NFL free agent TE rankings: Where does Travis Kelce land on top 10?

Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAYThu, March 5, 2026 at 11:07 AM UTC

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As usual, free agency isn’t exactly what we were expecting months ago, especially for pass-catchers.

Dallas placed the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, which removed the second-team All-Pro from the free-agent market. That leaves the likes of Alec Pierce, Rashid Shaheed, Jauan Jennings, Romeo Doubs, Tyreek Hill and Mike Evans as the top choices at the position. Not exactly game-changing players, who may all come at a high price.

If that’s not your cup of tea, may we recommend a tight end?

Atlanta placed the franchise tag on Kyle Pitts, which takes one of the more exciting free agents off the market. But don’t fret, there are options that bring some youth or production to the table for a future team.

Here are our top 10 free agent tight ends entering the 2026 offseason:

More: Ranking the top 10 free agent wide receivers in 2026

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1 / 0Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

NFL free agent TE rankings

Here's how the top free agent wideouts rank heading into the 2026 league year, listed with the team they played for in 2025:

1. Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens -

2025 stats: 27 receptions, 307 receiving yards, one touchdown

Likely missed time to open the 2025 season as he recovered from a broken bone in his foot. His return coincided with quarterback Lamar Jackson’s injury. Once he returned, Likely remained less involved in the offense.

Overall, Baltimore’s passing game funneled through Zay Flowers in 2025. His 86 receptions were by far the most on the team; Mark Andrews finished second on the Ravens with 48. That begs the question of whether Likely’s slight step back in 2025 should be taken seriously or chalked up to missing time at the start of the season and, at times, an anemic passing game.

In either case, he’s shown flashes in prior years and is entering his age-26 season in 2026 which makes him one of the younger players at the position in free agency. He could have a chance to grow on his second contract.

2. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns -

2025 stats: 33 receptions, 293 receiving yards, four touchdowns

Njoku is one of our top tight ends for a mix of reasons. He’s entering his age-30 season and brings years of experience from his time in Cleveland. The Browns were far from a high-flying offense for the last few years, yet Njoku was still reliable. He likely won’t be back in Cleveland due to how well rookie Harold Fannin Jr. played in 2025.

He’s a few years removed from his best production in 2023 when he made the Pro Bowl and set career-highs in yards (882) and touchdowns (six). He’s not going to be a No. 1 option in the passing game, but is more than capable as a third option for a tight-end-needy team. He missed time in 2025 due to knee injuries which could dampen his market overall.

3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs -

2025 stats: 76 receptions, 851 receiving yards, five touchdowns

Kelce’s done enough to ensure himself a gold jacket shortly after he calls it a career. He’s one of the most prolific tight ends in NFL history and a defining player on the premier team of the last five years: the Kansas City Chiefs.

But he’s entering his age-37 season. That age was apparent last season when he looked a step slower than his earlier years for a Chiefs offense that needed more explosiveness. Even a down year for the tight end - who operated without star Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball down the stretch - was still better than anyone else on this list.

Kelce has to come with a “buyer beware” label. His reputation could command top money but teams should understand they’re not paying for the Kelce of the turn of the decade when he was a perennial All-Pro. He’s still productive but not capable of being a No. 1 option in the passing game.

4. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles -

2025 stats: 60 receptions, 591 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns

Goedert set a career-high in touchdowns at the perfect time as he hits the free agent market for the first time and could command some of the most money in the group.

If you like Kelce’s experience, Goedert can offer you plenty of that, but six years younger. The Eagles depended on him in the red zone. Only two of his 11 touchdown receptions came from more than 15 yards out.

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He’s never been the top receiving option in the Eagles’ offense after taking over for Zach Ertz but he’s a reliable player at the position. His EPA per target in 2025 (0.38) was ninth-best among qualifying tight ends, according to NFL Pro Stats, and is the best of any player on this list. His game should age well for his next team.

5. Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans -

2025 stats: 56 receptions, 560 receiving yards, two touchdowns

Tennessee selected Okonkwo with the No. 143 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He endured Ryan Tannehill’s final years in Tennessee before catching passes from Will Levis. Things didn’t improve much in 2025 even with Cam Ward at quarterback.

Still, Okonkwo has been metronomically consistent over the last three seasons: between 70 and 79 targets, 52 and 56 receptions and a couple of touchdowns have been his production on a yearly basis.

Even if the counting statistics didn’t improve much in 2025, the advanced metrics show a different story. Okonkwo hit 0.12 expected points added (EPA) per target which is a huge jump up from his figure of -0.20 in 2024, per NFL Pro stats. There’s underlying evidence he could take a step with better - or at least more experienced - quarterback play.

He turns 27 in September with plenty of runway to improve in a different ecosystem. He may be a high-upside player who outperforms his contract if given the right environment to thrive.

6. Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers -

2025 stats: 38 receptions, 222 receiving yards, two touchdowns; nine carries, 70 rushing yards, one touchdown

Smith reunited with former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh via trade last year. With the Steelers under a new staff, Smith was cut ahead of free agency.

Smith is entering his 10th year in the NFL, but he hasn't shown many signs of slowing down. He had to share targets in Pittsburgh with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington as the Steelers were a tight end-heavy pass-catching room.

He's just one year removed from setting career-highs in receptions (88), receiving yards (884) and touchdowns (eight). He made the Pro Bowl for that campaign in 2024. Even in a down year in 2025, he still posted a catch rate above 70% for the fourth consecutive year.

With a bigger role in an offense, Smith could produce for a new team. He's got enough years left in his career to be a useful player for a team looking for a third target in the passing game.

7. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers -

2025 stats: 59 receptions, 572 receiving yards, one touchdown

Otton is another younger option who is reaching his second contract. The former fourth-round pick out of Washington turns 27 in April and ended the 2025 season as the second-most productive pass-catcher in the Buccaneers’ offense.

His best season came in 2024, when he essentially became the Buccaneers’ top receiver in the passing game while Evans and Chris Godwin dealt with injuries. How much of that was Liam Coen as an outstanding play-caller or Otton’s talent? That’s up to his future team to decide.

As is the case with Likely and Okonkwo, Otton’s shown enough to be considered worthwhile for a second contract. If he’s your third-best receiving option in the passing game, that’s a good place to be. He’s shown enough to give his future team a lot in the receiving game.

8. Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins -

2025 stats: 24 receptions, 283 receiving yards, six touchdowns

Waller came back from retirement in 2025 to play nine games for the Miami Dolphins and contributed right away. He scored four touchdowns in his first three games back on the football field after retiring ahead of the 2024 season.

He made a strong impact in his nine games on the field for the Dolphins. His 28.4 receiving EPA is third-best of his career behind his best years with the Raiders in 2019 (41.5) and 2020 (55.9). But on a per-target basis, he had the best year of his career by EPA. That’s more than enough to warrant at least a short-term deal for 2026.

9. Charlie Kolar, Baltimore Ravens -

2025 stats: 10 receptions, 142 receiving yards, two touchdowns

Kolar is different from others on this list. The Iowa State product is entering his age-27 season as a blocking tight end. A case could be made that he has more to offer as a receiver than what he showed in Baltimore behind Andrews and Likely on the depth chart.

The Buffalo Bills’ offense took a step in 2025 thanks to using a tight end who was a standout blocker but enough of a threat as a receiver to force defenses to match with base personnel. The Los Angeles Rams’ use of 13 personnel - one running back, three tight ends - made them one of the most dangerous offenses in the league for a stretch. Kolar could be a hotter commodity than some realize.

10. Noah Fant, Cincinnati Bengals -

2025 stats: 34 receptions, 288 receiving yards, three touchdowns

Fant had a disappointing 2025 campaign amid uncertainty at the quarterback position in Cincinnati. Losing Joe Burrow dropped the Bengals’ season hopes and productivity for the pass-catchers went with it. He posted career-lows in EPA per target (-0.32) and total receiving EPA (-13.2).

But it represented a massive step back for a tight end who had solid years leading up to his 2025 campaign. Fant turns 29 this November and could still offer at least solid depth at the position for a team looking to round out its roster. He had good chemistry with Joe Flacco when he was the Bengals’ starter and teams could use those weeks as a way to project how he may fare in 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Free agent TE rankings: Travis Kelce, David Njoku among best available

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