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Position Battles
Position battles

Jobs still in play

The most compelling open starting jobs across the NFL and college football.

60 contested jobs tracked · 50 projected starting roles · Updated Sep 17
2matching battles · NFL · TE

Best NFL tight end battles

The most open, consequential, and active starting-job competitions.
Cincinnati BengalsBengals
NFL · AFC North · starter
Crowded room
Job at stake
Starting tight endStarting TE
Why this battle matters

The winner projects to open the season as Cincinnati’s starting tight end, a full-time role in an NFL offense.

Current read

No meaningful separation — the current chart lists Sample first, and a second published chart flips the order. 2025 snaps with this team: 595 to 321.

Chart currentOrder verified · Sep 17
Crowded room
Steelers
Starting TE
PFPat Freiermuth
DWDarnell Washington
True toss-up

Two published charts disagree on the order for this job.

Browse all battles

2 of 2 shown · grouped by stakes and openness
Must-watch
Bengals
Starting TE
NFL · AFC North
True toss-up

Two published charts disagree on the order for this job.

High confidence
All Jr., Endries also hold current listings in the room
Chart current
Order verified · Sep 17
4 contenders
Must-watch
Steelers
Starting TE
NFL · AFC North
PFPat FreiermuthReturning starter-level snaps52% snaps ’25 · 41 rec · 486 yds · 4 TD
True toss-up

Two published charts disagree on the order for this job.

Medium confidence
Darnell WashingtonReturning starter-level snaps50% snaps ’25 · 31 rec · 364 yds · 1 TDDW
Chart current
Order verified · Sep 17
3 contenders