Time to take a look at the tight end prospects in the 2025 NFL draft from the Baltimore Ravens perspective. Previous position reviews that are available are as follows:
Offense:
Offensive tackle reviews are located here.
Guard prospect reviews are found here.
Defense:
Inside linebacker prospects are found here.
Defensive tackle prospects are reviewed here.
Cornerback prospects are considered here.
Safety prospects are located here.
Edge linebacker prospects are reviewed here.
Tight End Background
The $11 million question is whether the Ravens will move Mark Andrews on draft day; freeing up that stash for salary cap purposes. If they do, they’ll draft another tight end. If they don’t, they likely won’t. Eric DeCosta has made clear his willingness to trade Andrews and get draft compensation this year (instead of in 2027 after Andrews leaves in free agency). Regardless, the Ravens won’t spend draft capital on a tight end in the first two rounds (but see Elijah Arroyo, below). I say that with confidence, but DeCosta has fooled me before. Nevertheless, our journey begins with third round prospects and below. And note that a lot of my thinking is premised on the view that the Ravens will re-sign Likely.
Tight End Prospects
Elijah Arroyo
Arroyo is 22 years old, 6’5 and 254 pounds from Miami. Arroyo effectively didn’t play until last year (11 total catches before then), and even then, he caught a mere 35 balls in 13 games. He also has a serious injury history, having missed eight games in 2022 with a left knee injury, and eight games in 2023 with his left knee again.
Arroyo is known as an outstanding athlete with good speed (he didn’t run a timed forty). He brings a large wingspan (81.875”). Arroyo was used mostly in the slot and not as much inline. Blocking has not been his calling card.
But receiving is. He’s a very fluid athlete and is a natural at catching the ball in all types of situations. Arroyo has the speed to get down the field and his hands seem to grasp all types of throws. He has quick feet and explosive straight-line speed, though I wouldn’t call him elusive, and was aligned in almost all of the formations the Ravens would require of him.
Realizing that Isaiah Likely is also not a Y tight end, an initial consideration for the Ravens is whether they would field two primary flex tight ends in a majority of their two tight end sets. The second major consideration is whether Arroyo’s medicals check out. Coaching can work out some of his blocking deficiencies. Arroyo is an exciting prospect who I wrote up just in case the Ravens trade Andrews and Arroyo is around in the second round. Unless his medicals are awful, he won’t last beyond then. Round 2. Ravens – Yes (if Andrews is traded and medicals are clear).
Harold Fannin, Jr.
Fannin is 20.76 years old, 6’3 and 241 pounds from Bowling Green. He ran a 4.71 forty and measures in with a 79.25” wingspan. Fanning is not the type of tight end you line up inline very often. He just doesn’t have the body type or power needed as a blocker at this point, and his pass protection in particular must improve.
Fannin is a natural hands catcher and can pluck the ball in any situation. He is a threat with the ball after the catch. He has open field elusiveness and is also tough enough to make extra yards after contact. Fannin will make the contested catch. However, he has a fairly stiff body which may impact the types of NFL routes he can run, and it’s uncertain how he will fair against man-press coverage given his lack of strength.
I don’t see Fannin as having the skills the Ravens need. That inability to block – basically, at all – is just anathema. He’s young, but that’s not enough to entice me. Round 3. Ravens – Pass.
Terrance Ferguson
Ferguson is 22.1 years old, 6’5 and 247 pounds from Oregon. He has very small hands and an 89.125” wingspan and ran a fast 4.63 forty. Although he’s a natural hands catcher, his drop pass rate (last year over 10%) is too high. Ferguson has shown a knack for running underneath and come-back routes, where his size plays well. He brings excellent body control and is willing to take a hit to make a catch.
Ferguson is not the elusive type after the catch. He’s much more straight-line. At the Senior Bowl practices Ferguson was a very tough matchup, with an ability to separate. As a blocker, he’s not best suited for inline responsibilities as he lacks the lower-body power to move people off the snap. As a result, he’s best seen as a flex tight end, not as a player who can take the place of Mark Andrews. If the Ravens are willing to rely on Charlie Kolar as the inline blocker, than there could be a place for Ferguson. Round 3. Ravens – Maybe.
Oronde Gadsden II
Gadsden is 21.8 years old, 6’4 and 241 pounds from Syracuse. He ran a fast 4.65 forty and has a massive 81.625” wingspan (huge catch radius). Gadsden is a former wide receiver, and it shows. This is a player who makes the contested catch, something you love to see in a tight end. He’s a tough cover. Gadsden easily high points the ball and knows how to box out defenders.
Gadsden has a very broad route tree. He can run just about any type of route. He’s not the most elusive receiver after the catch and tends to be a straight-line runner. But he’s a very tough cover in man situations.
From the Ravens perspective, the problem with Gadsden is that he just isn’t a blocker at all. When he puts his hand in the dirt, it will be the first time (a bit of hyperbole, but not far from reality). I don’t think he’ll ever be much of a presence as an inline tight end. If he could block just a little, I’d think he could learn to be adequate. But it’s a big leap from where Gadsden is today to conclude that he’ll be able to handle himself inline. I’m interested in him, notwithstanding this large shortcoming, because I think he’ll be a matchup nightmare. Round 3-4. Ravens – Maybe.
Gunnar Helm
Helm is 22.6 years old, 6’5 and 241 pounds from Texas. He brings small hands at 9.875” and a 79.5” wingspan, and ran a slow 4.84 forty. Helm is an average athlete who catches most everything thrown his way. He’s a player willing and able to take a hit in the middle of the field and make the catch, with a good route tree already in place. Helms finds an open spot and knows how to use his body to shield defenders. He makes the contested catch and should be a favorite red zone target for any quarterback.
Helms is more effective after the catch than one might think. Notwithstanding his comparative lack of speed, he is able to slither through spots, jump over a defender, or run through him if need be.
Helms offers some upside as a blocker, and this is what makes him a projected three down player. He has functional strength but he stays attached to defenders. NFL coaching will need to help him with his hand placement and better understanding of how to use leverage. To really become the complete package, Helms must, in the end generate and sustain more pop on first contact to displace defenders.
Helms is a very interesting tight end prospect for the Ravens. The bulk of his work needs to focus on his blocking in order to become that three down player, which I think he has a good chance of reaching. Round 3. Ravens – Yes.
Jake Briningstool
Briningstool is 22.4 years old, 6’5 and 241 pounds from Clemson. He ran a 4.75 forty has very small hands at 8.625”, and a short wingspan at 77.625”. To start off, that hand size is a concern, notwithstanding the success he had at Clemson. It will be more challenging for him to make the tough contested catches in the NFL.
Briningstool moves in space very well, with excellent body control. He has a good route tree and enough speed to cause problems down the field. He’s a competitive player, but doesn’t offer much as a run blocker as he just lacks power and hand power. I don’t think he has much of a chance to become effective enough to be used other than as a pass catcher. Round 5-6. Ravens – No.
Mitchell Evans
Evans is 22 years old, 6’5 and 254 pounds from Notre Dame. He ran a 4.74 forty, has 9.5” hands and a 77” wingspan. Evans is primarily a blocker who can play inline. He’s not going to wow you in the pass game but will make the tough catches. He’s not going to create a lot of separation and isn’t dynamic by any means.
For the Ravens, given that Charlie Kolar is adequately filling out the inline blocker role, I just don’t see how Evans adds anything. I’d prefer to find someone who can offer more in the passing game. Round 5. Ravens – No.
Moliki Matavao
Matavao is 22.1 years old, 6’5 and 260 pounds from UCLA. He has 9.5” hands and a 78.875” wingspan and ran a 4.81 forty. Matavao has a great tight end frame. He is a willing inline blocker who needs some work on his hand placement along with more functional strength. He will do his part on double teams and handle his other inline responsibilities.
Matavao knows how to find open space in zones and will work the middle of the field. He knows how to use his body to create space. He can win out of the slot and is a tough physical cover who can absorb a hit. Matavao is not an elite athlete, but he has strong hands and can handle a hit at the catch point. He’s not going to wow you with elusiveness after the catch, and he’s not particularly explosive out of the blocks. But he’s crafty and can make an impact.
In the run game he has more work to do. Matavao needs more punching power. Playing a bit lower would help him generate more drive. And he wasn’t really tasked often in pass protection. Matavao is good at what he does, but he needs to round out his skillset in the running game. Round 5-6. Ravens – Maybe.
Jalin Conyers
Conyers is 23.75 years old, 6’3 and 260 pounds from Texas Tech. He ran a 4.74 forty, has 9.875” hands and an 80.875” wingspan. Conyers is a big man and a good athlete who moves easily in space. He knows how to use his body and will make the contested catch. He’s physical after the catch and has more elusiveness to his game than you’d expect. Conyers is tough to bring down. His route tree has a solid foundation with room to grow.
As a blocker Conyers brings good range to block in space, but is inconsistent with his initial burst. He needs to bring a stronger anchor, but he has the body to develop that extra lower half power. There’s more work to be done as an inline blocker, but given his native skills it seems like a worthwhile investment. Conyers as also been productive carrying the ball.
I like what Conyers has to offer and I believe he’s worth a lower round pick given his potential to offer value in both the passing game and as a blocker. Round 5. Ravens – Yes.
Others
CJ Dippre, Alabama – He’s 23 years old from Alabama, 6’5 and 256 pounds and ran a 4.69 forty. I don’t see him as enough of a threat in the passing game to warrant attention from the Ravens. Round 6-7. Ravens – No.
Thomas Fidone III, Nebraska – Fidone is 22.6 years old, 6’5 and 243 pounds with big hands and a long wingspan. He ran a 4.70 forty. Fidone has good burst, and can run the seam. He had an excellent week at the Senior Bowl practices, catching everything in sight, including contested balls. He has a lot of work to do as an inline blocker. Round 6. Ravens – Maybe.
