4 tight ends the NY Jets can still sign in free agency after losing Tyler Conklin

The New York Jets will boast a new-look tight end room in 2025 after Tyler Conklin officially departed in free agency to sign with the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday. Conklin's departure creates an unfortunate but expected hole atop the Jets' tight end depth chart.

The Jets did sign former Chargers standout Stone Smartt to a one-year deal, but with just 31 career catches to his name, he's hardly an ideal starting option. The same goes for Jeremy Ruckert, who has barely been a TE2 quality player over the last three seasons.

The Jets are likely to address the tight end position in a loaded 2025 NFL Draft class, perhaps with the selection of a player like Tyler Warren in the first round, but the team could still turn to free agency again in search of another addition.

Let's take a look at four remaining free-agent tight ends the Jets could sign this offseason.

NY Jets free agency targets at tight end

1. Mo Alie-Cox

If the Jets are going to sign another tight end in free agency, it should be Mo Alie-Cox. A former college basketball star, Alie-Cox has spent the last seven years of his career with the Indianapolis Colts.

The 31-year-old has garnered a reputation as an excellent blocking tight end, posting a 64.2 Pro Football Focus run-block grade and a stellar 75.0 pass-block grade. He's been one of the better blocking tight ends in football for a few years now.

Alie-Cox also offers enough as a receiver to make him more than just a blocker. At 6-foot-5, 267 pounds, Alie-Cox is a big-bodied red-zone threat who has hauled in 8-of-13 contested-catch opportunities over the last three years.

The Jets need blocking tight ends if they plan to run a similar offensive scheme to the one Ben Johnson led in Detroit. Alie-Cox would be a perfect complement to Smartt and an immediate upgrade over Ruckert.

2. Gerald Everett

Gerald Everett might be the most high-profile tight end remaining on the open market. The former Los Angeles Rams second-round pick has played in 124 NFL games, racking up over 290 catches for nearly 3,000 career yards.

Following two years as a starter with the Chargers, Everett spent 2024 in a reserve role for the Chicago Bears. The South Alabama product finished the year with just eight catches for 36 yards in what was easily the least productive season of his career.

Everett offers plenty of NFL experience as a quality pass-catcher, but his underwhelming 2024 campaign and lack of blocking ability make him an odd fit for the Jets. Still, he deserves a mention.

3. Quintin Morris

Quintin Morris would be a perfect fit for the Jets. The former Buffalo Bills tight end is the youngest player on this list, at just 26 years old. He also fills the blocking tight end role the Jets are hoping to address.

Morris has graded out as one of the best pass-blocking tight ends in the NFL over the last two seasons and has impressed as a run-blocker. He hasn't offered much as a receiver, but Morris was still able to carve out a regular role as Buffalo's TE3.

The Detroit Lions hosted Morris on an official visit last week. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Aaron Glenn and Tanner Engstrand take a page out of their old team's book and do the same.

4. MyCole Pruitt

There's a reason MyCole Pruitt has been able to carve out a 10-year NFL career, and it's not because of his receiving acumen. In fact, Pruitt never recorded more than 150 receiving yards in a season in his entire career that's spanned six different teams.

Instead, Pruitt has made a career out of being a rock-solid blocking tight end. His 83.8 PFF pass-block grade ranked first among all qualified tight ends in 2024. He's also earned a reputation as a quality run-blocker.

Pruitt doesn't move the needle much, but he would fill an important role as the best blocking tight end on the Jets' roster. It wouldn't hurt to add a veteran like Pruitt to the Jets' right end room.