Lined up on the line of scrimmage or off the line in the slot, flanked out wide or stacked in a bunch, set next to the quarterback in shotgun or in motion across the formation – check the alignment or assignment and you’re likely to find the tight end position doing it all.

Their usage in creating mismatches with their versatility allows offensive coordinators to be creative with route concepts and alignments when spreading the field. Every team wants a high-powered offensive attack and in order to posses one, teams need a solid tight end to control the middle of the field. The tight end is a key catalyst to a good aerial attack, providing the quarterback a safety valve while opening it up outside for their wide receiver teammates by commanding the attention of safeties and linebackers.

Still counted on as a blocker for the running game, the status of the tight end position is rising in prominence because of the significant roles they play within their team’s passing games. Here’s a ranking of the top impending free agents at tight end that teams will be looking toward to improve their respective passing games.

1. Julius Thomas

The former Portland State college basketball player has blossomed into one of the league’s best tight ends for the Denver Broncos ever since Peyton Manning took a shining to him. Largely inexperienced at the position and contributing virtually nothing over his first two seasons as a pro, Thomas learned the game and burst onto the scene in 2013, catching 65 passes and 12 touchdowns in 14 games to earn a Pro Bowl nod. A huge mismatch for defenders with his lanky frame, vacuum hands and run after the catch ability, Thomas has developed into Manning’s favorite red zone target. As one of the league’s top touchdown producers, Thomas has already matched last season’s TD total through nine games this year, and is on pace to challenge the NFL’s single-season touchdown reception record of 23 held by future Hall Of Famer Randy Moss.

Manning, who’s completed 24 touchdown passes to Thomas in 23 games, appreciates how great of a talent Thomas truly is.

“He’s unique because of his size and his speed,” Manning said when asked about his tight end’s development. “I’ve played with some taller tight ends, some bigger tight ends in a guy like Marcus Pollard and Ken Dilger, I played with in Indianapolis. And of course, Dallas Clark, probably did not have Julius’s size, but certainly had that great speed, and that receiver route-running ability. So yeah, Julius is unique in the fact that he has great size and outstanding speed. And he’s really trying to expand his game, being able to run routes outside, working on trying to become a complete tight end. He’s still a young player, everybody has to remember that, including us. He’s still learning, and hasn’t played a ton of football, going back to his college days. But I appreciate his work ethic. He works hard, he really wants to be a great player, and I’ve enjoyed playing with him.”

At only 26 years of age and only two true years of tread on his tires, figure Thomas to be a player in high demand this offseason if the Denver Broncos don’t utilize their franchise tag on him. Regardless of whether Thomas re-signs with the Broncos or moves on to greener pastures, he will command an annual salary in the $8-$10 million range.

2. Charles Clay

Charles “Big Play” Clay has earned that moniker by producing game-changing plays during his budding career with the Miami Dolphins. The fourth-year pro took the reins as a full-time starter in his third pro season after showing early glimpses of playmaking ability as a late-round pick. An injury to former starter and Dolphin Dustin Keller pressed Clay into full time action, allowing Clay to seize the opportunity and establish himself as one of the better tight ends in the league. Built more like your classic H-Back than modern day tight end, Clay’s versatility is his greatest asset. Having played running back, fullback, wildcat quarterback and tight end in college, Clay was able to use that versatility to earn a place in the league and eventually develop into the matchup nightmare that earned him top 100 NFL Player recognition.

Teammates marvel at his versatility and the physicality in which he plays the game.

“Charles is like a Swiss Army knife or something,” Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace said when asked about his teammate. “He can play every position. Before I got here I heard he wasn’t a good blocker, but I haven’t seen that. I’ve been seeing him driving guys off the ball. He’s very strong. He doesn’t go down easy. He’s like a bulldozer. Just give him the ball, let him go out and play.”

Finally regaining form after starting the season off with a banged up knee that he’s played through, look for Clay to finish strong in his contract year. At 25 years of age, Clay will command tons of outside interest as this jack of all trades is a great fit for any team’s offensive system. Clay will likely be a priority for the Dolphins to re-sign this offseason, but they may be better off trying to work out a deal before season’s end to avoid letting Clay hit the open market.

3. Jordan Cameron

The former BYU basketball player and later sparingly used USC wide receiver, Cameron’s gifted physical skill set earned him an opportunity to make a name for himself at tight end with the Cleveland Browns. Currently sitting out with concussion symptoms, Cameron had established himself as one of the best seam threat tight ends in the league in 2013 after registering just short of 1,000 receiving yards. Prior to his injury, the Browns’ standout was off to a fine start for the year, following up his break out Pro Bowl season admirably. Unfortunately, his third concussion in less than two years derailed this progression and has put a dark cloud over his availability for the rest of the season.

His current head coach Mike Pettine is concerned about the lasting effects from the head injury.

“You don’t know,” Pettine noted when asked about Cameron’s injury status. “It’s a tricky thing. You can have a guy be without symptoms for a day or two, then it comes back. It’s obviously a touchy subject and I defer very much to (trainer Joe Sheehan) and the medical staff as far as where a guy is. It’s clear that some will take longer than others.”

This issue will likely hurt Cameron’s stock in his impending free agency, since it will be hard for teams to determine if he’s damaged goods. When and how he comes back will determine the level of interest he generates this offseason. If he comes back this year and tears it up while avoiding setbacks, Cameron can command as much on the open market as the two names above him on this list. If he comes back too early and suffers another setback, his stock will diminish rapidly as he will be marked injury prone. Look for the Browns to play it safe with one of their best players, especially since they’ve been able to maintain their surprising winning ways without him this year. That patience will likely earn the Browns some good faith in negotiations should they elect to sit him out until the time is right for a return.

4. Jermaine Gresham

A classic tight end that plays on the line of scrimmage, Gresham provides most of his value to his team as a blocker and big body receiver for his quarterback Andy Dalton. The Cincinnati Bengals’ former first-round pick has been a productive player thus far in his career, but not necessarily the game-changing presence they thought they were initially drafting. A touchdown machine out of Oklahoma, Gresham looked to be an ascending player, producing immediately as a rookie and improving statistically every year, peaking in his third season as a pro in 2012 with over 700 yards receiving. Last season, he regressed statistically as his role as the pass catching tight end became less prominent in the offense with the addition of first-round rookie tight end Tyler Eifert. This season, even with Eifert out for the year with injury, Gresham is enduring his worst statistical season yet, averaging a paltry 7.7 yards per reception, almost a full three yards lower than his career average entering the season of 10.3 yards per catch.

Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson is placing the blame on himself for Gresham’s decline in productivity.

“I think my job is to get him to be able to do it,” Jackson said when asked about Gresham’s struggles. “I take the responsibility. I’ve got to get him to play better and he will. He understands what he needs to do. He’s a pro; he’s been there before and we just need to get him back where he needs to be.”

Still plenty young at the ripe age of 26, one would think Gresham still has productive years ahead of him. With the Bengals already investing a first-round pick in receiving tight end Eifert two years ago, the franchise may be looking to move on from the veteran. Either way, he will be poised to garner interest from a club looking for a steady veteran presence at the position. The Bengals could look to re-sign him to provide insurance for the injured Eifert, but look for the annual price tag on Gresham to be considerably lower than it would have been had he hit the open market two years ago after his best season as a pro.

5. Niles Paul

Enjoying his best season as a pro, the converted college wide receiver is finally developing into a contributor and weapon for the Washington Redskins’ offense. Starting off his career out wide and 20 pounds lighter, Paul struggled to break the offensive line up, contributing mainly on special teams. In his second year as a pro, Paul was converted to tight end where he provided some glimpses of what he could become, while also handling the team’s primary kickoff return duties. Instead of letting him continue to develop, the coaching staff continued to move him around, training and playing him way out of position at fullback last season while he remained the team’s primary kickoff return man. With a new coaching staff taking over this offseason, Paul was moved back to tight end to back up promising youngster Jordan Reed as the receiving tight end while Logan Paulsen continued to work as the blocking tight end. Then, when Reed went down with an injury the first week of the season, Paul stepped up and became one of the most productive tight ends in the league during the opening month of the season. His production has since tailed off now that he is sharing snaps with Reed, who has returned from injury, but he still remains a part of the game plan.

New head coach Jay Gruden has noticed Paul’s rapid development this season and thinks he has a bright future ahead of him.

“It started in the weight room, him getting stronger,” Gruden said when asked about the undersized tight end’s success. “When the reps came his way, he started to make some plays, then all of a sudden his confidence started to grow and he is where he is right now. He’s done a great job both in the passing game and the running game. So he’s a guy that’s future has continued to look brighter and brighter everyday. If he continues at this pace of getting better, great things are on the horizon for him.”

While he may not command a ton of interest this offseason like the names above him on this list, his versatility to line up anywhere in the formation and being only 25 years old may prove intriguing to a creative offensive mind who thinks he can continue to develop. With the Redskins invested in the development of Jordan Reed moving forward, Niles Paul may be looking for a new home; good thing he chose the right time to have a career year, as his stock is the highest it has ever been.

Best of the Rest

Some of the other decent impending free agents at the position are Owen Daniels, Lance Kendricks, Robert Housler, Dante Rosario, Matt Spaeth, Zach Miller and Jacob Tamme. Daniels, though, is probably the only one from this short list that could start for a team next year.