The official start of the 2025 NFL season is quickly approaching. The league year and free agency will open at 4 p.m. on March 12. Teams will begin signing free agents, and any trades agreed to before the new league year will become official on that date.
Before the league year officially kicks off, there are a couple of other key dates to remember. Teams must designate franchise players by March 4. The NFL also has a legal negotiating window from March 10 to 12, during which teams can begin contacting and negotiating with the agents of unrestricted free agents. We’ll hear deals breaking during that window, even though they can’t become official until March 12.
With that said, it’s time to start breaking down the 2025 free agency class, which includes Zach Ertz and Mike Gesicki at the tight end position. This year’s free agents are loosely ordered based on talent, age, plus previous and expected future fantasy relevance. Be sure to follow Fantasy Points throughout free agency for in-depth breakdowns of every major (and minor) move. We’ll track every off-season transaction from a fantasy perspective through our “Free Agency Tracker” articles and Graham Barfield’s “Fantasy Fallout” pieces.
Be sure to check out the Free Agency Previews for Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers, and Running Backs…This article is powered by Fantasy Points Data. Subscribe now to get our to take your research to the next level.
Potentially Available
Evan Engram (Jax, 31)
Brolley’s Prediction: Cincinnati Bengals
Christian Kirk is the more likely candidate to be released by the new Jaguars regime, but they could save an additional $15.5 million by cutting Engram with a post-June 1 designation. The Jaguars also selected his potential replacement Brenton Strange in the second round in 2023, who got extra playing time with Engram on the shelf for eight games. Engram is just a season removed from finishing 3 catches away from breaking Zach Ertz’s TE record for receptions in a season (116) and Jimmy Smith’s Jaguars record for receptions in a season (116). Engram’s last campaign got off on the wrong foot with a hamstring injury in pregame warmups before Week 2 and it ended with shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Engram posted 47/365/1 receiving (7.8 YPR) on 64 targets (% share) to finish as the TE13 with 10.1 FPG. He played on 72% of the snaps, ran 232 routes (25.8 per game), and averaged 1.57 YPRR in nine contests. He finished third in route share (78.6%), third in target share (23.5%), and third in first-read share (24.3%) among 47 TEs who saw 25+ targets. He also finished 45th in YAC/REC (3.49) and 37th in aDOT (5.6). Engram owns a career average of 9.9 YPR and he hasn’t scored more than 4 TDs in each of his seven seasons since he scored 6 times as a rookie in 2017. Engram lacks upside because of his lack of touchdowns and his ability after the catch, but he’s shown he can be a low-end TE1 in PPR formats.
Noah Fant (Sea, 28)
Brolley’s Prediction: Carolina Panthers
The Seahawks re-signed Fant to a two-year, $21 million deal last off-season. Seattle is dealing with one of the worst cap situations in the league and could save $8.9 million by cutting Fant. He appeared set up for his biggest role with the Seahawks after Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson left in free agency, but he lost more snaps to fourth-round pick A.J. Barner than expected. Fant opened the season with a 69% snap share or better in four of his first six games before falling below that threshold in seven of his final eight games — he missed three contests due to a groin injury.
Fant posted 48/500/1 receiving (10.4 YPR) on 64 targets (12.5% share) to finish as the TE24 with 7.4 FPG. He played on 64% of the snaps and averaged 1.39 YPRR in 14 contests. Fant averaged just 18.5 routes per game in his first 34 games with the Seahawks before running 25.6 routes per game in Ryan Grubb’s pass-heavy attack. The increased routes helped him to run off 3+ receptions in 10 straight games to end the season, but he waited until the season finale to score his first touchdown. Fant owns the fourth-best SPORQ score (99.2) among TEs since 2000, but he’s fallen below expectations the last three seasons in Seattle. He could benefit from a change of scenery but he should be considered a mid-to-low-end TE2 if he hits the open market.
Taysom Hill (NO, 35)
Brolley’s Prediction: Denver Broncos
Hill was in the midst of his best season when he tore his ACL and suffered additional damage to his knee in a Dec. 1 loss to the Rams. Taysom is staring at a lengthy recovery this off-season and the Saints brought in Kellen Moore and a new coaching staff. It could spell the end of his eight-year run with the franchise since the Saints can save $10 million in salary cap space by designating him as a post-June 1 release. Hill posted 39/278/6 rushing (7.1 YPC), 23/187 receiving (8.1 YPR), and 21/1 passing to finish as the TE6 with 13.0 FPG on a 42% snap share in eight games. Hill will likely miss time at the start of 2025 since he’s recovering from a significant knee injury at 35 years old to limit his market. Hill is likely to find a limited market but his longtime coach Sean Payton will likely give him a chance if he struggles to find a team.
Unrestricted Free Agents
An unrestricted free agent is a player with four or more accrued seasons and an expired contract who is free to negotiate and sign with any team. The age for each player is the age he’ll turn in the 2024 calendar year.
Fantasy Starter
Zach Ertz (Was, 35)
Brolley’s Prediction: Washington Commanders
Ertz reunited with Kliff Kingsbury in Washington D.C. after playing 21 games under him with the Cardinals in 2021-22. The move paid off for all parties involved with Ertz turning back the clock to his younger days playing with the Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. Ertz posted 66/654/7 receiving (9.9 YPR) on 91 targets (16.8% share) to finish as the TE10 with 10.4 FPG. He played on 66% of the snaps, ran 451 routes (26.5 per game), and averaged 1.45 YPRR 17 in contests. He also had a massive run in his first postseason since 2021, recording 18/155/1 receiving on 25 targets in three games.
Ertz remained an elite route runner, finishing behind only Mark Andrews and Sam LaPorta in A.S.S. (.093) among 64 TEs with 100+ routes. He ran 55.2% of his routes from the slot, the eighth-highest rate at the position. Ertz posted a career-best 63.7% success rate on his targets despite continuing to be a zero with the ball in his hands — he ranked 46th in YAC/REC (3.09) among 47 TEs with 25+ targets. He ranked second in end-zone targets (10) at the position, which powered him to his most TDs (7) since 2018. It makes sense for Ertz to run it back on another short-term deal after a successful year with Kingsbury and Daniels, which put him in the mid-TE2 range
Fantasy Relevant
Mike Gesicki (Cin, 30)
Brolley’s Prediction: Denver Broncos
Gesicki had two different fantasy seasons depending on if Tee Higgins was in the lineup. He ranked as the TE33 with 6.2 FPG in 12 games with Higgins compared to ranking as the TE4 with 13.6 FPG in five games without Higgins. Overall, Gesicki posted 65/665/2 receiving (10.2 YPR) on 83 targets (12.6% share) to finish as the TE18 with 8.4 FPG. He played on 46% of the snaps, ran 410 routes (24.1 per game), and averaged 1.62 YPRR in 17 contests. Playing with Joe Burrow helped him to 50+ receptions and 600+ yards for the first time since 2020-21.
Gesicki continues to be more of a slot receiver than an actual TE. He ran a position-high 68.5% of his routes from the slot and aligned inline just 7.8% of the time. He ranked 46th in YACO/REC (.98) among 47 TEs with 25+ targets and 15th in A.S.S. (.048) among 64 TEs with 100+ routes. Gesicki could be an interesting fit in Denver if he doesn’t return to Cincinnati. Sean Payton said during Super Bowl week that he wanted a “Joker” for his offense— an elite receiver at TE or RB who can be used all over the field. Gesicki could fit that mold and he’ll be a volatile low-end TE2 wherever he plays in 2025.
Juwan Johnson (NO, 29)
Brolley’s Prediction: New York Jets
Johnson got off to a slow start in September after he needed foot surgery in early June. He was eventually thrust into a big role in his fifth season and he led the Saints with 548 receiving yards. He’s coming off career-highs in targets (66), receptions (50), and receiving yards with the Saints losing top receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Johnson still finished as the TE26 with 7.2 FPG by posting 50/548/3 receiving (11.0 YPR) on 66 targets (11.8% share). He played on 64% of the snaps, ran 381 routes (22.4 per game), and averaged 1.44 YPRR in 17 contests. Johnson ranked 11th in aDOT (8.2) among 47 TEs who saw 25+ targets and scored 18 TDs over the last four seasons. He also ranked 17th in A.S.S. (.048) among 64 TEs with 100+ routes. He’s finished between a 64-65% snap share in each of the last three seasons. He’s unlikely to break through as a consistent fantasy option unless he can land a full-time role at his next stop.
Tyler Conklin (NYJ, 30)
Brolley’s Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs (if Travis Kelce retires)
Conklin has been a fringe fantasy PPR option since his final season with the Vikings in 2021, registering 51+ receptions in four straight campaigns. That coincided with him becoming a full-time player with a 70% snap share and a 61% route share or better in each of those seasons. Conklin posted 51/449/4 receiving (8.8 YPR) on 72 targets (11.8% share) to finish as the TE22 with 7.6 FPG. He played on 80% of the snaps and ran 428 routes (26.8 per game) in 16 contests. Aaron Rodgers used him primarily as a check-down receiver with Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson soaking up most downfield targets. Conklin finished with an aDOT of 5.5 yards and ranked 41st in YPRR (1.05) among 47 TEs with 25+ targets. He could be a low-end TE2 in PPR formats if he lands in a pass-friendly offense, but he isn’t going to be a fantasy difference-maker at his next stop.
