Mike Gesicki (TE, CIN) led tight ends in average depth of target in 2025 at 9.95. 39 players with 40+ targets qualified.
Average depth of target, or aDOT, is air yards divided by targets: how far downfield a receiver is asked to work on a typical throw. A high aDOT means big plays and more volatility. A low one means volume and a steadier floor.
| Rank | Player | Pos | Team | Average Depth of Target | Air Yards | Targets | Rec Yards | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Gesicki | TE | CIN | 9.95 | 418 | 42 | 307 | 12 |
| 2 | Dalton Kincaid | TE | BUF | 9.49 | 465 | 49 | 571 | 12 |
| 3 | Zach Ertz | TE | WAS | 9.11 | 656 | 72 | 504 | 13 |
| 4 | Colston Loveland | TE | CHI | 9.10 | 746 | 82 | 713 | 16 |
| 5 | Oronde Gadsden II | TE | LAC | 9.04 | 624 | 69 | 664 | 15 |
| 6 | Cole Kmet | TE | CHI | 8.77 | 421 | 48 | 347 | 16 |
| 7 | Theo Johnson | TE | NYG | 8.32 | 616 | 74 | 528 | 15 |
| 8 | Hunter Henry | TE | NE | 8.16 | 710 | 87 | 768 | 17 |
| 9 | Juwan Johnson | TE | NO | 7.58 | 773 | 102 | 889 | 17 |
| 10 | Kyle Pitts | TE | ATL | 7.36 | 869 | 118 | 928 | 17 |
| 11 | Mark Andrews | TE | BAL | 7.26 | 508 | 70 | 422 | 17 |
| 12 | Dallas Goedert | TE | PHI | 7.11 | 583 | 82 | 591 | 15 |
| 13 | Brenton Strange | TE | JAX | 6.90 | 414 | 60 | 540 | 12 |
| 14 | Travis Kelce | TE | KC | 6.81 | 735 | 108 | 851 | 17 |
| 15 | Dawson Knox | TE | BUF | 6.71 | 329 | 49 | 417 | 16 |
| 16 | George Kittle | TE | SF | 6.67 | 460 | 69 | 628 | 11 |
| 17 | Trey McBride | TE | ARI | 6.66 | 1,126 | 169 | 1,239 | 17 |
| 18 | Brock Bowers | TE | LV | 6.51 | 560 | 86 | 680 | 12 |
| 19 | Dalton Schultz | TE | HOU | 6.22 | 659 | 106 | 777 | 17 |
| 20 | Harold Fannin Jr. | TE | CLE | 6.04 | 646 | 107 | 731 | 16 |
| 21 | Pat Freiermuth | TE | PIT | 5.98 | 323 | 54 | 486 | 15 |
| 22 | Mason Taylor | TE | NYJ | 5.77 | 375 | 65 | 369 | 13 |
| 23 | Sam LaPorta | TE | DET | 5.65 | 277 | 49 | 489 | 9 |
| 24 | Darnell Washington | TE | PIT | 5.63 | 242 | 43 | 364 | 13 |
| 25 | Gunnar Helm | TE | TEN | 5.51 | 303 | 55 | 357 | 16 |
| 26 | Tyler Warren | TE | IND | 5.38 | 602 | 112 | 817 | 17 |
| 27 | David Njoku | TE | CLE | 5.27 | 253 | 48 | 293 | 11 |
| 28 | Cade Otton | TE | TB | 5.17 | 419 | 81 | 572 | 15 |
| 29 | Jake Tonges | TE | SF | 5.07 | 233 | 46 | 293 | 10 |
| 30 | T.J. Hockenson | TE | MIN | 4.98 | 329 | 66 | 438 | 15 |
| 31 | Michael Mayer | TE | LV | 4.80 | 240 | 50 | 328 | 13 |
| 32 | Jake Ferguson | TE | DAL | 4.66 | 475 | 102 | 600 | 17 |
| 33 | Chig Okonkwo | TE | TEN | 4.63 | 366 | 79 | 560 | 17 |
| 34 | Tucker Kraft | TE | GB | 4.57 | 201 | 44 | 489 | 8 |
| 35 | Colby Parkinson | TE | LA | 4.43 | 248 | 56 | 408 | 14 |
| 36 | AJ Barner | TE | SEA | 4.37 | 297 | 68 | 519 | 17 |
| 37 | Evan Engram | TE | DEN | 4.36 | 331 | 76 | 461 | 16 |
| 38 | Jonnu Smith | TE | PIT | 4.33 | 234 | 54 | 222 | 17 |
| 39 | Noah Fant | TE | CIN | 3.34 | 137 | 41 | 288 | 13 |
Average Depth of Target leaders, all positions
Average Depth of Target by position: wide receivers · running backs
More 2025 leaderboards: Yards After Catch leaders · WOPR leaders · Air Yards Share leaders · Catch Rate leaders · all NFL stats
Mike Gesicki (TE, CIN) led tight ends in average depth of target in 2025 at 9.95. Dalton Kincaid (TE, BUF) was next at 9.49.
Average depth of target, or aDOT, is air yards divided by targets: how far downfield a receiver is asked to work on a typical throw. A high aDOT means big plays and more volatility. A low one means volume and a steadier floor.
39 players with 40+ targets qualified for the 2025 average depth of target leaderboard among tight ends. The table above lists the top 39.
Stats as of July 28, 2026. Data from nflverse (nflverse-data), licensed CC BY 4.0. Source: nflverse-data. License: CC-BY-4.0.