Nov 6, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) reacts after the Jacksonville Jaguars did not receive a pass interference call during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 19-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
It's time to take a look at the 30 top pass-catching tight ends heading into the 2017 NFL season.
With the start of the 2017 NFL season only a few months away, that means it's the perfect time to take a look at which players deserve consideration for being some of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league. Over the years, the NFL has seen the tight end position become a key part to the success of the passing game, and there's every reason to believe that will happen one again in 2017.
When healthy, Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots has always been nearly impossible to defend by opponents due to his enormous size and strength. But even though the Patriots still managed to win the Super Bowl, Gronkowski was limited to appearing in just eight games due to injuries, and hopes to be at full strength this upcoming season.
As for some of the other tight ends to keep an eye on for this list, Travis Kelce continues to be the type of player who gets better with experience, and led all players at his position with 1,125 receiving yards on 85 catches. Whether that deserves serious consideration for Kelce being ahead of Gronkowski on this list, let's jump right into the rankings of the top 30 pass-catching tight ends to find out.
Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen (83) in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
30. Dwayne Allen, New England Patriots
After spending the previous five seasons as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Dwayne Allen watched his former team trade him to the New England Patriots this offseason, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. With all due respect to Andrew Luck, Allen finds himself in position to be playing with arguably the greatest quarterback of all time in Tom Brady, and could be in for his best season to date.
More from NFL Spin Zone
For an offense that's already loaded with plenty of talent in the wide receiver department from Julian Edelman to Brandin Cooks, Allen should benefit from opponents focusing on all of the other New England superstars by seeing extra passes thrown his way. Not to mention, the Patriots hope to see Rob Gronkowski return to full strength after only appearing in eights games during the 2016 season, which should benefit Allen even more.
Bill Belichick has found plenty of success over the years by using two effective pass-catching tight ends, and Allen should be able to top the 35 catches for 406 yards with six touchdowns he recorded last year. Brady has always been the type of quarterback who makes the players around him better, and having the Colts trade him to the Patriots may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Allen.
Jan 15, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James (81) is upended by Kansas City Chiefs free safety Ron Parker (38) during the first quarter in the AFC Divisional playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
29. Jesse James, Pittsburgh Steelers
If there's any offense that's going to top the New England Patriots in the AFC, chances are it's going to be the Pittsburgh Steelers when looking at all of the potential surrounding the unit heading into 2017. Many expected the Steelers to shatter numerous records on offense during the 2016 season, and while that may not have happened, they still finished near the top of the league.
Normally, Ben Roethlisberger tends to favorite Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell when it comes to getting the best out of the offense, but one of the most exciting things about Pittsburgh's offense is how any player can breakout for a big game at any given week, such as Jesse James. The Steelers tight end may not have broken the 100-yard mark at all during the 2016 season, but that didn't stop Big Ben from trying to get James involved as much as possible in the passing game.
Let's not forget there was a span at the beginning of last season when James found his way into the end zone in three times in four games. Now it's just up to Roethlisberger to figure out a way to use James more in the red zone since those three scores ended up being the only touchdowns recorded by the tight end during the 2016 season.
Aug 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) is upended in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
28. Vance McDonald, San Francisco 49ers
Vance McDonald deserves some benefit of the doubt for his previous two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers when considering how much the unit struggled at times on offense. Even if Colin Kaepernick looked impressive at times, it still doesn't take away from the 49ers only winning two games all of last year, both of which came against the Los Angeles Rams.
This time around, San Francisco's offense should be in much better shape thanks to the hiring of Kyle Shanahan along with bringing veteran Brian Hoyer on board to run the offense. Football fans can say what they want about Hoyer bouncing around to numerous teams over the years, but he's the best short-term option for the 49ers at the moment, and could help McDonald set career highs in numerous categories.
Seeing McDonald only catch 24 passes in 11 games shows how little he was used in the passing game, but hopefully all of that changes in 2017. Who knows, maybe McDonald will contribute enough on offense to help the Niners emerge as one of the surprise teams in the NFC, but let's not jump the gun too much since Shanahan's squad just needs to take things one step at a time.
Nov 3, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper (81) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of a football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The Falcons won 43-28. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
27. Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons
Could Austin Hooper become one of the top breakout players for the Atlanta Falcons during the 2017 season? Based off that Matt Ryan is coming off an MVP season with the intention of helping the Falcons reach the Super Bowl for the second year in a row, the answer to that question is yes.
Atlanta used a third-round pick on the former Stanford star during the 2016 NFL Draft, and while his numbers didn't standout like some of his other teammates on offense, they weren't all that bad either. Sometimes for a player like Hooper, it can be difficult to produce high numbers in an offense loaded with weapons like Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman, but all of that could change heading into his sophomore season.
Now that Hooper has a year of experience under his belt, the tight end should feel a lot more comfortable when it comes to contributing to the Falcons offense to help them remain strong contenders in the NFC. And the good thing for Austin is when looking at his numbers from his rookie campaign, topping the 19 catches he recorded shouldn't be an issue at all, especially with a quarterback running a high-powered offense like Ryan.
Nov 13, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas (80) runs to the bench after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of a football game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
26. Julius Thomas, Miami Dolphins
Two years ago, Julius Thomas made a bold move to leave one of the most talented offenses the NFL had to offer in the Denver Broncos to receive a boatload of money from the Jacksonville Jaguars, who many believed were becoming a team on the rise with a loaded offense of their own. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, the decision to bring Thomas on board backfired from the start since his production was down due to his inability to stay healthy.
A few months ago, Jacksonville was able to find a trade partner for Thomas after shipping the tight end off to the Miami Dolphins, and if he manages to stay healthy, this could work out well for both parties. Keep in mind the Dolphins were one of the biggest surprise teams from the 2016 season after earning one of the Wild Card spots in the AFC following a disastrous start, and by bringing Thomas on board, it will hopefully turn into another reliable weapon for Ryan Tannehill to work with in the passing game.
It wasn't long ago when Thomas was considered one of the league's top pass-catching tight ends after catching 24 touchdown passes from 2013-14, but also that was when Peyton Manning was his quarterback. By earning a fresh start with a new team in the Dolphins, it's time for Thomas to prove he's worth every penny of that hefty contract.
Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Coby Fleener (82) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Saints defeated the Cardinals 48-41. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
25. Coby Fleener, New Orleans Saints
Prior to signing with the New Orleans Saints in the 2016 offseason, Coby Fleener had been one of those unexpected players on the rise for Andrew Luck to take advantage of on offense with the Indianapolis Colts. And even though he would eventually bolt the Colts for the Saints, Fleener certainly wasn't disappointed over the fact he would go from working with Luck to Drew Brees.
During his first season in New Orleans, the argument can be made the team expected more out of Fleener, but hopefully all of that changes now that has a year of experience under his belt with the team. Obviously, catching 50 passes for 631 yards to go along with three touchdowns doesn't seem all that terrible, but for a pass-happy offense like the Saints, it's easy to understand why Fleener's numbers could have been better.
Then again, with Brandin Cooks officially out of the picture thanks to the trade with the New England Patriots, 2017 will hopefully mean more opportunities for Fleener to see more passes thrown his way from Brees. And if that does end up happening, the decision to bring Fleener on board last year will seem to have paid off even more.
Oct 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Charles Clay (85) runs upfield after catching a pass in the 1st quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
24. Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills
Charles Clay has always been one of those tight ends who has always been difficult to figure out over the years since his production can seem inconsistent at times. Just look at how Clay took until the middle of December to finally find the end zone for the first time, and it's easy to see why there's some concerns on the ends of the Buffalo Bills.
Not to mention, Clay that was the start of Clay catching four touchdowns in a three-game span for the Bills, proving once again why he's been so difficult to figure out at times over the years. Even over the last year months, Buffalo hasn't been shy about over expressing their concerns over the knee issues that Clay has been dealing with that hopefully won't put his status for the start of the 2017 season in jeopardy.
Obviously, if Clay manages to overcome these knee issues while becoming the effective pass-catching tight end from last December, this would be amazing for the Bills since their receiving corps was already weak to begin with. Also, with all of the uncertainty surrounding the future of Tyrod Taylor, the quarterback will need all of the help he can get from his teammates, like Clay, on offense to convince the Buffalo organization he is in fact the answer.
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Jared Cook (89) runs the ball against Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (59) during the third quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
23. Jared Cook, Oakland Raiders
After spending one year with one of the league's most high-powered offenses in the Green Bay Packers, Jared Cook made the switch to another offense loaded with talent, the Oakland Raiders. Thanks to Derek Carr emerging as an MVP contender, the Raiders offense seems capable of ranking near the top of the league for years to come, and for a player that's going to be 30 at the start of the season, Cook realizes his time an elite tight end is running out.
It's a shame that Cook waited until the playoffs to finally start living up to the hype for the Packers since there was plenty of frustration over the tight end during the regular season when it came to his issues of too many dropped passes. And even though Cook probably would have preferred to stick around in Green Bay when seeing how close they were to reaching the Super Bowl last year, at least he'll have a similar opportunity as a member of Oakland.
Believe it or not, the Raiders are considered one of the favorites to give the New England Patriots a run for their money in the AFC, and it's easy to understand why after the team finally put an end to their playoff drought last season. Even if the challenge of overtaking a team like New England is never an easy task, at least having a pass-catching tight end like Cook will help take some of the pressure off Carr running the offense.
May 12, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants tightened Evan Engram (88) catches the ball during rookie mini camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
22. Evan Engram, New York Giants
Placing a rookie on a list like this can be difficult since nobody has seen them take a single snap in the NFL, and there's sometimes concern over the difficulty behind the transition process. But when it comes to Evan Engram based off how well he seems to fit in his new offense, the New York Giants hope to see the former Mississippi star make an immediate impact as a rookie.
First off, the potential surrounding the offense of the Giants seems to be the highest in years when looking at all of the moves they made over the last few months. Not only did the team use a first-round pick on Engram, but the team took advantage of the New York Jets deciding to part ways with Brandon Marshall to provide Eli Manning with another reliable weapon to work with in the passing game.
The Giants wouldn't have selected Engram in the first round a few months back when considering all of the other team needs if they didn't see something special in the tight end, and his presence will only make the offense even stronger than it already was. And if Engram does live up to the first-round hype, don't be surprised if New York's odds of reaching the Super Bowl skyrocket.
Dec 18, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate (84) celebrates his third quarter touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
21. Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers emerged as one of the surprise contenders in the NFC last year after finishing with a 9-7 record, and even though their playoff dreams fell short, this team has every reason to feel confident about what could be in store for 2017. Between having one of the league's biggest playmakers in Mike Evans to bringing on a speedy deep threat in DeSean Jackson, it's easy to see why the Buccaneers are one of the strong favorites to make the jump to serious contenders in the NFC.
What could make Tampa Bay even stronger contenders in the conference is if Cameron Brate continues to progress like has over his previous two seasons with the team. After putting together decent numbers in his second year with the Buccaneers, Brate proved his value to the offense in 2016 by catching 57 passes for 660 yards while making eight trips into the end zone.
On paper, Tampa Bay has the potential for having one of the top offenses in the NFL, and hopefully Brate continues his trend of improving with each year of experience. The Atlanta Falcons may be the defending champions in the NFC South, but keep an eye on Brate and the Buccaneers as strong candidates to give their division rivals a run for their money.
Oct 2, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) looks on against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
20. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
Tyler Higbee's rookie season with the Los Angeles Rams was far from anything to brag about after only recording 11 catches while appearing in 16 games, but there are a few factors to consider before jumping to the conclusion that he's a bust. Even though the Rams' offense ranked dead last in the NFL last year by only averaging 14 points per game, all of that should change now that Sean McVay is on board as head coach, and Higbee is one of numerous players who could benefit the most.
For starters, McVay has a history of getting the best out of his tight ends, as his time with Jordan Reed and the Washington Redskins over the last few years is the perfect example of how successful he's been. There may have been some concerns surrounding Higbee prior to the 2016 NFL Draft, but from a football standpoint, the tight end was considered one of the best red-zone targets during his playing days at Western Kentucky, and should see a much larger role during his sophomore year in Los Angeles.
Providing more weapons for Jared Goff in the offense was one of the top priorities for the Rams in the offseason, and if Higbee can figure out a way to be more productive, this could turn into one of the biggest surprise duos in the NFC. Plus, with Los Angeles using a second-round pick on Gerald Everett in this year's NFL Draft, this could give Higbee a little extra motivation to elevate his game this upcoming season.
2017 NFL Draft Grade
Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard goes through workout drills during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
19. O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Over the years, it's become quite common to see NFL teams boost up on having two effective pass-catching tight ends, and after seeing Cameron Brate make the list earlier, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have another tight end to add in O.J. Howard. As previously mentioned with Evan Engram, it can be difficult to place rookies on this list since the verdict is still out there when it comes to making the transition to the NFL, but there's a reason why the Buccaneers were so high on Howard in this year's draft.
For the most part, Howard's blocking skills were one of the key skills that stood out the most when compared to other rookies in this year's draft, but what's even more exciting is the potential surrounding the contributions he can make in the passing game playing alongside Brate. All of a sudden, Tampa Bay's offense is loaded with dangerous weapons in the passing game, and with defenders focusing their attention on the whereabouts of Howard's teammates, it could even help the rookie tight end see some extra looks from Jameis Winston on offense.
With all of these pieces falling into place for the Buccaneers, it's time for Howard and company to show why so many people expect them to make the jump to contenders during the 2017 season. It's certainly not going to be easy playing in a competitive division like the NFC South, but Tampa Bay should be playing with a little extra motivation after they want things turned out last year.
Nov 13, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) is defended by Miami Dolphins strong safety Isa Abdul-Quddus (24) during the second quarter after making a catch at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
18. Antonio Gates, Los Angeles Chargers
There once was a time when Antonio Gates was considered the best pass-catching tight end in the NFL, and even if those days are long gone, the veteran continues to still do whatever it takes to play a role in the offense of the Los Angeles Chargers. It's amazing to think that Gates has been in the league dating back to 2003, but his numbers from the last few years are better than some of the league's younger tight ends.
For a player who will be 37 by the time Week 1 rolls around, it's been amazing to see someone like Gates catch 178 passes over the last three years, and if that wasn't already impressive enough, it should also be noted he's found the end zone a total of 24 times. As long as he doesn't get slowed down by any sort of injuries, there's every reason to believe that Gates will continue to post similar numbers heading into 2017 during the team's first year in Los Angeles.
Frustration doesn't even begin to describe what the last two seasons have been like for the Chargers when considering their struggles to win close games while dealing with numerous key injuries on both sides of the football. If Los Angeles is going to have any chance of keeping up with the rest of the competition in the AFC West, they're going to need all the help possible on the offensive side of the football, especially from Gates.
Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller (86) blows kisses to fans after he scores a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
17. Zach Miller, Chicago Bears
With Jay Cutler officially out of the picture, it's going to be an interesting season for the Chicago Bears at the quarterback position, as the team looks to bounce back from last year's 3-13 finish. What could make this upcoming season interesting is after spending all of that money in free agency on Mike Glennon, the Bears made the surprise decision to move up in this year's NFL draft to select Mitch Trubisky at No. 2.
No team would ever use that high of a draft pick without the intention of eventually using him down the road, and while Chicago claims Glennon will be the starter no matter what, anything is possible once training camp officially gets underway. At least no matter who ends up lining up under center for the Bears in 2017, either quarterback is likely to take advantage of having Zach Miller to work with.
Last season wrapped up Miller's second season in Chicago, and despite the fact he was limited to appearing in just 10 games, the tight end did manage to haul in 47 of the 64 passes thrown his way for 486 yards with four touchdowns. Beyond Miller, the Bears' offense seems to be going through a younger rebuilding phase with players on the rise like Jordan Howard and Cameron Meredith, which means either Glennon or Trubisky could be relying on the tight end position even more for the offense.
May 24, 2017; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) runs with the ball during organized team activities at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
16. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
No worries football fans, this will be the last rookie tight end featured on this list after all of the discussions about whether players who have yet to take a single snap even deserve to be on this list. But when considering the Cleveland Browns were willing to trade back up at the end of the first round of the draft to land the former Miami standout, it wouldn't come as a surprise to see David Njoku become one of those rookies who makes an immediate impact for the Browns in the passing game.
When looking at all of the offensive struggles surrounding Cleveland over the years, it doesn't take a brainiac to figure out how desperate they'v been for players capable of scoring touchdowns, and early signs point to Njoku being that perfect fit. After finding the end zone eight times in his final year with the Hurricanes, Njoku hopes to bring that same type of impact to the Browns during his first NFL season, but that could be easier said than done when looking at the team's current situation at quarterback.
At the moment, early signs point to Cody Kessler having the best shot at being the Week 1 starter when looking at the time and commitment he's been making this offseason to improve from last year's rookie mistakes. Only time will tell when it comes to whether Cleveland finally has their issues fixed at quarterback, and if they do, that could mean an impressive start to Njoku's career.
Dec 5, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle (84) catches a pass during the first half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
15. Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts
With Coby Fleener officially out of the picture, the Indianapolis Colts had high expectations for Jack Doyle heading into the 2016 season with a large role for the offense, and if last year is any indication of what to expect, the team will be in good hands. Watching Doyle go from having 35 career catches over his first three seasons with the Colts to hauling in 59 last year is the perfect example of how the tight end was taking advantage of being more involved with the offense.
Frustrating doesn't even begin to describe how the previous two seasons have been for Indianapolis after falling short of the playoffs thanks to the Houston Texans winning the division each time. And what could make this upcoming season even more tough to deal with is the Colts not only have to worry about the Texans looking to defend their title for the third year in a row, but the potential surrounding the Tennessee Titans becoming serious contenders in the AFC South as well.
Basically, the only fighting chance Indianapolis is going to have at putting an end to their playoff drought is if players like Doyle elevate their game to a whole new level. After receiving a new three-year contract back in March, the pressure is now on Doyle to prove he deserves every dollar of that deal by helping the Colts get back on track.
Nov 20, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron (85) runs after a catch during the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field. Lions won 26-19. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
14. Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions
From a touchdown standpoint, the Detroit Lions would certainly love to see Eric Ebron become more of a threat in the red zone, but at least his numbers in general seem to be improving each year in the league. If Ebron's first three seasons are any indication of what the future holds for the Lions tight end, Matthew Stafford's going to enjoy having him around in the offense for years to come.
Just like some of the other quarterbacks mentioned before, Stafford has always been the kind of player who seems to always get the best from his players, no matter what it takes. Watching the Lions earn a Wild Card spot in the NFC with weapons like Ebron, Golden Tate, and Marvin Jones shows what Stafford is capable of at quarterback when it comes to keeping this team contenders.
Detroit wouldn't have used a first-round pick on Ebron back in 2014 if they didn't strongly believe he had the skills to help this offense reach a new level while giving Stafford an extra weapon to work with. Based off what his first three years in the league have shown, don't be surprised if Ebron ends up putting together the best season of his young career to help the Lions make another playoff run in 2017.
Oct 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz (87) celebrates his game-tying touchdown score against the Indianapolis Colts during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
13. C.J. Fiedorowicz, Houston Texans
Around this time last offseason, the Houston Texans felt confident enough they finally solved their issues at the quarterback position after agreeing to a hefty deal with Brock Osweiler, who would go on to throw more interceptions than touchdowns during the 2016 season. Luckily for the Texans, the team was able to find a trade partner with the Cleveland Browns this offseason, but once again the quarterback position continues to be the main issue for this squad.
No matter who ends up being quarterback, whether it's Tom Savage or Deshaun Watson, the last thing Houston can afford to have happen is see poor quarterback play impact the level of production from key receivers like DeAndre Hopkins or C.J. Fiedorowicz. Everybody knows what Hopkins is capable of as an effective wideout even without stellar play at quarterback, but the last thing the Texans can afford to do is see these issues stall the progress of Fiedorowicz becoming one of the top pass-catching tight ends in the league.
To say Fiedorowicz made a huge jump by increasing his catches from 17 to 54 in a one-year span shows how quickly he's becoming comfortable in the NFL, and could play a major factor in whether Houston's offense can improve from last year. The Texans already have one of the best defenses in the league, but last year's postseason is the perfect example of how much pressure is on the offense to make this team serious contenders in the AFC, especially Fiedorowicz.
Nov 28, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) reacts to the referee in the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field. Green Bay defeated Philadelphia 27-13. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
12. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles felt confident enough to surrender a first-round pick last year to land Carson Wentz at quarterback in the 2016 NFL Draft, and despite a lack of weapons on offense, at least his rookie season was a little easier to deal with thanks to Zach Ertz. Expectations were high on the former Stanford star back in 2013 when the Eagles used a first rounder on Ertz, and seeing him catch 153 passes over the last two seasons shows how involved he is with the offense.
One of the best features about Ertz is he doesn't necessarily need to be used for the big gains each time he catches a pass, as he's simply fine with just being heavily targeted in the passing game. In fact, there were 11 times during the 2016 season alone in which Ertz was targeted at least 11 times on four separate occasions.
Even if Philadelphia has boosted the receiving corps over the last few months with the additions of players like Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, that shouldn't result in Ertz seeing less passes thrown his way. If anything, this should be able to help Ertz when it comes to defenders focusing more pressure on some of the tight end's teammates, and resulting in more catches.
Dec 4, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (88) before their game against the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
11. Martellus Bennett, Green Bay Packers
Martellus Bennett may be a member of the Green Bay Packers, but at least the tight end was able to earn the Super Bowl ring he's spent his entire NFL career fighting for with the New England Patriots during their miraculous comeback against the Atlanta Falcons last February. Leaving a talented team like the Patriots couldn't have been an easy decision for Bennett since any player would love to have Tom Brady as their teammate, but at least the tight end made the switch to another top quarterback in Aaron Rodgers now that he's with the Packers.
Over the years, Green Bay has been a nightmare for opponents when it comes to the damage they pull off through the air with Rodgers under center, and after the team fell just shy of reaching the Super Bowl last season, don't be surprised if the unit comes out firing in 2017. Rodgers was already set with a trio of wide receivers in Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams, but throwing in a big body tight end like Bennett into the mix seems terrifying to just think about.
A majority of Bennett's production last year in New England may have been due to the injuries surrounding Rob Gronkowski, but Rodgers has always done an amazing job when it comes to spreading the football around on offense. In other words, playing on a high-powered offense like the Packers with all those dangerous weapons shouldn't stop Bennett from being productive during the first season with his new team.
Jan 1, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers tight end Hunter Henry (86) catches a touchdown pass during the second half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chiefs won 37-27. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
10. Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers
It only took one season for the Los Angeles Chargers to realize they will be in good hands when it comes to pass-catching tight ends once the time arrives for Antonio Gates to call it a career since Hunter Henry seems ready to take on the responsibilities. As previously mentioned, Gates has still managed to produce decent numbers for a player his age at this stage in his career, but the Chargers have plenty of reasons to be excited over what's in store for Henry's sophomore season with the team.
Henry may have only caught 36 passes in the 15 games he appeared in as a rookie, but eight of those happened to go for touchdown catches, as the former Arkansas star quickly became one of the favorite targets for Philip Rivers to work with. Despite all of the struggles surrounding the team from the previous two seasons, Los Angeles could emerge as a surprise contender in the AFC West if their key players manage to stay healthy, and it will be interesting to see if Henry can pickup where he left off during his rookie campaign.
Playing in a two tight end system tends to work wonders for numerous teams, and opponents having to worry about the whereabouts of Henry and Gates gives the Chargers a major advantage. Assuming Henry doesn't take a step back from a production standpoint, Henry could find himself in position to being considered a top-10 tight end in the league this early in his career, which would be awesome for Los Angeles.
Oct 9, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) runs after a catch against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
9. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
When it comes to the biggest surprise teams from the 2016 season, it's tough to top what the Dallas Cowboys were able to accomplish with rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott leading the offense, as the team would go on to finish with the best record in the NFC at 13-3. Even if the Cowboys saw their Super Bowl dreams end early following a crushing loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round, there's every reason in the world to believe this squad will be strong contenders in the NFC once again.
This offense is loaded with numerous talented players that always cause problems for opponents, but from a leadership standpoint, nobody brings to the table what Jason Witten does on a weekly basis. Not only is Witten considered one of the best blockers in the league, but he almost seems impossible to tackle at times when he does get the football in his hands thanks to his enormous body size and strength.
Even when Tony Romo was in the picture, Witten was still heavily targeted in the passing game, and seeing that he's earned at least 90 targets each year dating back to 2006 shows how valuable he is to Dallas. Witten's veteran leadership is rare in the NFL, and expect Prescott to take advantage of having him in the passing game once again to keep the Cowboys offense elite.
Jan 14, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter in the NFC Divisional playoff at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
8. Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks
Two years ago, the Seattle Seahawks pulled off a steal from the New Orleans Saints by trading for Jimmy Graham, and while he struggled at times while making the transition with his new team at first, the tight end started to come around during the 2016 season. Graham's numbers may not have been like they were a few years ago with the Saints, but Russell Wilson hopes to get the best out of his beloved tight end during their third year together, as the Seahawks look to defend their NFC West title.
On paper, there's every reason to believe Seattle deserves consideration for being one of the teams to beat in the NFC, even if their defense seemed to be on the decline last year. With an improved offensive line along with a healthier Wilson, all signs point to a big year from the Seahawks offense, and Graham hopes to play a major role in making sure that happens.
One of the main reasons why there was so much excitement surrounding the acquisition of Graham two years ago was due to the fact he caught 46 touchdowns over his final four seasons with the Saints. Just imagine the level of damage Seattle's offense can do if Wilson figure out a way to help Graham return to that dominant form, and it could make a huge difference.
Dec 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) dives after being hit out of bounds during the first half against the Denver Broncos at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
7. Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans
In just two short seasons, Delanie Walker has quickly become one of Marcus Mariota's favorite targets to work with on offense for the Tennessee Titans, and believe it or not, this team could become serious contenders in the AFC this upcoming season. The Titans fell just shy of their playoff dreams last year after finishing with a 9-7 record, but when considering this team seemed to make all the right moves in free agency along with the NFL Draft, they're certainly a team to keep an eye on in the AFC.
As for Walker, the tight end has been one of the few reliable weapons for Tennessee's offense, and he's coming off a 2016 season in which he set a career high with seven touchdown catches. In fact, the argument can be made that Mariota's development wouldn't have been as smooth over the last two seasons if it wasn't for Walker's ability as a reliable pass-catching tight end.
Nobody should feel concerned over Walker being 33 by the beginning of Week 1 since he doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Even if Tennessee reloaded their receiving corps with a successful draft, this shouldn't prevent Walker from continuing to reach his value on offense.
Nov 6, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Lions defeated the Vikings 22-16. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
6. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings
To say Kyle Rudolph quickly became one of Sam Bradford's favorite targets during their first season playing together as members of the Minnesota Vikings would be a huge understatement when seeing how much the tight end's numbers increased when compared to the year before. Not only did Rudolph set career highs of 840 receiving yards to go along with eight touchdowns, but he managed to haul in 83 of the 132 passes thrown his way.
The Vikings pulled the trigger prior to Week 1 last year by surrendering a first-round pick to acquire Bradford from the Philadelphia Eagles, and even though the team fell short of the playoffs, this shouldn't fall entirely on the offense. Due to numerous key injuries on both sides of the football, Minnesota failed to take advantage of a 5-0 start by finishing the year with an 8-8 record.
On the bright side, at least the Vikings seem talented enough on paper to become contenders once again in the NFC, but the best chance of that happening is if Rudolph comes through with another monster year on his end. Based off last year's impressive numbers while playing with Bradford, that shouldn't be an issue for the Vikings tight end.
Nov 20, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) against the Buffalo Bills at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bills won 16-12. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
5. Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals
Tyler Eifert is the perfect example of the risk that comes with playing in the Pro Bowl after the tight end suffered an ankle injury in 2016 that prevented him from suiting up until the middle of the regular season. To top it off, Eifert would end up dealing with a back injury towards the end of the season, and only ended up appearing in eight games all year.
For a tight end that exploded on the scene in 2015 by finding the end zone 13 times, it's easy to see how much the Cincinnati Bengals missed having their beloved tight end on offense, especially since they failed to even earn a spot in the playoffs. What's even more frustrating is Eifert has been limited over the last few weeks during OTAs, which means there's going to be some concerns heading into opening weekend of the regular season.
When it comes to head coaches already on the hot seat, Marvin Lewis finds himself near the top of the list when considering the team's struggles from last year along with the fact that he's yet to win a single playoff game in seven appearances. For the sake of the Bengals, here's to hoping that Eifert returns to full strength over the next few months to become that dangerous red-zone threat from 2015 while helping the team become contenders again in the AFC.
Dec 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (88) runs after catch in the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
4. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers
Love him or hate him, there's a reason why Greg Olsen has earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons as a member of the Carolina Panthers, and early signs indicate that streak should increase to four in 2017, assuming he stays healthy. No member of the Panthers has established better chemistry with Cam Newton over the years than Olsen, and after only winning six games following a Super Bowl appearance the year before, this duo should be motivated more than ever heading into 2017.
While there are plenty of areas to be impressed over when it comes to Olsen, the one statistic that stands out the most is the fact that he's broken the 1,000-yard mark in each of the last three seasons, which he never accomplished prior to 2014. Olsen has always been the type of playmaker who can single handedly takeover a game at any given moment, and Carolina knows they will need him on top of his game if the team is going to have any shot at competing in the division.
On paper, the NFC South looks like they could be one of the toughest divisions in football when seeing how every team seems capable of owning a high-powered offense, including the Panthers. Luckily for Carolina, a tight end with the receiving skills of Olsen will give them a better chance of keeping up with the other three teams in the NFC South.
Oct 30, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed (86) dives over to score a 23 yard rushing touchdown during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
3. Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins
Health issues aside, Jordan Reed has benefitted the most over the last two years with Kirk Cousins at quarterback for the Washington Redskins, and after the last few months of the offseason, the tight end could be relied on even more in 2017. Not only did the Redskins lose a dangerous deep threat in DeSean Jackson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they watched Pierre Garcon bolt for the San Francisco 49ers as well.
Only time will tell when it comes to how Cousins will look under center this upcoming season without Jackson and Garcon, but at least the situation could be much worse without Reed in the picture. In 26 game appearances over the previous two seasons, Reed caught 153 passes for 1,638 yards to go along with 17 touchdowns, making it easy to see why he sits at No. 3 on this list.
But as mentioned at the beginning, the main concern over Reed has been his ability to stay healthy, as one can only imagine the new level of production he would hit if that weren't an issue. Hopefully Reed's absence from OTAs won't be an issue for the Redskins heading into training camp since Cousins will need his favorite target more than ever to help the offense compete with the rest of the talented teams in the NFC East.
Oct 30, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates by spiking the ball after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
2. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
Speaking of tight ends with health concerns, the case can be made over Rob Gronkowski deserving to be No. 1 on this list, but last year's injuries give the New England Patriots plenty of reasons for concern, even if they're not willing to admit it. As bad as it sounds, the Patriots proved last year they could still win the Super Bowl without Gronkowski, but that doesn't take away from what a difference he makes when in the lineup.
After missing the beginning of the season due to a hamstring injury, Gronkowski would eventually be placed on injured reserve after suffering a devastating back injury that would require surgery. Early signs indicate that Gronkowski will be healthy enough to return to his dominant level as one of the toughest tight ends to cover thanks to his enormous size and strength, but until he can prove himself on the football field with his history of looking fragile at times, the concern isn't going to go away for New England.
The Patriots are already considered the strongest favorites at the moment to win the Super Bowl when looking at how their high-powered offense upgraded to a whole new level this offseason with the acquisition of Brandin Cooks, but imagine those odds with a healthy Gronkowski. Keep in mind that it wasn't long ago when Gronkowski was considered the best pass-catching tight end in the league after catching 23 touchdowns from 2014-15, and without his health concerns, it would be tough to argue against him still holding on to that crown.
Nov 6, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrates after a run during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 19-14. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
With the surprise move of the Kansas City Chiefs moving on from Jeremy Maclin a few weeks ago, Alex Smith is going to rely on Travis Kelce even more during the 2017 season, especially when looking at how many times the offense struggled last year. But despite all of those struggles on the offensive side of the football, the one thing the Chiefs could always count on was arguably having the league's most dangerous pass-catching tight end in Kelce.
After only appearing in one game as a rookie in 2013 for Kansas City, Kelce has watched his stock continue to rise over the last three seasons from a production standpoint, and the best part about all of this is he's just beginning to scratch the surface. The Chiefs finally made the leap last season by winning the AFC West, but their disappointing performance on offense against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs prevented them from advancing to the AFC Championship.
Hopefully, what went down last January will motivate Kelce and the rest of Kansas City's offense will provide that extra bit of motivation to help keep the team contenders in the AFC. If all goes well, Kelce should not only top the 85 catches he recorded for 1,125 yards this upcoming season, but find more trips into the end zone as well since the rest of the receiving corps for the Chiefs is nothing to brag about.
