Which tight ends get the most red zone targets while trailing?
Trey McBride leads all NFL tight ends with 24 red zone targets while trailing, on 14 receptions and 8 receiving touchdowns across 13 games.
NFL Tight End Red Zone Targets While Trailing
Ranked by RZ TGT · 2025 regular season| # | Player | RZ TGT | TGT | REC | YDS | TD | CTH% | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trey McBride Arizona Cardinals · #85 | 24 | 24 | 14 | 127 | 8 | 58.3% | 13 |
| 2 | Brock Bowers Las Vegas Raiders · #89 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 57 | 5 | 53.3% | 10 |
| 3 | Jake Ferguson Dallas Cowboys · #87 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 53 | 1 | 45.5% | 13 |
| 4 | Oronde Gadsden II Los Angeles Chargers · #86 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 28 | 2 | 36.4% | 10 |
| 5 | Tyler Warren Indianapolis Colts · #84 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 40 | 2 | 45.5% | 10 |
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Open this in the Stat Explorer →Why this matters
Trailing changes what a red zone snap looks like. The field compresses, coverage tightens, and offenses lean on the target most likely to win a contested catch rather than create separation. Tight ends benefit from that shift more than any other position, since size and body control matter more than route-running once the field shrinks near the goal line.
This view isolates usage tied to game script rather than raw talent. A tight end who appears here often may be the option a quarterback trusts under duress, but the sample also rewards players whose offenses simply fall behind often. Weigh the surrounding record before treating the target share as proof of a bigger role in competitive games.
The signal works best for touchdown equity and red-zone standing, not for overall offensive involvement. A tight end can top this list while barely factoring into the game plan once the score tightens, which makes the split a situational bet rather than a measure of weekly reliability.