NFL Free Agency Begins: Top Tight Ends to Watch

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The NFL’s free agency period kicks off on March 12, 2025, with teams eager to fill roster gaps and enhance their squads. As franchises prepare for the offseason, a key area of focus will be the tight end position, where several notable players are set to find new homes.

The Cleveland Browns are in a unique position with David Njoku, their franchise tight end, who earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2023. However, after an underwhelming 2024 season that saw him record 505 receiving yards and five touchdowns—mainly due to injuries—the Browns may explore options to bolster their depth at the position.

Among the potential free-agent targets are Jordan Akins and Harrison Bryant. Akins, who served as Cleveland’s backup for two seasons, caught just 55 passes for two touchdowns during his tenure. Bryant, drafted by the Browns in 2020, had a brief stint with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024 and could return to Cleveland looking for more playing time.

Prominent names on the free-agent tight end market include Zach Ertz (34, Washington Commanders), Mike Gesicki (29, Cincinnati Bengals), Tyler Conklin (29, New York Jets), and Mo Alie-Cox (31, Indianapolis Colts). The list also features younger talents like Tommy Tremble (24, Carolina Panthers) and Stone Smartt (26, Los Angeles Chargers) who might draw interest from teams seeking immediate upgrades.

“The tight end market is usually dynamic during free agency, and there are capable players available,” said a source familiar with the tight end landscape. “Teams will need to assess their specific needs and fiscal constraints to determine whom to pursue.”

As the free agency landscape evolves, Cleveland will not be alone in seeking to reinforce their tight end corps. The Baltimore Ravens, for instance, aim to strengthen their offensive line and secondary, while the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals have expressed significant needs on defense, particularly in coverage.

With the free agency signing window set to open on Monday, March 10 at noon ET, teams will be eyeing opportunities to negotiate lucrative deals before the official signing period starts on March 12 at 4 p.m. ET. The upcoming weeks will reveal which franchises succeed in securing top free-agent talents to address their key personnel concerns.

Every NFL franchise seeks improvement during this critical period as they prepare for the new league year. The implications of these signings can alter team trajectories significantly heading into the season, making tight ends and other positional players vital to consider.