Entering the NFL free agency period in March there isn’t an upper echelon tight end hitting the market. There isn’t a free-agent tight end this year that finished in the top ten in receiving yards at the position. Teams in need of a tight end won’t get much help in this year’s college draft class either. Nevertheless, depth is important, and tight end is no exception.
Let’s look at the top ten free agent tight ends of 2024 with their 2023 team in parentheses.
10 – Irv Smith (Cincinnati Bengals)
Smith caught 36 passes as a rookie with the Minnesota Vikings in 2019 and scored five touchdowns in 2020. He missed the entire 2021 season with a torn meniscus. Smith continued to have injury isses, missing nine games in 2022 and five games in 2023.
Smith is only 25 years old and is a very capable pass-catching tight end. The key for Smith will be to remain healthy. The Bengals could re-sign Smith in hopes he can remain healthy. Other possible landing spots for Smith include the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints.
9 – Pharaoh Brown (New England Patriots)
Brown has played for four teams over a six-year NFL career. His best season was in 2021 when he caught 23 passes for 171 yards while with the Houston Texans. He played in all games last season for the first time in his career and caught 13 passes on 15 targets for 208 yards and a touchdown. Brown won’t light up the stat sheet but he’s a reliable veteran who will make all the correct blocks and can make some clutch catches in traffic. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots re-sign Brown, who has proven to be a solid number two tight end.
8 – Colby Parkinson (Seattle Seahawks)
Parkinson played in all 17 games each of the past two seasons and was very consistent, catching 25 passes and two touchdowns each season. His size at 6’ 7” and over 250 pounds makes him a great option in the red zone. One issue is his lack of efficiency as a run-blocker, which could make some teams shy away from him. With Noah Fant also a free agent, the Seahawks could re-sign Parkinson and give him a bigger role in the offense.
7 – Mike Gesicki (New England Patriots)
Gesicki emerged as one fo the better tight ends in the NFL in 2021 when he hauled in 73 passes for 780 yards. This after posting two 50-plus reception seasons and 11 total touchdowns. His production declined significantly in 2022 to only 32 catches, down to 29 for 244 yards in his first season with the Patriots. Despite bad quarterback play from the Patriots last season, one must wonder if Gesicki’s 2021 season was a blip on the radar.
Gesecki hasn’t shown he can return anywhere close to that form despite playing in every game. Gesicki is still a big target in the red zone and would be a great fit with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which 28th in red zone conversion in 2023.
6 – Austin Hooper (Las Vegas Raiders)
Hooper is a shell of the player that was Pro Bowler in 2018 and 2019 while with the Atlanta Falcons. Hooper played in all 17 games for the Raiders last season but was targeted only 31 times, catching 25 for 234 yards. Rookie Michael Mayer clearly became the go-to tight end by the end of the season. It was be surprising if Hooper is retained by the Raiders in 2024.
While his statistics have declined sharply, Hooper is durable, having not missed a game since 2021. He’s also very sure handed, having never fumbled in his career. Possible landing spots for Hooper include the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins.
5 – Adam Trautman (Denver Broncos)
Trautman was the best of a mediocre tight end group in Denver last season, catching 22 passes with a career-high three touchdowns. Trautman has 82 career receptions and seven touchdowns in 60 games. He won’t fill up the stat sheet and doesn’t have the best hands. However, at 6’ 5” and 253 pounds, is an excellent blocker.
Arizona is a great fit for Trautman after the Cardinals lost Zach Ertz and possibly Geoff Swaim in free agency. The Chargers may also have interest considering that blocking tight ends are a crucial part of their run downhill attack.
4 – Gerald Everett (Los Angeles Chargers)
Everett has caught at least 50 passes in each of the past two seasons with the Chargers. Over a seven-year career, Everett has found the end zone 17 times on 284 receptions. He is a big red zone target at 6’ 3” and 250 pounds, which is desirable for many teams. One issue with Everett has been fumbling, having coughed up the ball a career-high three times last season.
A great landing spot for Everett is the Chicago Bears. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was Everett’s tight ends coach as a rookie and Chicago is likely to look for a solid veteran after Robert Tonyan performed miserably last season.
3 – Noah Fant (Seattle Seahawks)
Fant scored 14 touchdowns over his first four NFL seasons, but didn’t find the end zone once on a career-low 32 receptions last season. His lack of production could be deceiving since he was targeted only 43 times, compared to an average of nearly 80 each season prior. Fant is still young at age 26 and has good athletic ability, speed, and size at 6’ 4” and 250 pounds.
A good landing spot for Fant is the Chicago Bears, who need an improvement over Robert Tonyan. Another team that should show interest is the Washington Commanders, who will look to upgrade their skill positions.
2 – Hunter Henry (New England Patriots)
Henry has been a very consistent contributor to the offense since signing with the Patriots in 2021. He caught a career-high nine touchdown passes in his first season with the team and 17 of his 38 career touchdown receptions with the Patriots. In addition to being great in the red zone and on third downs, Henry has been durable, having missed only five games over the past four seasons.
At age 29, Henry will consider his options since this could be his last good chance at a lucrative contract. The Patriots should seriously consider re-signing Henry, but other teams in the mix include the Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets, who look to move on from C.J. Uzomah.
1 – Dalton Schultz (Houston Texans)
Schultz has been a very consistent tight end over the past four seasons and was a comfortable target for C.J. Stroud in his first season with the Texans. Schultz caught 59 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. He was hauled in 270 passes for 2757 yards and 22 touchdowns in 90 career games.
It has been reported that Schultz would like to return to Houston, noting that he loved everything about Houston and the organization. If a new deal cannot be reached, teams that would be a great fit for Schultz include the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots.
