off this week is our tight ends free agency preview. This class has some big names included and there could be a fair amount of swapping ahead. Once one of these guys signs, there should be a tight end run during the legal tampering phase. The theme of this class will be potential. The first three guys on our list have always had the ability, they just either haven’t had the right environment or haven’t exactly lived up to the hype around them. They could all end up in new situation that could help them flourish.

1. Kyle Pitts

Kyle Pitts is going to be one of the more intriguing free agents to hit the market this year. He has a rare combination of size and speed that cannot be ignored. His problem has been producing at a level that lives up to the hype. Fantasy owners have been burned by Pitts every year but a change of scenery might turn him into the player that everyone expects him to be.

Pitts was drafted with the 4th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. This selection made him the highest drafted tight end in NFL history. Coming out of Florida, Pitts was thought to be a game wrecker that would revolutionize the tight end position. Hi rookie year looked to be a good start to living up to the draft pick. He recorded 68 receptions for 1026 yards. 2022 was marred by injuries as he only played in 10 games. He battled inconsistent quarterback play and his first coaching change in 2023. He recorded 53 receptions for 667 yards and 3 touchdowns. 2024 was very similar as he finished with a stat line of 47 receptions for 602 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Last year was potentially a sign of things to come as he had his best season since his rookie year. He caught 88 balls for 928 yards and 5 touchdowns. He stepped up down the stretch and became the favorite target of Kirk Cousins. This bump in production was well timed as he is set to hit the free agent market.

Spotrac is projecting that Pitts earns an AAV of $10 million. There will most likely be discussions about him being overvalued but as it is with free agency every year, these players are typically over paid. They are worth what someone is willing to pay for them. He is represented by David Mulugheta of Athletes First. Anyone familiar with NFL agents will tell you, Mulugheta is the guy you hire if you want the highest contract possible. Pitts is most likely going to end up with the team that makes the highest bid for his services. As of now, the tight end needy teams with the most cap room are the Titans, Chargers, Jets, and Commanders.

Prediction: Signs with Titans

2. David Njoku

David Njoku is going to be a free agent for the first time in his career. He has already penned a goodbye to Cleveland and is definitely not coming back. After 9 seasons in Cleveland, Njoku is getting a much-needed change of scenery.

Njoku was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. His rookie year was underwhelming as he started 5 games and record 386 yards. Over the next 5 years, he missed several games due to injuries and never really quite lived up to the expectations for someone with his athletic ability. His best year came in 2023 when the Browns signed Joe Flacco. For the first time in his career, Njoku had a quarterback that consistently threw him the ball. He needed the year with 81 receptions for 882 yards and 6 touchdowns, which were all career highs. However, the quarterback carousel continued in Cleveland the following year and the injury bug came back for Njoku.

Last year was plagued with injuries and saw the emergence of Harold Fannin Jr. Njoku took a back seat as the Browns are getting younger and are continuing to figure out the quarterback position. If Njoku lands somewhere with consistent QB play, he should be a huge weapon for that offense.

Spotrac is estimating that Njoku will earn about $10 million AAV this year. He should be an interesting name for a lot of teams that are looking to add an athletic tight end. I think the best fit for him would be a place that is looking to add to their tight end room and not necessarily relying on him as their only tight end. His injury history might be a cause for concern so they should pair him with someone else. Some teams that are already being tied to Njoku are the Chiefs (depending on Kelce), the Giants, Falcons, and Broncos.

Prediction: Signs with Denver

3. Isiah Likely

The common theme of these tight ends so far has been “potential”. That does not stop here with Isiah Likely. Likely has been buried on the Ravens depth chart behind Mark Andrews his entire career. He has shown flashes of his athleticism during his four-year stint in Baltimore but has always played second fiddle to one of the better tight ends in the game. This free agency period is going to be Likely’s opportunity to move up the depth chart and show the world what he can do as a number one tight end.

The Ravens drafted likely in the 4th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was instantly number 2 on the depth chart and it was always going to be a struggle for him to get much playing time with Andrews slated in the top spot. He recorded 10 starts over his first two seasons. He accounted for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2022 and 411 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2023. His breakout performance came in Week 1 of the 2024 season. Andrews was out with injury and Likely had the best game of his career against the Chiefs. He had 111 yards on 9 receptions and 1 touchdown in that game. He barely missed a second touchdown to win the game (which locked in our first ever Best Bet). After that, he was on everyone’s radar. He finished the year with 477 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Last year, Likely’s season was essentially dead on arrival. He had foot surgery during the offseason that kept him off the field until Week 4. Even when he returned, he was not a huge part of the Ravens offense. He ended the year appearing in 8 games and recording 27 catches for 307 yards and 1 touchdown. Now with a full bill of health, his new team is going to look to maximize his potential.

Per Spotrac, Likely is going to command around $9 million per year in this market. He will possibly be looked at as a guy who has all the upside in the world but just needs to land in the right spot. The easy connection to make would be the New York Giants, which is where John Harbough is now coaching. The Giants have Theo Johnson as their tight end, but Johnson has struggled with drops. Likely would add another target for Jaxson Dart in an offense that could use another pass catching weapon. The other teams drawing connection would be the other teams mentioned on this post. He could end up with the Titans, Falcons, Chiefs, Commanders, Brocos, or Patriots.

Prediction: Signs with Giants

4. Cade Otton

Another member of the 2022 NFL draft class is set to cash in during this free agency period. Cade Otton has been a reliable tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If they do not bring him bag on the franchise tag or on a new deal, his new team will get a proven player who will give you consistent results. He is not going to necessarily wow you with his stats but will provide a solid target.

Drafted by the Bucs in the 4th round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Cade Otton has spent his entire career so far in Tampa Bay. He has been a pass catcher in a crowded offense. He has shown the ability to step up in situations where the receivers have gone down with injury. His best season was in 2024 when he had 59 receptions for 600 yards and 4 touchdowns. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both went down with serious injuries which elevated Otton to Baker Mayfield’s favorite target.

Based on his production in 2024 he was expected to be a key piece in 2025. The departure of Liam Coen as play caller and the additions to the receiver’s room saw Otton have just another decent year. He caught 59 balls for 572 yards and 1 touchdown. He continued his trend of being a streaky player.

If and when Otton hits the market, he should have plenty of interest once the other tight ends on this list get signed. He has been floated as a potential replacement for Kelce in Kansas City. He has been connected to Jacksonville to reunited with Liam Coen. Then, there are the teams I seem to be listing for all of these guys.

Prediction: Signs with Commanders

5. Travis Kelce

Rounding out our list is the future hall of famer. Travis Kelce is going to be a hot topic of discussion this offseason. There were rumors last year that 2025 would be his last. Now, it looks like he is returning for 2026 and faces an uncertain contract situation. I’ll jump to the prediction before getting into his stats. He is either going to retire as a Chief. Whether that’s this offseason or the next one, he will not end up elsewhere.

Kelce has earned the right to be the most talked about tight end in this free agent class. He is brought up in the conversation of best tight ends in NFL history and has earned the right amount of respect. Kelce is currently 3rd all time in receiving yards and receptions for tight ends, only behind Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. He is 5th all time in touchdowns with 82.

The last two years, Kelce’s production has fallen. It is to be expected as he is getting older and cannot move the way that he used to. That being said, he still eld the Chiefs in receiving yards. His connection with Patrick Mahomes is not to be understated and his understanding of the Andy Reid offense makes him a dangerous weapon when matched up against defenders.

Should Kelce not retire, Spotrac is projecting that he gets around $10 million. The big question moving forward (outside of retirement) is whether or not the Chiefs will be able to afford to bring him back. I have a feeling that money won’t be that big of a motivator for Travis as he is able to make plenty off the field. I think he will be more inclined to sign a team friendly deal to run it back one more time rather than signing elsewhere.

Prediction: Re-signs with Chiefs