Reputation only carries a player so far in the NFL. Every season forces veterans to defend their place, while younger challengers try to take it away and claim it for themselves. That's especially true in the AFC North,where Mark Andrews is the last man standing from a Baltimore Ravens trio that included two younger up-and-comers, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar.
In an always-competitive AFC North, he, along with his teammates, wants to stave off the challenges of his division rivals and their respective tight ends. 2025 was one of the quietest statistical seasons of his career. That doesn't mean Andrews is suddenly on shaky ground. He remains one of the game's most accomplished tight ends.
No one in the division has done enough to take the crown
from him just yet. TheCleveland Browns appear to have found their tight end of the future in Harold Fannin Jr. The Pittsburgh Steelers boast one of the conference's deepest rooms with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, while the Cincinnati Bengalscontinue to rely on the steady hands of Mike Gesicki. Here's how the AFC North's projected starting tight ends stack up entering the 2026 season.
1. Mark Andrews | Baltimore Ravens
At first glance, Andrews' 2025 statistics don't resemble those of an All-Pro. He finished with 48 receptions, 422 receiving yards, and five touchdowns, career lows in catches and yards while matching his lowest touchdown total since his rookie campaign. Context matters, though. One quieter season doesn't erase everything he has accomplished since arriving in Baltimore.
He remains Lamar Jackson's most trusted target in critical moments, one of the NFL's smartest route runners at the position. He's a player defenses still have to account for on every snap. His consistency and ability to impact games in multiple ways place him at the top of this ranking.
2. Harold Fannin Jr. | Cleveland Browns
If anyone is positioned to challenge Andrews in the coming years, it's Fannin.
After rewriting the record books in college as a Consensus All-American, MAC Most Valuable Player, and the nation's leader in both receptions and receiving yards, the Browns' third-round pick carried that momentum into his rookie season.
Fannin caught 72 passes for 731 yards and six touchdowns while starting 13 games, immediately establishing himself as one of the league's brightest young tight ends. His combination of production and upside makes him a legitimate threat to claim this spot in the future.
3. Pat Freiermuth/Darnell Washington | Pittsburgh Steelers
Few teams can match Pittsburgh's depth at tight end. Freiermuth has quietly been one of the Steelers' most dependable offensive weapons since entering the league in 2021. His knack for moving the chains and creating yards after the catch has made him a favorite target in key situations.
Washington offers a different dimension with his size and physicality. Although his 2025 season ended prematurely because of a broken arm, the Steelers reinforced their belief in his long-term future by signing him to a four-year, $42 million extension this offseason. Whether it's Freiermuth or Washington taking the majority of the snaps, Pittsburgh enters the season with one of the AFC North's strongest one-two punches at the position.
4. Mike Gesicki | Cincinnati Bengals
Gesicki remains a dependable receiving option for Cincinnati despite missing three games with a chest injury last season. His 972 receiving yards over the past two seasons rank among the league's better totals at tight end.
His ability to win contested catches and his sure hands continue to make him a valuable target. He didn't drop a single catchable pass during the 2025 season. Drew Sample deserves recognition for his blocking and versatility, but Gesicki is still the Bengals' primary receiving threat at the position.
Final thoughts
The gap may be closing, especially with Fannin's rapid emergence, but the top spot hasn't changed. Until another AFC North tight end consistently matches Mark Andrews' resume, production, and impact, the Ravens veteran remains the player every team in the division is trying to surpass.
That could change in time. Fannin has the talent to make this conversation much more interesting, and Pittsburgh's tandem gives the Steelers enviable depth. For now, though, Andrews' body of work and continued value to Baltimore's offense make him the standard every AFC North tight end is still chasing.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ranking every projected starting tight end in the AFC North
