How to Bet NFL Tight End Futures Odds in 2024-25: Can LaPorta, Kincaid Rise to Top Tier?

For a long, long time, Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates ruled the NFL's tight end kingdom, dominating the previous generation of talent at the position.

But the top tier is always vacated eventually, and they passed the torch to the likes of Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, and Greg Olsen. Now there are two sitting atop the very highest perch.

Travis Kelce and George Kittle are looking down from the summit. However, just like they did, the next crop of youngsters always rises. And knowing who could take that bounding leap to join Kittle and Kelce - or knock one off that perch - is key to betting NFL tight end futures for 2024-25.

The Kittle-Kelce dominance

First, it's important to remember exactly how high the mountaintop is at the position.

Kittle is fresh off leading all tight ends last season with 1,020 receiving yards, the third season of his seven-year career when he's notched 1,000-plus yards. He reliably exceeds or hovers close to that mark if healthy, and Kittle even accumulated 910 yards in 2021 across 14 games.

Even more impressively in 2023, Kittle was regularly piling up chunk yardage as a big-play threat, resulting in a career-best 15.7 yards per reception that led all tight ends with at least 25 targets.

Meanwhile, a sprinkle of perspective is key as we look back on the down year during the last campaign by Kelce's sky-high standards. Yes, he struggled for stretches, and most notably early in the season. Yet he still righted his season enough to finish behind only Kittle leaguewide with 984 yards among tight ends.

He maintains a critical role for the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs - the favorites to repeat by the Super Bowl odds - and their explosive offense. Kelce ended up third at the position in receptions last year (93), and the veteran showed in the playoffs that there's still spark left in him when he racked up 355 yards over just four games.

But, as always, time remains an undefeated foe. Birthdays approach for both, with Kelce the elder statesman while turning 35 years old in early October, and Kittle will be 31 around the same time.

Let's look at a handful of rising talents who could be next in line, and how to best capitalize and profit from their ascension.

NFL tight end futures: Best bets for three TEs set to rise in 2024-25

Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

This is the most clear bet to keep surging upward after Sam LaPorta clicked immediately in the Detroit Lions' high-octane offense, finishing fifth among tight ends with 889 receiving yards last season.

The 34th overall pick last year rapidly became a central figure for a unit that gets great joy from airing it out. The Lions finished ninth in pass attempts (606) last season, which came despite often leading while compiling a plus-66 point differential en route to a 12-5 record.

LaPorta's 120 targets as a rookie put him fourth at the position, tying Kelce's workload and ending up far ahead of Kittle (90), and he ranked third among tight ends in target share (20.9%). He's a bundle of fury after the catch, too, as he tied for second at the position in broken tackles (nine).

The complete package is here for him to keep elevating quickly, as is the offensive firepower. Take LaPorta to go Over 825.5 receiving yards.

Best odds: -112 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 52.83%

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Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills

Dalton Kincaid's rookie numbers after being a first-round pick last year don't pop off your screen in the same way as LaPorta's production. But he was impressive nonetheless, even while often sharing time with fellow Bills tight end Dawson Knox.

Any breakout forecast is predicated on him pushing Knox into a secondary role either during the remainder of training camp or early in the season. The talent is certainly there to accomplish that soon, as Kincaid finished 11th in yards after the catch among tight ends last season (311).

He also still received 91 targets (eighth among tight ends) despite Knox's presence, turning that into 73 catches for 673 yards. Stefon Diggs is gone to the Houston Texans, along with the mammoth 160 targets he was given in 2023. Kincaid is well-positioned to help fill that void, especially with Gabe Davis (81 targets) gone too. Back the Over on 77.5 receptions.

Similar to the yardage market for LaPorta, FanDuel offers a much more compelling total here compared to our other best sports betting sites.

Best odds: -112 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 52.83%

Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears

Cole Kmet was lost in the wilderness at times last year, as was the Chicago Bears' entire offense amid the injuries and inconsistencies of the Justin Fields era.

Yet despite registering many dud weeks while finishing with 30 or fewer receiving yards five times last season when playing the full contest, Kmet's flashes were blindingly bright enough to salvage his overall numbers. That's led to plenty of promise heading into a season with a revamped offense.

His 719 yards still ranked ninth among tight ends, and he managed to score six touchdowns (tied for second among TEs) while playing for a mediocre offensive team that sat 18th in per-game scoring and 20th in touchdowns.  

Now No. 1 pick quarterback Caleb Williams enters, along with wideout Keenan Allen and ninth-overall selection Rome Odunze. That sudden infusion of talent should lead to a quick uptick in scoring and an opportunity for Kmet to go Over any touchdown total he's given if the pass-catcher surfaces in that market, as he finished tied for fourth at his position in red-zone targets last season.

For now, and in conjuction with that thinking, BetRivers is alone among our best sports betting apps while offering Kmet futures. We're siding with the Over on 53.5 receptions there.

Best odds: -112 via BetRivers | Implied probability: 52.83%

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Player to watch

Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins

There are only so many years you can be listed on any making the leap series before your launch pad privileges are revoked. That's where most are at with Jonnu Smith, the athletically gifted tight end who's somehow set to turn 29 in a few weeks.

But in fairness to Smith, he's often found himself in difficult situations throughout his career. Most significantly, four of his seven NFL seasons were spent with the Tennessee Titans, who were then highly run-oriented under Derrick Henry. Then Smith shifted to the New England Patriots and their quarterback debacle.

However, he finally capitalized on his promise last year with the Atlanta Falcons - even while also dealing with that team's quarterback mess and playing behind former first-rounder Kyle Pitts. Smith notched 582 receiving yards on 50 catches, both of which were easily career highs.

Now he moves on to the Miami Dolphins, a team with a fireworks-fueled offense that finished first last season in passing yards (265.5) and second in scoring (29.2 PPG).

None of our best sportsbooks are posting futures for Smith yet, but that could change as the season draws near. Alternatively, keep an eye on him to clear surely modest single-game receiving yards totals early in the season.

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