The multiple tight end formations that teams like Seattle, the Los Angeles Rams and the Chicago Bears used to great success in 2025 to exploit smaller defenses will likely be adopted by more teams this year. That could prioritize drafting big, versatile players who can contribute as run blockers and pass catchers.
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“I think offenses have tried to counteract that by bringing them back to base defenses by going heavier,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said of the offenses’ approach against defenses with extra defensive backs. “Sometimes 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) will do the trick, other times 13 (one running back, three tight ends) will do the trick. I think having some versatility at the tight end position, it’s hard to find… When you have that versatility, it really opens Pandora’s box.”
The Bears ran the third-most plays last season with multiple tight ends on the field with 501 after surprising some experts by drafting Colston Loveland 10th overall last year to team with Cole Kmet.
But they were by no means alone.
The 48,102 offensive plays played by tight ends last season were the most recorded in 20 years, according to Sportradar. Tight ends also set a record for most receptions (2,866) and receiving yards (29,072), with total yards per game increasing 37% over the past 20 seasons.
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“I think it’s unbelievable,” said Kenyon Sadiq, the top tight end prospect in this year’s draft. “More tight ends in the game, more plays for everyone. I think you can do a lot with different types of tight ends and different types of personnel in the game. Whether it’s explosive passing, running game, just creating mismatches in different spots.”
There has been a 30% increase in plays per game with multiple tight ends since 2018. Three-tight end usage increased even more, with 1,897 plays last year the most on record and a 33% increase from 2024.
The Rams ran 331 plays with at least three tight ends on the field, surpassing the previous high mark in the last two decades of 204 by Cleveland in 2021.
Great tight ends class at the combine
Now the key for teams around the league is to find more players who can do that.
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There were 27 tight ends invited to the scouting combine, about 50% more than the usual number, as the increased use of tight ends in college and the greater need for them in the NFL have led to more players at the position becoming potential draft picks.
“You see so many teams with 12 guys, even 13 guys, so you’re seeing more use of tight ends,” ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller said. “I think it spilled over into the college game as well. I remember when I was doing this seven or eight years ago, you were talking to college coaches about tight ends having 30 catches. It was like, well, we don’t really throw the ball to our tight ends much. Now we see a difference with that when tight ends show up in college games.”
There have been an average of 14.1 tight ends selected per draft since 2020, according to Sportradar, with a high in that span of 19 in 2022. The most selected in any draft since 2010 came in 2015, when 22 tight ends were selected.
“It’s a unique position,” said Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham, who was on Chicago’s front office last season. “The guy that can block, run routes (use them in) spacing. For the coordinator, use them on 12 guys. Especially, when you have a guy like Colston (Loveland), when you have a guy like Kyle (Pitts), it gives you another weapon. It helps dictate the defense. Whether they’re going to play point guard or whether they’re going to play nickel. So, it allows a lot of flexibility for an offense. I feel like that position will continue to grow in the future.”
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Tight end prospects
Teams have been searching for elite tight ends more than ever: Pitts was selected fourth overall by Atlanta in 2021 and three others went in the top 15 of the last two drafts: Brock Bowers, Loveland and Tyler Warren.
Only two tight ends were taken in the top 18 over a span of 14 drafts between 2007 and 2020, but Sadiq has a chance this year to join the tight ends ranks in being picked in the top half of the first round.
Sadiq, who had 51 receptions for 560 yards for the Oregon Ducks last season, caught the public’s attention with an impressive combined performance that included a 4.39-second 40-yard dash that was the fastest on record for a tight end, along with a 43.5-inch vertical jump.
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Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers also had an impressive combine with a 45.5-inch vertical leap and is expected to continue into Day 2 of the draft. After that, there will be several tight ends who will be chosen in the mid and late rounds depending on the teams’ specific needs, with Ohio State’s Max Klare, Utah’s Dallen Bentley, Texas’ Jack Endries, Georgia’s Oscar Delp, Michigan’s Marlin Klein, Baylor’s Michael Trigg, NC State’s Justin Joly and Stanford’s Sam Roush among the players.
“I have the speed, athleticism and hands to receive and catch balls and also be a threat on offense in the passing game,” Roush said. “You need guys who can do both. There’s a shortage of true tight ends at the Y who can do both and block. I think that’s where I’ll provide value: the ability to do it all. It’s going to be tough to take them off the field.”
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