Fantasy Football 2022: Top 5 NFL Free Agent Tight Ends
The NFL season just ended, but that doesn’t mean we’re finished talking about football. Truthfully, the NFL offseason can be one of the more exciting times in the sport, with free agency, the draft, and trades, not to mention the rumors and speculation swirling around these events. The legal tampering period for the NFL begins in a little under a month, on March 14, and the gold rush officially begins on March 16, so we don’t have much time left before free agency hits.
This year’s class of tight-end free agents is deep and extremely talented, so several of them could land big paydays. On the flip side, the class is so deep that some teams struggling with cap space could land some stars for cheap. Let’s look at some of the top free-agent tight ends for 2022.
Although he’s technically labeled a tight end, Mike Gesicki’s role is that of a wide receiver, and he wants to be tagged that way. If the Dolphins decide to go this route and give him the receiver tag over the tight end tag, Gesicki’s payday would increase from just over $10 million to over $19 million. The Dolphins definitely need receiver help with Will Fuller’s chronic injuries and DeVante Parker’s age, and they have the cap space to do it. The question is if head coach Mike McDaniel is going to invest in a tight end who doesn’t block. If Miami can’t get a deal worked out with Gesicki, the Jets, Titans, and Chargers could all be in play.
After a breakout season in 2021, Dalton Schultz will likely command a high price in free agency. Dallas has some pretty severe cap issues, and to make matters worse, they have 24 players scheduled to enter free agency, leaving them with some difficult decisions to make. It’s unlikely that Dallas tags Schultz at a $10 million price tag, so he’s going to have his pick on the open market. The Colts have plenty of cap space, and Jack Doyle has hinted that he is considering retirement, making Schultz an intriguing replacement. The Jaguars and Jets are also in the conversation.
Zach Ertz made an immediate impact on the Cardinals after being traded from the Eagles in mid-October last season, becoming a security blanket for Kyler Murray in the absence of DeAndre Hopkins. Fellow tight end Maxx Williams is also a free agent this season, but he’s also coming off an ACL injury, so he will likely walk. If the Cardinals decide to franchise Ertz, he would see a slight increase over his 2021 contract, and he has expressed his desire to stay in Arizona. A franchise tag makes the most sense, as Ertz is aging and the Cardinals do have cap space issues, but if the two can’t get a deal worked out, the Chargers, Jaguars, and Giants would all make sense for the former Pro Bowl tight end.
One of the most surprising things about the Bengals unlikely Super Bowl run was the emergence of C.J. Uzomah. In 2021, Uzomah set career highs in yardage, touchdown receptions, and reception percentage. He was also an efficient pass blocker, and with that offensive line, that made a huge impact on protecting Joe Burrow. The Bengals have the fourth-most cap space in the NFL in 2022, so it’s likely they find a way to keep him while still being able to address their offensive line issues. If they don’t, however, the Browns and Giants all have potential holes at tight end, and Uzomah would be an upgrade over Austin Hooper, David Njoku, and Evan Engram.
In the event he doesn’t retire (again), Rob Gronkowski is still every bit the beast of a tight end he has been his entire career. Despite missing five games due to broken ribs and a punctured lung, Gronk still ended the season with over 800 yards and six touchdowns. He’s a Hall of Famer with a lot of gas left in the tank, and now that Tom Brady is retired, it's highly unlikely that he stays in Tampa Bay. Gronk has said that he would like to play with Joe Burrow, so if the Bengals could get a better deal for him than Uzomah, it’s not out of the question to see him go to Cincinnati.
RELATED LINKS
Looking for the rest of the top unsigned free agents? Check out the links below for what's been published already:
- Free Agent Quarterbacks
- Free Agent Running Backs
- Free Agent Wide Receivers
- Free Agent Tight Ends
- Free Agent Linebackers
Player News
49ers signed No. 11 pick EDGE Mykel Williams to a four-year contract.
The deal is worth $24.9 million and is fully guaranteed. As is the case with all first-round picks, his contract includes a fifth-year option. The 49ers shed hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts this offseason and the bulk of those savings came on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive end was an obvious position of need and Williams was widely regarded as the best pass-rusher on the board when 49ers GM John Lynch was on the clock. Williams totaled five sacks in 2024 and left Georgia with 14 sacks across three seasons as a starter.
Vikings signed No. 24 pick OG Donovan Jackson to a four-year contract.
It’s a fully guaranteed deal worth $17.2 million with a fifth-year team option. Minnesota taking Jackson with the 24th-overall pick came as a bit of a surprise on draft night, but the Vikings needed offensive line help and Jackson was considered worthy of a first-round pick by some draftniks. He was primarily a left guard at Ohio State but successfully kicked out to tackle for the bulk of his senior season. Jackson is likely fated for guard duties in Minnesota, but the positional versatility remains a plus.
Titans claimed Anfernee Orji off waivers from the Saints.
Orji played primarily on special teams in New Orleans but was credited with two starts across 16 appearances. He totaled 30 combined tackles and a pair of TFLs. Orji will need to continue seeing work on special teams to make the Titans’ roster.
Patriots signed RB Trayveon Williams, formerly of the Bengals.
Henderson was passed on the Cincinnati depth chart by Chase Brown last year and the team even traded for Khalil Herbert midseason. Despite having no role on offense, Williams was active for all 17 games as a special teamer. He will likely hold a similar role in New England if he cracks the team’s 53-man roster.
Free agent RB Jordan Mims worked out for the Patriots.
The Pats also worked out former Bengals running back Trayveon Williams. Mims ran 20 times for 70 yards in 2024 while adding 12 catches for 71 yards through the air. He also got some run on special teams. The Patriots are looking for some extra depth at running back, but there isn’t room for another fantasy-relevant option behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.
Jaguars signed TE Quintin Morris, formerly of the Bills, to a one-year contract.
Morris is purely a blocking tight end. He caught just 15 passes during his three years with the Bills, though he did manage to find the end zone three times. Morris will back up Brenton Strange in Jacksonville.