⚔️ Position Battles

Position battles

Jobs still in play

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

104 contested jobs tracked · 76 projected starting roles · Updated Aug 4

8matching battles · All · TE

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Best tight end battles

The most open, consequential, and active starting-job competitions.

Pittsburgh SteelersSteelers

NFL · AFC North · starter

Crowded room

Job at stake

Starting tight endStarting TE

Darnell WashingtonReturning starter-level snaps

True toss-upHigh confidence

Pat FreiermuthReturning starter-level snaps

Why this battle matters

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

Current read

No meaningful separation — the current chart lists Washington first, and a second published chart flips the order. 2025 snaps with this team: 546 to 561.

Chart currentOrder verified · Aug 3

Crowded room

Broncos

Starting TE

AT

Adam Trautman

EE

Evan Engram

True toss-up

Two published charts disagree on the order for this job.

Crowded room

Bengals

Starting TE

DS

Drew Sample

MG

Mike Gesicki

True toss-up

Two published charts disagree on the order for this job.

Crowded room

Clemson

Starting TE

CB

Christian Bentancur

OP

Olsen Patt-Henry

Leader emerging

Returning usage is nearly even at 3.8% and 3.6% of team plays.

Crowded room

Michigan

Starting TE

ZM

Zack Marshall

HH

Hogan Hansen

Leader emerging

Returning usage is nearly even at 4.0% and 6.1% of team plays.

Browse all battles

8 of 8 shown · grouped by stakes and openness

Must-watch starting jobsThe most open and consequential competitions.

3 battles

Steelers

Starting TE

NFL · AFC North

6-player room · no clear top two

Darnell WashingtonWithin range 2PF

Pat FreiermuthWithin range

True toss-up

Two published charts disagree on the order for this job.

High confidence

Bell, Tonyan, Galbreath also hold current listings in the room

Chart current

Order verified · Aug 3

6 contenders↓

Broncos

Starting TE

NFL · AFC West

7-player room · no clear top two

Adam TrautmanWithin range 2EE

Evan EngramWithin range

True toss-up

Two published charts disagree on the order for this job.

High confidence

Lohner, Bentley, Joly also hold current listings in the room

Chart current

Order verified · Aug 3

7 contenders↓

Bengals

Starting TE

NFL · AFC North

7-player room · no clear top two

Drew SampleWithin range 2MG

Mike GesickiWithin range

True toss-up

Two published charts disagree on the order for this job.

High confidence

Grandy, Kattus, All Jr. also hold current listings in the room

Chart current

Order verified · Aug 3

7 contenders↓

Leaders emergingA favourite exists, but the job remains live.

5 battles

Clemson

Starting TE

College · ACC

Christian BentancurReturning player4% usage ’25 · 20 rec · 215 yds · 3 TD

Bentancur leads, job still live

Returning usage is nearly even at 3.8% and 3.6% of team plays.

High confidence

Olsen Patt-HenryReturning player4% usage ’25 · 16 rec · 126 ydsOP

Chart current

Order verified · Aug 3

3 contenders↓

Michigan

Starting TE

College · Big Ten

Zack MarshallReturning player4% usage ’25 · 16 rec · 199 yds · 1 TD

Marshall leads, job still live

Returning usage is nearly even at 4.0% and 6.1% of team plays.

High confidence

Hogan HansenReturning player6% usage ’25 · 6 rec · 74 ydsHH

Chart current

Order verified · Aug 3

5 contenders↓

Jets

Starting TE

NFL · AFC East

Mason TaylorReturning starter-level snaps62% snaps ’25 · 44 rec · 369 yds · 1 TD

Taylor leads, job still live

Two published charts disagree on the order for this job.

High confidence

Kenyon SadiqRookieROOKIE R1 · $5.6M APYKS

Untested contender

Sadiq has no 2025 sample · Aug 3

5 contenders↓

Texas

Starting TE

College · SEC

Emaree WinstonReturning player2% usage ’25 · 2 rec · 47 yds

Winston leads, job still live

Returning usage is nearly even at 1.6% and 2.3% of team plays.

High confidence

Nick TownsendReturning player2% usage ’25 · 2 rec · 7 ydsNT

New contenders

1 portal addition in the room · Aug 3

3 contenders↓

Miami

Starting TE

College · ACC

Elija LoftonReturning player4% usage ’25 · 23 rec · 218 yds · 3 TD

Lofton leads, job still live

Returning usage is nearly even at 3.6% and 3.1% of team plays.

High confidence

Luka GilbertReturning player3% usage ’25 · 2 rec · 37 ydsLG

Chart current

Order verified · Aug 3

3 contenders↓