The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and the biggest wave of free agency is over. That makes it a perfect time to take stock of NFL rosters as we head toward the 2026 season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends for all 32 NFL Teams. I’ll be ranking each unit 1-16 in their conference. When it comes to taking stock of the whole unit, it’s not just about star power but depth. Today, it’s the first group of AFC tight end rooms. Teams appear in ascending order.
#16 Miami Dolphins
On the Roster: Greg Dulcich, Will Kacmarek, Seydou Tratore, Ben Sims, and Cole Turner
About: This room has been re-done over the past year. Dulcich was added as a street free agent in 2025, making an impact when available, and he’s the only returner to this room. That’s the story with the Dolphins, who are in the midst of a deep re-build. They have a new quarterback and an almost entirely new receiver room, too.
So, what should we expect from the passing game? It’s hard to say. Dulcich, once a promising Third-Round pick by the Broncos, has some upside, and profiles as the starter. Behind him are a couple late round draft picks and a couple of veteran pickups. Dulcich has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, making him feel like a TE3 at best headed into the season. This is possibly the weakest TE room in the NFL.
#15 Cincinnati Bengals
On the Roster: Mike Gesicki, Erick All, Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, Jack Endries, Cam Grandy, and Josh Kattus
About: This room isn’t much better. Gesicki is a solid veteran who has shown out at times. He was integral to the Bengals’ offense in 2024, when Tee Higgins missed significant time. Last season, he managed just 28 receptions for 307 yards and two touchdowns. The team lists Sample as the starter, and he has just 115 receptions on 145 targets in seven seasons. So, there might not be a lot of fantasy upside here as the offense runs through Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins, and Chase Brown. But I like the room better than the options in Miami.
#14 Jacksonville Jaguars
On the Roster: Brenton Strange, Nate Boekircher, Tanner Kozoil, Quintin Morris, Hunter Long, Patrick Herbert, and Ethan Connor
About: Here we enter a range of teams that have a solid TE1 and then some questions in terms of depth. The Jaguars land at the bottom of that list because their TE1 doesn’t make me as confident as teams above them. I like Strange, and we’ve seen some flashes of solid production. As the starter succeeding Evan Engram last year, Strange finished as TE23. But he missed some games, so it’s possible he has more upside. At this point, it’s unproven.
Behind him are some journeyman role players and a pair of rookies. Boekircher came off the board early but doesn’t profile as a great receiving asset. Kozoil is interesting, but a development guy. That leaves the Jaguars with a solid enough starter, but questions in terms of depth.
#13 Tennessee Titans
On the Roster: Gunnar Helm, Daniel Bellinger, Kylen Granson, Jaren Kanak, David Martin-Robinson, and Joel Wilson
About: The Titans are moving into a new era. They chose Helm, their second-year tight end, to be the man at the position. The team added veterans Bellinger—who is familiar with Brian Daboll—and Granson, then added the rookie Kanak to give depth. But it’s about how Helm takes to the lead role. As a rookie, sitting behind Chig Okonkwo, Helm showed flashes. He finished with 44 receptions for 357 yards. I think he can take it a step further in 2026. I like the upside here and the reserves more than the Jaguars.
#12 Pittsburgh Steelers
On the Roster: Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Robert Tonyan, J.J. Galbreath, Lake McRee, and Jaheim Bell
About: The Steelers have an interesting room as they begin the Mike McCarthy era. Freiermuth would profile as the starter, having had a solid career. Yet, he’s coming off a weak season where he posted his lowest target and reception totals since an injury-shortened 2023. And yet, he appeared in all 17 games. It seems like Washington, who is a mammoth target, is the preferred starter. But he has just 57 receptions in his three-year career. The Steelers also have Tonyan, who has a solid history with Aaron Rodgers from his days as a Packer. But it feels like an interesting room that could provide little more than low-ceiling production at the tight end position.
#11 Baltimore Ravens
On the Roster: Mark Andrews, Durham Smythe, Matt Hibner, Josh Cuevas, and Ty Pezza
About: The Ravens appeared to have their tight end duo of the future in Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar. That duo appeared poised to succeed Andrews. And then Andrews got a contract extension last year, and remains entrenched as the Ravens’ starter, while Kolar and Likely left in free agency. That leaves the Ravens starting over behind Andrews.
They added a veteran in Smythe and a trio of rookies. Andrews has been a force at tight end for years, but he’s aging, and his production has begun to decline. He was just TE16 in 2025. He’s still the most impressive tight end on the list so far, but it’s hard to know how much he has left. And behind him is little more than questions and unproven prospects.
#10 Denver Broncos
On the Roster: Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Justin Joly, Dallen Bentley, Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull, and Caleb Lohner
About: The Broncos added Engram as a big piece to the passing offense last offseason. It never materialized. He amassed just 50 receptions for 461 yards and a touchdown in 2025. The Broncos added two players in the draft, led by Joly, and are still looking for an answer. Given the cost and lack of production, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Engram released before the start of the regular season. If that were to happen, this group would likely drop below the Bengals due to not having proven production. But I like Joly’s upside and potential, and there’s still hope Engram can pop in his second season.
#9 New England Patriots
On the Roster: Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon, C.J. Dippe, Jack Westover, and Tanner Arkin
About: The Patriots don’t have much proven depth. The team added Raridon in the draft, and he could develop into a passing game weapon. But that remains something of a question at this point. The team does have Henry as the starter, and he’s been reliable. At times over the past few seasons, he’s been the most reliable receiver for the Patriots. He finished as TE9 in 2025. He’s been a steady enough producer to vault this unit up to the top spot in this half of the AFC draw for me.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
