The 2026 NFL tight end free agency class was supposed to be one of the deepest in recent memory. At the top, Kyle Pitts, Dallas Goedert, Travis Kelce, Isaiah Likely, and David Njoku created a tier that had general managers circling their cap space months in advance. But the NFL offseason moves fast. By May 18, 2026, the landscape has shifted dramatically.
Pitts was franchise-tagged by Atlanta and will play 2026 on a fully guaranteed $15.045 million deal. Likely signed a massive three-year, $40 million contract with the Giants. Cade Otton re-upped with Tampa Bay for three years and $30 million. Chig Okonkwo landed in Washington for $27 million over three years. Travis Kelce returned to Kansas City on a one-year, $12 million deal. David Njoku finally left Cleveland for the Chargers on a one-year deal worth up to $8 million. Even Dallas Goedert, after testing the market, re-signed with the Eagles for one year and $7 million.
What remains is a market of second-tier options, veterans on the back end of their careers, and young players whose production never matched their potential. For teams still needing a tight end in late May -- whether due to injury, budget constraints, or simply waiting out the market -- there are still useful players available. Here are the top five tight end free agents still unsigned and where they should land.
1. Noah Fant
Player Profile: Now 28 years old, Noah Fant entered the NFL as a first-round pick in 2019 and has been a picture of athletic inconsistency ever since. After four seasons in Denver and two in Seattle, Fant landed with the Raiders in 2025 and caught 48 passes for 512 yards and three touchdowns. The elite speed and YAC ability that made him a top-20 pick are still evident, but Fant has never developed into the alpha red-zone target many expected. His 6-foot-4, 249-pound frame and 4.5 speed still make him a matchup problem for linebackers, and he's improved as an inline blocker. He remains a "move" tight end who needs schemed touches, not a traditional every-down player.
Expected Contract: One year, $3.5 to $5 million with incentives. The market has spoken -- Fant is a prove-it candidate at this stage.
Top 3 Landing Spots:
1. New England Patriots: The Patriots have been searching for a reliable tight end since Rob Gronkowski's prime. In 2025, their tight end room combined for just 38 catches. New England's new offensive coordinator, after a 2025 staff shakeup, needs a seam-stretcher to open up the middle of the field for a young quarterback. Fant's ability to run the deep over route and create after the catch fits the West Coast concepts the Patriots are installing. New England has $18 million in remaining cap space and a clear need. This is the cleanest fit in football.
2. Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales needs a tight end who can flex out wide and stress defenses horizontally. Carolina's current tight end group is a collection of blockers and special teamers. Fant would give Bryce Young an intermediate target who can turn short throws into chunk gains. The Panthers have $12 million in cap space and no significant extensions left to sign. Fant's athletic profile fits exactly what Carolina tried to do with their move-tight end concept in 2025 -- they just didn't have the personnel to execute it.
3. Dark Horse -- Denver Broncos: A return to where it all started makes sense. The Broncos have a need after letting Greg Dulcich walk in free agency. Sean Payton values pass-catching tight ends who can be moved around the formation, and Fant fits Payton's New Orleans-style offense where tight ends put up numbers in the intermediate area. Denver is operating with limited cap space ($6 million) which is why Fant is the dark horse -- he'd need to take a discount to return, but his relationship with the organization and the fit in Payton's scheme could make it happen.
2. Tyler Higbee
Player Profile: Tyler Higbee is 33 years old and coming off a 2025 season where he caught 41 passes for 435 yards and four touchdowns for the Rams. Once a 1,000-yard tight end in 2019, Higbee has transformed into a reliable chain-mover who wins with route subtlety rather than explosive athleticism. He is an above-average blocker for the position and understands defensive coverage structures as well as any tight end on the market. The 2023 knee injury is now two years in the rearview mirror, and Higbee showed in 2025 that he can still separate underneath and convert third downs. He is not a vertical threat, but he is a quarterback's best friend on third-and-6.
Expected Contract: One year, $2.5 to $4 million. At his age, Higbee is looking for a situation where he can compete and contribute, not maximize dollars.
Top 3 Landing Spots:
1. San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Shanahan loves veteran tight ends who can block and find soft spots in zone coverage. The 49ers lost their TE2 in free agency and George Kittle, while still elite, is 32 and has a massive cap hit in 2027. Higbee would be a perfect TE2 who can play 40% of snaps, help in the run game, and step in if Kittle misses time. San Francisco has $10 million in cap room and a history of signing savvy veterans on one-year deals. The Shanahan connection -- Higbee has faced the 49ers twice a year for years -- means the staff knows exactly what they would be getting.
2. New Orleans Saints: The Saints have a tight end room full of question marks. Juwan Johnson is a free agent who hasn't re-signed, and the depth behind him is unproven. New Orleans runs one of the league's most tight-end-friendly offenses, targeting the position over 120 times in 2025. Higbee's ability to work the seams and read coverages would make him a quick favorite for Derek Carr or whichever quarterback is under center. The Saints are cap-strapped, but a one-year, $3 million deal for a proven veteran is exactly the kind of low-risk move Mickey Loomis makes in May.
3. Dark Horse -- Detroit Lions: The Lions have Sam LaPorta as their star, but they lost Brock Wright in free agency and their TE3 is a rookie. Dan Campbell values tight ends who can block in the run game, and Higbee is a better blocker than most available options. Detroit's offense is a machine that creates opportunities for secondary pass catchers, and Higbee would be a red-zone weapon and a tone-setter in the run game. The Lions have $9 million in cap space and a Super Bowl window that demands experienced depth.
3. Harrison Bryant
Player Profile: Harrison Bryant, 28, was a fourth-round pick by the Browns in 2020 and spent 2025 with the Raiders. He has quietly built a reputation as one of the league's most complete #2 tight ends. In 2025, he caught 28 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns while grading out as a top-15 run blocker at the position. Bryant does nothing spectacular, but he does everything well. He can inline block, pass protect, release from the line, and find open zones. He's never been a primary option and will never be a star, but he is the kind of tight end that winning teams sign in May because they know exactly what they will get.
Expected Contract: One year, $2 to $3 million. Bryant's market is limited by his lack of explosive plays, but his reliability has value.
Top 3 Landing Spots:
1. Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals lost Drew Sample and have Irv Smith as their current TE2 behind Mike Gesicki. That is not enough depth for an offense that needs to protect Joe Burrow and run the ball effectively. Bryant is a plus blocker who will not embarrass the offense when he is asked to run routes. Cincinnati has $8 million in cap space and a clear philosophy of signing veterans who fit specific roles. Bryant is the perfect TE2 for a team that wants to run 12 personnel (two tight ends) to support their running game.
2. Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens lost Isaiah Likely to the Giants and Charlie Kolar is still recovering from a 2025 injury. Baltimore needs a tight end who can block for Lamar Jackson in the run game and serve as a safety valve in the passing game. Bryant's game is reminiscent of Nick Boyle, who thrived in Baltimore's tight-end-heavy system. The Ravens love having multiple tight ends, and Bryant would slot in as the Y tight end -- the inline blocker who makes the run game go. Baltimore has $15 million in cap space and a need for a reliable, low-maintenance player.
3. Dark Horse -- Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers just signed David Njoku, but they lost both Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst. They need a TE2 who can block for their gap-scheme run game and stay on the field in 12 personnel. Bryant would be the perfect complement to Njoku's athletic, move-tight-end style. Jim Harbaugh values blocking tight ends the way John Harbaugh does, and this late in the market, Bryant is the best inline blocker available. The Chargers have $19 million in cap space and are trying to build a bully offense.
4. Colby Parkinson
Player Profile: Colby Parkinson, 27, has been a role player for the Rams and Seahawks over five seasons. At 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds, he is a massive target with reliable hands and surprising agility for his size. In 2025 with the Rams, he caught 22 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns while playing behind Tyler Higbee and Davis Allen. Parkinson has never had more than 35 catches in a season, but he has a 7.3% drop rate and has improved every year as a pass protector. He is a classic late-bloomer who needs an opportunity to be a TE1B or primary TE2. His size makes him a red-zone mismatch, and his hands are reliable in traffic.
Expected Contract: One year, $2 to $3.5 million. Parkinson has starter potential but has never had the snaps to prove it.
Top 3 Landing Spots:
1. Chicago Bears: The Bears have Cole Kmet as their TE1, but Kmet is at his best as a move tight end who works the middle of the field. Chicago needs a big-bodied inline tight end who can block, create leverage in the run game, and be a red-zone target. Parkinson is exactly that. The Bears have $14 million in cap space and an offense that needs to run the ball more effectively to support Caleb Williams. Adding Parkinson as a TE2 who can play 40 snaps a game would give Chicago the 12-personnel look they need to diversify their offense.
2. Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders have Michael Mayer as their primary tight end, but they need depth and a different body type. Parkinson gives them a massive target in the red zone who can also block as a sixth offensive lineman. The Raiders are implementing a more physical offensive identity under their new coaching staff, and Parkinson fits that mold. Las Vegas has $11 million in cap space and a tight end room that currently lacks a true Y tight end.
3. Dark Horse -- Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals lost Geoff Swaim in free agency and Trey McBride is excellent but needs a complement. Parkinson's ability to play inline and flex out would give the Cardinals a different look in 12 personnel. Kliff Kingsbury (or whoever is calling plays in Arizona) values size at the position, and at 6-foot-7, Parkinson is a unique weapon. The Cardinals have $9 million in cap space and a need for a tight end who can block on the edge of their zone runs.
5. Brevin Jordan
Player Profile: Brevin Jordan, 26, entered the league as a fourth-round pick by the Texans in 2021 but hasn't lived up to his college production at Miami. In 2025 with Houston, he caught 24 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns before a late-season injury. Jordan is a dynamic athlete with the ball in his hands -- he averaged 12.0 yards per catch in 2025 -- but he has struggled with route discipline and consistency. He is a poor blocker which limits his snaps to move tight end and H-back roles. However, as a pass-catching specialist who can line up in the slot or out wide, Jordan offers a dimension most tight ends do not: the ability to create explosive plays after the catch.
Expected Contract: One year, $1.5 to $2.5 million. Jordan is a reclamation project at this point, but the talent is real.
Top 3 Landing Spots:
1. Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel's offense is built for explosive playmakers, and Jordan's YAC ability would be maximized in Miami's wide-zone passing scheme. The Dolphins have Jonnu Smith as their TE1, but Smith is 30 and more of a short-to-intermediate target. Jordan can run the seams, catch screens, and create in space. Miami loves adding weapons for Tua Tagovailoa, and Jordan would be a cheap, high-upside addition. The Dolphins have $13 million in cap space.
2. Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur uses his tight ends in a versatile role that includes motion, split-zone blocking, and seam routes. Jordan is not a blocker, but LaFleur could use him as a big slot in 11 personnel. Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave are the primary tight ends, but Jordan would give the Packers a different look -- a pure receiving threat who stresses defenses horizontally. Green Bay has $17 million in cap space and likes taking fliers on athletic tight ends with untapped potential.
3. Dark Horse -- Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay has resurrected tight end careers before (see: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett). Jordan's athletic profile fits what McVay wants from his move tight end, and the Rams are known for getting maximum production out of players who haven't reached their potential elsewhere. With Higbee likely leaving in free agency, the Rams have a need for a pass-catching tight end who can work the intermediate area. Los Angeles has $10 million in cap space and a track record of finding value in the late free agent market.
Market Outlook
The tight end market in 2026 was defined by a clear top tier that was absorbed quickly by franchise tags and aggressive contract offers. The first domino, not surprisingly, was Kyle Pitts getting franchised by Atlanta, which set the market ceiling at $15 million for one year. Once that happened, Isaiah Likely (Giants, $13.3M AAV) and Chig Okonkwo (Commanders, $9M AAV) established the second tier, while Cade Otton ($10M AAV) and David Njoku ($8M with incentives) represented the value tier.
Who signs first among the remaining five? Expect Harrison Bryant to be the first off the board. Teams looking for a reliable TE2 know what they are getting, and his blocking ability gives him a floor that pure pass-catching options like Brevin Jordan lack. Bryant should be signed within the next week.
Noah Fant will likely wait a bit longer, holding out for a starting opportunity or an injury that creates one. If a team loses a tight end in OTAs or minicamp, Fant will be the first call. Tyler Higbee will probably choose his landing spot based on playoff upside, which suggests the 49ers or Lions.
The biggest surprise of this market is how little value the remaining free agents hold compared to the top five pre-free-agency expectations. The lesson for 2027: if you need a starting tight end, you better get him in March, because by May the shelves are bare and you are choosing between unfulfilled potential and declining veterans.