Madden NFL 25: The 10 Best Tight Ends (2024)

NFL offenses have changed pretty dramatically since American football's inception, especially in the last couple of decades, and there's maybe no better indication of that change than the tight end. Tight ends in today's league lean closer towards being large receivers than they do smaller linemen.

Because of this, it's opened up NFL playbooks and exploded the impact the tight end has on the game. What's true for the real NFL is also true for Madden 25; having a great tight end can make life much more difficult for the defense. We rank the best tight ends in Madden NF 25.

10 Kyle Pitts

Overall: 83 Spectacular Catch: 88 Speed: 91

Kyle Pitts is a bit of a unique case because, while he isn't anywhere near the best-rated overall tight end in the league, he is possibly the tight end with the highest eventual ceiling. He has uncanny speed for someone in his position, and he's only 23 years old, which means he has a lot of mileage in front of him.

Apart from his speed, Pitts has fairly reliable hands at 86 catching. His catch in traffic could stand to improve, as could his route running, but considering his age, if you put the time into working on his stats, he could end up an incredible tight end with time.

9 Dalton Schultz

Overall: 84 Awareness: 89 Catching: 88

Dalton Schultz might not be a beast physically, but he has consistency across all of his stats, which leads him toward being a tight end you can rely on. He doesn't have breakneck speed, but his awareness and catching are both high enough that he isn't liable to make a lot of mistakes when the ball comes his way.

His route running can stand to improve, and combined with his lack of speed, can keep him from getting open. As a blocker, he can be a help in the run game, particularly if he gets a running start to block a linebacker as opposed to a defensive end on the line.

8 Dallas Goedert

Overall: 85 Catching: 88 Run Block: 74

Dallas Goedert is one of those few tight ends that can do it all. He has good hands, solid speed, and he can run block better than some backup offensive lineman. He might not be the best in the business at any of these characteristics, but few are capable of doing as many things well as Goedert.

The place Goedert's stat could stand to improve is, again, route running. If the defense sticks a cornerback or a coverage-style safety on him, he might not break open very often, limiting his usefulness in the passing game. But if they're putting an extra secondary on the field to stop him in the passing game, it should help you in the running game.

7 Sam LaPorta

Overall: 86 Catching: 90 Catch In Traffic: 86

Sam LaPorta is, much like Kyle Pitts, in a unique position as one of the best tight ends in the league, and he still has a lot of years ahead of him. At 22, LaPorta has some of the best hands in the league at the position, along with the ability to catch the ball with contact, which is pretty likely at tight end.

While his route running needs work overall, he does run short routes well, and putting him on slants or routes like it can get him open fast. His run blocking is not exceptional, but in the passing game, he can be a consistent target.

6 Evan Engram

Overall: 88 Catching: 97 Speed: 88

Evan Engram can be, as many teams have found over the years, a problem. He, quite simply, just catches the football. There is little that can be done to stop this. With a catching rating of 97, if the ball hits him in the hands, it's likely there for good.

That said, he doesn't have a remarkable ability to get open with his route-running ability. He has speed on his side, and that can help him get open on plays where the pocket protection is there, but on quicker routes, he's relying more on his size than his technique.

5 David Njoku

Overall: 90 Catching: 90 Spectacular Catch: 87

David Njoku is a potent threat in the passing game. With incredible physical ability (95 jumping!) and great fundamentals, there isn't really a weak spot to him. He's shored up his run blocking over the years, and while he's not a great blocker, he's serviceable in that department.

Last year with an elite talent at quarterback, Njoku had an outrageous season. Cleveland is back to having the weakest QB in their division this year, and that might limit Njoku's potential, but with the right team around him, Njoku has the potential to be a player the defense has to gameplan around.

4 T.J. Hockenson

Overall: 91 Catching: 94 Spectacular Catch: 90

While not quite as deadly with the ball as Njoku, T.J. Hockenson is slightly more adept at getting the ball in his hands, with recieving stats that are just slightly better across the board.

With a high catch in traffic and spectacular catch mixed with good route running, Hockenson is going to be a consistent target whether he's in coverage or broken away from it. A solid run blocker as well, he can stay on the field, regardless of the down.

3 Mark Andrews

Overall: 94 Catching: 92 Catch In Traffic: 91

Mark Andrews is an incredible talent with nary a weak spot. Physically overpowering, fast, with great awareness, and receiving stats that outpace most receivers in the league. He's also a solid run blocker, with slightly higher run blocking stats than the average tight end.

With Lamar Jackson at QB, Andrews is certain to get plenty of opportunities to get the ball, even if covered in the first few seconds of the play. In the red zone, they are a nearly impossible duo to stop, with Lamar's ability to either run it in himself or throw it up high to Andrews and have him pull down the touchdown.

2 George Kittle

Overall: 97 Catching: 93 Speed: 88

When looking at George Kittle's stats, you might think a mistake must have been made somewhere. You'd be wrong. While he doesn't have quite as good receiving stats as the #1 TE in the league (according to Madden), there's nothing to scoff at in Kittle's catching ability. Combine that with his route running, and he's going to get more looks than probably anybody else in the passing game.

However, Kittle puts as much effort into his run blocking as he does his receiving, with a 77 run blocking rating. There are starting lineman with lower run blocking ratings. With strength of 82, he isn't lacking in that department, either. Kittle can and does do it all.

1 Travis Kelce

Overall: 99 Catching: 96 Awareness: 99

Kelce has a lot of things going for him; first and foremost, he is a generational talent at tight end, capable of doing things few others at the position have ever been able to achieve. He has a head coach in Andy Reid that's constantly keeping his team, and his offense, fresh. And he's got the best QB in the league throwing to him, in Patrick Mahomes.

That's a lot of green flags. While Kelce is not the run blocker that Kittle is, that's hardly a standard that tight ends can be held to, and Kelce can still block above average. In the passing game, there is none better

than Travis Kelce.