Tight end is one of the most demanding and respected positions in the NFL. The best can pivot seamlessly from big-play receiver to impact blocker. In one case, running and catching also come into the equation.
No wonder there's a close bond between the brothers in arms at the position, including their own "Tight End U," with all of their own serving as top faculty. These guys have proved they can also have quarterback-like celebrity status when they combine the gritty with the pretty.
Based on a combination of recent past performance and near-future potential, here's ranking the top 15 tight ends going into the 2024 regular season, starting with one tough but "swift" decision.
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NFL tight end rankings 2024
1. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (age: 34)
Kelce has a prominent girlfriend with a new look since this time last summer. He also has to be proud that his veteran contemporaries keep bringing it, along with some promising young stars who can take the torch soon. For now, it's his three-ring party and Hall of Fame glory days as he keeps adding to his GOAT status.
2. George Kittle, 49ers (age: 30)
Kittle had an exceptional, healthy season in 2023, breaking 1,000 yards for the third time in his career while stretching the field for Brock Purdy. He averaged a career-high 15.7 yards per catch and also smashed it as a ferocious run blocker.
3. Sam LaPorta, Lions (age: 23)
LaPorta established himself as a dangerous all-around receiver as a rookie with 86 catches for 889 yards and 10 TDs. He was great hauling in passes all over the field, but to transcend to the top of non-fantasy rankings, he needs a blocking spike.
4. Mark Andrews, Ravens (age: 28)
Andrews paved the path for LaPorta as a receiving-first, classic intermediate threat with extra juice in the red zone. He can have a huge full season if healthy, considering how hot he was in Todd Monken's offense in 2023.
5. T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (age: 27)
Hockenson has transitioned well from Detroit to open the door for LaPorta. Let's hope he'll get back on the field soon after his knee injury that spoiled the end of a special season that produced 95 catches for 960 yards.
6. Trey McBride, Cardinals (age: 24)
McBride surprised in Year 2 out of necessity, as the Cardinals wide receiver corps was left an injury-addled mess for Kyler Murray and the rest of their QBs. He'll be special playing off Marvin Harrison Jr., getting more favorable coverage in the middle of the field.
7. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys (age: 25)
Ferguson had a sneaky 71 catches for 761 yards and five TDs in the regular season as the latest key target for Dak Prescott from the tight end spot. He showed his most upside in the last game, scoring three times in the shootout playoff loss to the Packers.
8. Dalton Kincaid, Bills (age: 24)
Kincaid showed his huge first-round receiving upside with 73 catches for 673 yards as a rookie. He'll be a focal point of Joe Brady's offense from the get-go in Year 2 as Buffalo tries to replace a lot of reliable receiving production for Josh Allen via more two-tight end sets.
9. Kyle Pitts, Falcons (age: 23)
Pitts got a taste of late-career Matt Ryan, breaking 1,000 yards as a rookie, but since then it's been a schematic and personnel struggle for the Falcons to feed the ball well to the No. 4 overall pick in 2021. With Kirk Cousins in a new pass-happier offense that will scheme him open better, Pitts can finally be maxed out.
10. Taysom Hill, Saints (age: 34)
The NFL's ultimate slash player can't be defined in any traditional sense as a tight end. He's a quarterback. He's a running back. He's a wide receiver. Bottom line: He's adept at doing big things when the ball is in his hands. There was room for his non-traditional production and dangerous versatility on this list.
11. Evan Engram, Jaguars (age: 29)
Engram, out of necessity in a sometimes-dysfunctional passing game battling key injuries, delivered a career-high 114 catches for 963 yards last season. He remains integral inside for Trevor Lawrence, right there with returning slot Christian Kirk.
12. David Njoku, Browns (age: 28)
Njoku was sent into his best receiving season with a late-year boost from Joe Flacco, ending up with a career-high line of 81 catches for 882 yards and six TDs. He will need to be key for Deshaun Watson behind Amari Cooper, even with Cleveland's attempts to upgrade wideout.
13. Dalton Schultz, Texans (age: 28)
Schultz is a steady receiver with good blocking when needed. He's there to keep helping C.J. Stroud on intermediate routes that open up well from the deeper downfield passing game.
14. Dallas Goedert, Eagles (age: 29)
He's getting up there, and his catches have gone down as he's become more of a seam-stretcher playing off A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith the past two seasons. There's hope he can be unlocked more for those big plays in Kellen Moore's offense.
15. Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (age: 25)
Freiermuth was an underused asset for Pittsburgh's QB-shaky offense that also had limited results in the running game. He'll be on the field regularly for OC Arthur Smith and can help out more as a red-zone receiver beyond his traditional inline blocking.
