This offseason, I once again watched every single snap taken by every single Tight End in the NFL from 2024. As we have discussed ad nauseam, adding value at the TE position is not so simple as being a talented pass-catcher. You have to have a real role on the field. It all has to be real, one way or another. You can’t cheat football, and there’s a reason that gadgets are never consistent stars. There is no permanent, every-down position that exists between TE and WR, so if you can’t occupy the TE role, you will come off the field whenever the OC wants 3 WR out there. Either you’re good enough to replace that 3rd WR (very rare) or you are much less valuable than someone who, while in a vacuum, is a worse pass-catcher than you are, can stick at TE. That is why blocking in-line at at least a serviceable level is a non-negotiable for anyone who is not a freak of nature like Tony Gonzalez, Travis Kelce, or Brock Bowers. When their teams want(ed) a 3rd WR, they just put them there. But that’s rare, and still less valuable than those who can do what they do and still play Tight End in earnest.

As such, the criteria again consisted of about 65% pass-catching and 35% blocking. The role you occupy matters greatly. There remain few true elites, but with some exciting breakouts and great players mostly holding steady, these are the standouts. The NFL's top 10:

1: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Once again, an easy choice. There is nobody in the league like George Kittle. The greatest force multiplier at TE since Rob Gronkowski, Kittle is simultaneously the scariest receiver on the field and a 6th member of the offensive line. With how much he aligns in the formation, Kittle is both a significant engineer of San Francisco’s perennial success on the ground as well as a matchup nightmare in the passing game. Because he is a blocking body, he is often mirrored with a run defending body, as you can’t simply treat a member of the OL like a top WR. The result is a schematic mismatch without having to make sacrifices in the run game and attempt to game the system. The burst and elite acceleration, his defining athletic traits, are truly generational. Combined with good agility and bend, it makes him an effective 3-level separator and creator. As a blocker, his tenacity and technique carry him to dominance with even the hardest and least sheltered of matchups, which, among people who catch the ball, he does better than anyone. The 49ers go as he goes, and that’s been very, very fruitful for them.

2: Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

Trey McBride’s breakout had a breakout, and he’s become one of the most dynamic multitools in the NFL. As essentially the Cardinals’ WR1, McBride carried their passing game to 100+ catches and 1100+ yards in 16 games. McBride’s agility, acceleration/deceleration, and control make him an effective separator from any alignment, allowing the Cardinals, built around heavy bodies and a diverse run game, to bulk up without losing a legitimate volume pass-catcher and consistent route-runner. He’s also a great creator with the ball in his hands. Where McBride has continued to improve is in-line as a blocker. He’s not huge, but at 6’4, 245 he isn’t tiny either. McBride weaponizes an extra-low stance in tight positions to guarantee leverage, and with his ferocious mindset and good strength, consistently gets the job done even in difficult matchups when asked.

3: Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

This is not a “healthiest TEs in the NFL” list, and Goedert plays enough to have reached his full potential on the field even if not on the stat sheet. Goedert joins George Kittle as the only two truly elite two-way TEs active in the NFL. Trey McBride is a decent blocker, but Goedert is excellent, dominating in the capacity you’d typically only expect from your designated block-only guy. Big at a legitimate 6’5, 256, he is still fluid and explosive in space, able to command WR routes, separate effectively on DBs, make plays after the catch, and work every level of the field. He proved the level of his impact this playoffs, carrying the Eagles’ passing game as their leading receiver. From the postseason:

The South Dakota State Jackrabbit is by a distance, Philly’s leading receiver this postseason, with 188 yards on 15 catches (18 targets), pacing DeVonta Smith in 2nd by 67 yards. Per PFF, among players with 12 or more targets (to filter out small samples), Goedert is 3rd among all receivers in yards per route run at 2.54, behind only Ladd McConkey (in a single game) and Nico Collins.

He had a hand everywhere. He dominated on the ground, he made plays with the ball in their RPO game, he toasted DBs in the slot, he created chunks off of PA, and he gave them a valuable blitz and underneath safety-valve. That is Dallas Goedert’s impact when he plays, and that’s why he’s here. He’ll never be able to prove it with the numbers, but he’s a Hall of Fame-level player.

4: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

“Moves like a Wide Receiver” is a far too common refrain used on TEs, but for Brock Bowers, it’s 100% true. While he doesn’t have the 250 pounds that guys like Kelce, Zach Ertz, or Tony Gonzalez have/had, that helped them bridge the movement gap between great TE and de-facto WR, Bowers’ combination of quickness, control, deceleration, and pure speed is something I’m not sure we’ve seen at this position in our lifetimes. It’s necessary to be honest, as he is give or take only 225-235 pounds (non-testing combine weight of 243), but special regardless. He is a bit more of a WR by role for Vegas, but as any of the DBs who can’t cover him would tell you, they’re not losing anything by putting him there. He’s one of the best YAC threats in the game at any spot, a devastating ball-winner, and precise in the underneath and intermediate. As a blocker, anything in-line is off the table due to his size, though he did show promise there in college. He’s not able to stand up to DL body types at the point of attack and mainly takes on second/third-level off-ball run fitters. He does give them the ability to create heavy formations by putting him in the core, but he’s not doing anything in-line. Because of his rare receiving ability, that’s okay, the Raiders just use Michael Mayer for that and move Bowers everywhere else on the field. The only difference between 11 and 12 is where they put 89.

5: TJ Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

There are few in the NFL who understand the art of the route like TJ Hockenson. Deploying a repertoire of releases, steps, and deception that rivals the best wideouts in the NFL, Hockenson sets up and knocks down man defenders of every position. Despite being 6’5, 250 and not necessarily a freak athlete, he’s still able to flex out and beat coverage defenders in space, even against man coverage. Health has been the main issue for him, but he is a critical element for an offense, whose best WRs live on the outside, in need of an underneath and intermediate number 3. With a young QB, I expect a big shift toward 2 TE groupings, which will formalize that power slot role a bit more for him. He can handle it. However, Hockenson isn’t limited to a flex role. He’s not necessarily a good in-line blocker, but he can do enough to survive and function on the difficult, key blocks that determine viability. He can start in any package, and when at the Y, is a nightmare matchup for LBs and Safeties not equipped to match a route-running savant.

6: Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

Tucker Kraft is a locomotive. While stiffness in the hips and a lot of mass make deceleration and complex route-running a challenge, he is so explosive as a YAC threat and linear field-stretcher, and so dominant as an in-line blocker that his overall value to the GB offense is enormous. His contribution to the passing game is limited mostly to popping behind the LBs on PA and creating on checkdowns/quick game underneath, but NFL defenders cannot tackle Tucker Kraft. If he were a bit more fluid, he’d be another George Kittle. With the stiffness, he has a bit of trouble decelerating and snapping things off (49ers clip), which makes him less effective against man coverage than others on this list, but he’s not a wide receiver, and that isn’t his main job. As a blocker, his strength is matched by well-honed technique, making him effectively a 6th OL, just one capable of housing a screen and popping a deep over. Seems like a pretty good football player to me.

7: Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

LaPorta’s sophomore season underwhelmed many, but in reality, he is improving, not regressing. This past year, he fully assumed a starting role, becoming just credible enough in-line for the Lions’ domineering run game to operate without interruption, whether he is the only TE on the field or not. He’s still not *good,* but he’s getting better and learning how to overcome his bare-minimum size (6’3, 245). With that box checked, the benefits of what makes him a great player can be fully enjoyed without major externalities. His fluidity and feel make him a dangerous volume target for a Lions passing game that runs through the middle of the field. He has good quickness to separate in the short area and the feel for defenders and leverage to avoid reroutes, get to break points through contact, and clear the second level. He figures to provide Jared Goff a reliable target for a while.

8: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

This is a tougher one. Njoku unquestionably had a rough year last year and looked noticeably less athletic on tape than he had in previous years. He suffered a high-ankle sprain in week one and, unless he coincidentally fell off a cliff before 30, it appears to have lingered and impacted his movement. Because of this, I would be surprised if we don’t see a return to form for a guy who is, when himself, one of the better all-around TEs in the league. His quickness and acceleration make him both an effective route-runner and YAC creator, and his strength at the catch-point is underrated. Njoku continues to be reliable in-line and is even improving, handling difficult blocking asks with a high level of effectiveness. He is a stud who continues to languish in offenses that can’t function. Free David Njoku.

9: Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Despite a major vibe deficit following a season of reduced production and a couple of nightmare postseason moments, Mark Andrews has not taken any steps back as a player. He’s still not viable in-line at all, but the Lamar Jackson offense is one of the few designed around having multiple TEs on the field as much as possible and features a QB run element that leaves DEs unblocked very often. He splits his flex role with Isaiah Likely, but Andrews is a more advanced route-runner, is more effective in the slot, and opens up more of the true dropback menu that Todd Monken has cleaned up. As their best option at the F and a critical red zone target, Mark Andrews still qualifies as one of the more impactful receiving TEs in the league.

10: Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

Schultz continues to defy a slighter build (6’5, 242 list) to be one of the better jacks of all trades the TE position has to offer. His technique in-line is terrific and carries him to reliability. His control and hip flexibility, his only elite athletic traits, form a pass-catcher who doesn’t get enough credit. He sinks in and out of breaks in a way that’s difficult for LBs to match. He has the quick feet and precision to work LBs laterally and pepper the underneath zones, and the feel for space to settle and maximize windows. Schultz deserves his flowers as one of the pinnacle “safety-valve” TEs, a Mr. Reliable who contributes positively to every part of the offense.

*Note, rankings from before 2024 season

This offseason, I watched every single snap taken by every single Tight End in the NFL from 2023 (and beyond for some). The criteria consisted of about 65% pass-catching and 35% blocking. There are few true elites, but these are the standouts. The NFL's top 10:

1: George Kittle (SF).

An easy choice, Kittle combines 1:1 explosiveness with a dominant in-line presence. A key engine of his team's run and pass games, Kittle is one of the more irreplaceable pieces in the NFL. Kittle is the most explosive TE in the sport. His burst allows him to stretch defenses vertically as well as threaten after the catch, and he can align anywhere. SF releases him from in tight a lot, marrying the run and pass while giving him favorable matchups on LBs and Safeties. As a blocker, there is nobody better, and he is the only one on this list who truly qualifies among the league's elite. His hand placement, leverage, and violent intentions allow him to routinely *wipe out* DEs 1v1, freeing up other blockers for doubles, leads, and climbs.

2: Travis Kelce (KC)

In order to be useful as a TE who doesn't really block, you have to match the receiving output a WR would produce in your place. Kelce is *better* than 90% of the league's WRs. As the KC offense has shifted in identity, Kelce became its dictating receiver. Going in, I didn't expect to still have Kelce this high, but he still has his fastball. He is the ultimate chain-mover. With great feel for space, smoothness, and quick feet. Kelce is always available to pick up 10-20 yards. He has the burst/quickness to align at every WR spot. He's too smooth to be covered by linebackers, and too big to be matched by DBs. His feel for space is legendary, as his mind-meld with Mahomes allows him to improvise even *before* plays break down. Kelce has mastered what I call the "super choice route." Essentially, many of his routes don't have designated endpoints or even guidelines, he is trusted to read the coverage and find space like a kid on the playground. As a blocker, he isn’t much of a factor (2024 update: he is blocking more!), and this makes him less valuable overall than George Kittle, but he is so good as a pass catcher that putting him in place of a third WR is a no-brainer for any offense.

3: David Njoku (CLE)

With the obvious out of the way, this is where the list begins. Njoku has blossomed under Kevin Stefanski into one of the league's most valuable TEs. As a pass catcher, he has the athleticism to align anywhere and is devastating after the catch. One of the fastest TEs in the league with the ball, the Browns like to get Njoku on the move where he can separate from defenders. He also uses his big frame well and is able to box-out well and make contested catches. As a blocker, he is heavily trusted by a play-caller who hangs his hat on the run game, and that means a lot. He is used in-line, handles DEs, and is often asked to make key blocks, at the point of attack, on the frontside of run plays. He isn't hidden, he's weaponized. He isn't quite as overpowering as Kittle, but he's asked to make difficult blocks and does so passably. His hand placement is good and he keeps his weight behind him.

4: Dallas Goedert (PHI)

Health kept him out of the 3 spot, but Goedert remains one of the best in the league at the position. He has complete alignment versatility, with the ability to contribute at every WR spot and play in-line without any help. His quickness/smoothness in and out of breaks is special, his speed and athleticism are incredible for his size. In addition, the technique as a route runner is there. He gets the ball from every spot on the field, including the outside WR spots. He's even a weapon on screens, like someone 60 pounds lighter would be. In the run game, Goedert has that dog in him in a way few still do. The traces of his South Dakota State identity are visible, as he uses his size (all of 256 lbs), strength, lower half, and hands to move edge rushers. This is critical for a run game that operates a lot out of 11 personnel, as he will often have to be alone.

5: TJ Hockenson (MIN)

The rare top-10 pick at TE who hasn't flamed out, Hockenson has become a big time playmaker in the pass game, with enough physicality to not be a net negative on the ground. Hockenson is a really, really good route runner. Explosiveness in and out of breaks, paired with variety in his releases and stems makes him a difficult cover. He's a big threat in the middle of the field for a Vikings O that uses it *a lot.* As a blocker, he is willing, but has issues with hand-placement and lower-half leverage that allow stronger defenders to disengage the hands and bench-press him at the point of attack. As a result, MIN will use Josh Oliver as a handcuff to keep him out of more difficult blocks. As a secondary blocker, he's more than serviceable. Helping on double teams, climbing to support defenders, and digging out nickels is his best use.

6: Dalton Schultz (HOU)

Probably the most underrated member of the list, Dalton Schultz is weakness-free and can play everywhere, while being much more flashy in the pass game than he is given popular credit for. I was surprised to see how good Schultz was on the outside, and shocked by his juice as a mover. We all know that he's smooth and plays the role of chain-moving safety blanket well both in tight and in the slot, but Schultz has blossomed into a pretty scary receiver in Houston. He has the ability to stop and start, can snap off routes, changes direction well, and moves with a lot of pace. Schultz being a credible threat outside allows Houston to create mismatches in the slot with guys like Tank Dell. Inside the hashes, Schultz moves the chains well and has a feel for space. As a blocker, he's pretty good! His technique is legit, with good hands and a good base, and he can handle himself 1v1 with edges if he needs to. The ability to not *need* to handcuff him is big for this offense. However, his smaller size (244) gets him into trouble from time to time, and despite the technique, his inferior strength keeps him below guys like Kittle and Goedert as blockers. However, he is a net positive in both the run and pass game, and that gets him placed high.

7: Trey McBride (AZ)

A revelation from last season, Trey McBride burst onto the scene as one of the most productive TEs in the entire league, especially when Kyler Murray returned from injury. McBride is a sick athlete and rapidly developing route runner who will only see his usage and route tree expand. He is dangerous in space and a weapon down the field. The interplay between him and Marvin Harrison Jr will be appointment television. As a blocker, I was shocked by how aggressive he is. He's extremely dilligent, hard-nosed, and tough. His technique has come along nicely. However, he is a bit smaller, and is best used as a secondary blocker, where he is a weapon for AZ's run game in 12 and 13 personnel. His trajectory points up in a major way, and this list would look foolish in a year without him on it (update: it looks foolish with him at 7).

8: Sam LaPorta (DET)

The 3rd Iowa Hawkeye on this list is another revelation from last year. More of a power-slot, LaPorta fits well into the intermediate-focused Ben Johnson pass game. LaPorta is super smooth, and is a great chain mover for the Lions. He landed in the perfect spot, with OC Ben Johnson weaponizing/developing his good feet and route running. The Lions use him to eat up volume between 0-25 yards, between the hashes. He can play a bit on the outside as well, which creates matchup issues for defenses between he and Amon Ra St. Brown. Despite the big numbers, LaPorta is lower on this list than most would expect due to a need to completely handcuff him in the run game, and slight inflation by a perfect situation. He is one of the better pass-catching TEs in the game already, but he has holes. Because he is a liability as an in-line blocker (update: he’s improved a little bit), the Lions become predictable if he is on the field as the sole TE. Ben Johnson, however, has done an excellent job hiding his deficiency as a blocker. Because DET has Brock Wright, he is shielded from difficult blocks. Johnson also uses a ton of motions, shifts, unbalanced formations, and other sleight-of-hand tricks to hide LaPorta. LaPorta is only asked to get in the way as a secondary blocker, often away from the run. Even that has been a big improvement from college for LaPorta. Everyone blocks in DET, and they have gotten a lot more out of him as a blocking power-slot than I expected. However, he needs to be babysat a fair bit and needs to put up huge receiving numbers to get on the field.

9: Mark Andrews (BAL)

One of the better pass-catchers at the position, but is a negative on the ground. Remember, if a TE isn't going to block, he has to match WR levels of production to be worth his spot on the field. Andrews, like LaPorta and Kelce, is one of the few who does (update: he is now having issues staying on the field because of this). He is a smooth route runner who has been a critical chain mover for Lamar over the past few years, especially out of structure. A diet version of what Mahomes and Kelce have, the two work very well together. He has quick feet and can align at every WR spot, which prevents defenses from keying in on him. He is, however, at his best in the slot. Additionally, Andrews has been an invaluable red zone threat (update: still true), which makes him a favorite of fantasy players. He is an NPC in the run game though. Previously under Greg Roman, the offense was extremely condensed, with a lot of 12, 21, 22, and 13 personnel sets placing blocking responsibility more on others. With the reinvention of the offense under Todd Monken, Andrews (even when healthy), had to come off the field *a lot* when they got into 11 personnel, with Patrick Ricard taking the primary TE role. Andrews needs a handcuff, and even as a secondary blocker has major issues. If Andrews experiences any decline as a receiver in the coming years, it will be hard to get him on the field (update: happening). For now, however, he is still a high-end option from the slot.

10: Tucker Kraft (GB)

The most surprising entry into this list, Kraft exploded onto the scene in the back half of the year. Once he found his way into a role, Kraft finished the year with a full-season pace of 774 rec yards over his last 8 games. For a rookie, those are good numbers, but what puts those numbers on this list is Kraft's dominance as a run blocker. With elite size, strength and technique, Kraft is one of the biggest weapons in Green Bay's run game. On top of that, he is a top-tier athlete and rapidly developing receiver. His athleticism allows him to be a YAC threat in the underneath and field stretcher in the seam. Kraft's two-way value commands playing time, and with some more development that is absolutely coming, he'll join the likes of Goedert, Njoku, and maybe even Kittle as the league's dominant, true TEs. There is no situation in which he needs to be taken off the field. Tight End is a developmental position at the NFL level. The puzzle is almost complete for Tucker Kraft and when it is, he will become one of the best in a league that is starving for old-school dual threats at the position.