Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft 2025 Positional Needs: Tight End

While I have watched highlights from the Super Bowl every day since it happened, apparently a NEW season of football is still going to start in September. Before that can happen however, each team gets to select a number of former college standouts in the annual NFL Draft (April 24-April 26) which takes place in Green Bay, Wis. this year.

The Philadelphia Eagles will have the last pick in the first round, due to being the defending Super Bowl champs of course, and seven picks in rounds two through five, although Executive VP/GM/Wizard Howie Roseman has been known to make a deal or two on draft weekend.

2025 Picks:

1st round (PHI), No. 32
2nd round (PHI), No. 64
3rd round (PHI), No. 96
4th round (DET), No. 130
5th round (HOU), No. 161
5th round (CLE via DET), No. 164
5th round (WAS), No. 165
5th round (PHI), No. 168

2026 Picks:

1st round (PHI)
2nd round (PHI)
3rd round (PHI)
3rd round (NYJ)
4th round (PHI)
5th round (PHI)
5th round (HOU)
7th round (PHI)

four compensatory picks too (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th rounds)

Potential Team Needs (2025 free agents in parentheses):

EDGE (Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham)
LB (Zack Baun, Oren Burks, Ben VanSumeren; Nakobe Dean FA in 26)
OG (Mekhi Becton, Fred Johnson)
OT (Jack Driscoll; Darian Kinnard, Brett Toth FAs in 26)
TE (C.J. Uzomah FA; Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcatarra, E.J. Jenkins FA in 26)
CB (Isaiah Rodgers, Avonte Maddox FA; Darius Slay, Tristin McCollum, Eli Ricks, James Bradberry FAs in 26)
RB (Kenneth Gainwell)
IDL (Milton Williams; Jordan Davis, Thomas Booker IV FAs in 26)

Now that a number of free agent decisions have been made, we have a better idea of what the Birds might do during the draft.

The Eagles lost: Sweat (Cardinals), Rodgers (Vikings), Gainwell (Steelers), Williams (Patriots), Slay (Steelers), Burks (Bengals), Becton (Chargers), Maddox (Lions), Johnson (Jaguars), Graham (FA), Bradberry (FA)

The Eagles retained: Baun, VanSumeren

Undecided: Uzomah, Driscoll

The Eagles signed free agents: LG Kenyon Green (Texans), EDGE Joshua Uche (Chiefs), RB A.J. Dillon (Packers), CB Adoree’ Jackson (Giants), LS Charley Hughlett (Browns), TE Harrison Bryant (Raiders), TE Kylen Granson (Colts), EDGE Patrick Johnson (Giants), PR/KR/WR/RB Avery WIlliams (Falcons), EDGE Azeez Ojulari (Giants)

Philadelphia is in a bit of a bind at the tight end position currently. Starter Dallas Goedert is a valuable, yet injury prone, veteran that could be moved after June 1 to clear up some cap space and the backups are all varying levels of unproven. Grant Calcaterra would appear to be TE1 if the Birds move on from Goedert, while new signings Kylen Granson and Harrison Bryant would compete for backup snaps.

I’ll be honest with you here…without Goedert that is an extremely underwhelming group of tight ends for the defending Super Bowl champs. Allowing a rookie tight end to join this room would be ideal and having Goedert there to mentor them would be even more ideal.

Let’s take a look at a trio of tight ends the Eagles could draft in April to help offset/replace some of Goedert’s production.

(Age listed is “age on first day of the season.” Height and weight is as listed on NFL.com draft profile.)

Harold Fannin, Jr., Bowling Green State, 6-foot-3, 241 pounds, junior, 21 years old

• does not have prototypical size for a tight end, with his height in the 23rd percentile and weight in the 9th percentile of others at his position per MockDraftable
• despite the lack of size he, quite literally, had the best pass catching season any tight end has had in college football history
• wasn’t known for his blocking in college and he’ll have a lot of work to do in the pros to become even an average blocker, but he put up 22 reps on the bench press and appears to know he must be stronger before reaching the NFL
• can line up anywhere in the formation and if the ball is near his hands he won’t drop it
• absolutely loathes being tackled and fights for extra yards no matter how many defenders are hanging on to him
• 2024 accolades: Consensus First-Team All-American (Walter Camp, AFCA, AP, FWAA, PFF, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Action Network, Phil Steele); MAC Overall MVP; MAC Offensive Player of the Year; First-Team All-MAC; Mackey Award Finalist
• 2024 stats: 117 catches (FBS record for tight end; led nation), 1,555 yards (FBS record for tight end; led nation), 13.3 ypc, 10 touchdowns; 9 rushes, 65 yards, 7.2 ypc, 1 touchdown; 1-of-2 passing, 9 yards
• Fun fact: led the country in broken tackles (34) last season
• The Eagles should draft him in: 3rd round

Terrance Ferguson, Oregon, 6-foot-5, 247 pounds, senior, 22 years old

• he has above average athleticism and you can tell by the way he uses his body to shield defenders from the ball that he played basketball growing up
• in scramble situations Oregon’s QB (Dillon Gabriel) always seemed to look for Ferguson, who acted as a security blanket for the transfer signal caller
• not a great blocker, but obviously has the size to become one with the right coaching

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

• ran a lot of funny-money delayed routes where he “blocked” for a second or two and then sneaked out into the flat for easy catches
• if you want to see a moment where my heart was ripped out of my chest, go to around 2:50 in his highlight video below and watch the incredible contested catch he makes on 4th and 9 against my alma mater Wisconsin to stymie UW’s upset bid of No. 1 Oregon
• high floor, low ceiling type of player, which isn’t a bad thing imo
• 2024 accolades: All-Big Ten Third Team (media)
• 2024 stats: 43 catches, 591 yards, 13.7 ypc, 3 touchdowns; UO’s all-time leader in catches and receiving TDs for tight ends (2nd all-time in receiving yards)
• Fun fact: also lettered in lacrosse, basketball, and track in high school
• The Eagles should draft him in: 4th round

Jake Briningstool, Clemson, 6-foot-6, 241 pounds, senior, 22 years old

• lethal as a red-zone target
• needs to add 15ish pounds to his frame or else edge rushers are going to break him in half
• great hands and solid athleticism give him the ability to make acrobatic catches in traffic

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

• a below average, but willing, blocker who will impress NFL coaches with his combative blocking attitude
• 2024 accolades: Third-team All-ACC (coaches); Fourth-team All-ACC (Phil Steele)
• 2024 stats: 49 catches, 530 yards, 10.8 ypc, 7 touchdowns; Clemson’s all-time leader in receptions by a tight end (127)
• Fun fact: completed a “microinternship” with Gallo Winery in Atlanta in the spring of 2024
• The Eagles should draft him in: 5th round