Ranking the top tight ends in the NFL

Safety blankets

Tight ends are often thought of as a quarterback’s safety blanket, providing an easier option in the passing game when everything else is covered. In today’s NFL, that’s the minimum a tight end can be, with the best in the game providing their team’s with explosive plays, but who are those players? All stats per Pro Football Reference.

12: David Njoku

Njoku struggled a little last season, but who didn’t in Cleveland? We have no idea how the quarterback competition will play out during training camp, although Joe Flacco seems to have the inside track to the starting job. If he does, there’s at least some competence under center, which could lead to a big year for the Browns’ tight end.

10: Jonnu Smith

Jonnu Smith was a revelation in Miami last year, with Mike McDaniel utilizing his YAC skills with lots of underneath passes, especially in the red zone. Miami will presumably lean on him again in 2025, so we expect him to have another big year.

9: Dallas Goedert

Consistent injuries have bugged Goedert throughout his career, which has led to some underrating him. When healthy, he’s amongst the best at his position in football, he’s just struggled to stay on the field. Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Goedert essentially took a paycut this offseason to remain in Philly for one more season.

8: Dalton Kincaid

A less productive sophomore season in the NFL shouldn’t be a concern for the Bills, who look to have an emerging star in Kincaid. We fully expect him to at least match his rookie season numbers (73 catches, 673 yards, and two TDs) in 2025.

7: Mark Andrews

There is no doubting Mark Andrews has been one of the best tight ends in football since entering the league, we just feel his era of dominance is coming to an end, hence his low ranking. Baltimore expects to be relying on Isaiah Likely more in 2025, which will limit Andrews’ production.

6: T.J. Hockenson

The Vikings swung big when they traded for T.J. Hockenson, and so far, it has worked out. He’s put up huge numbers since donning the purple uniform, despite missing time with injury. Were it not for our slight worries about J.J. McCarthy’s play in 2025, Hockenson would be higher on this list.

5: Travis Kelce

For perhaps the first time in his career, Travis Kelce is no longer one of the very best tight ends in football. Pro Football Focus recently ranked him as their eighth-best tight end, which we think is a little low, but not far off where we have him. He’s lost a step, which showed in the playoffs, accounting for just 58 yards in the AFC Championship and Super Bowl combined.

3: Trey McBride

The 2024 season saw Trey McBride catch 111 passes for 1,146 yards. If he can add more touchdowns in 2025, he will stake a claim for being the best tight end in the NFL. His production has improved every season he’s been in the NFL, and we expect that to continue going into year four.

2: George Kittle

This is, perhaps, a little controversial, given just how good George Kittle has been over his eight-year career so far. He has a very good claim to being the best tight end in football, we just have one player we think is better, which isn’t a knock on Kittle at all, who enjoyed arguably his best season last year.

1: Brock Bowers

In every basic statistical category, bar touchdowns (which we know is important!), Brock Bowers outperformed Kittle last year, in his rookie season. That’s crazy, especially considering who was throwing him the football. Now, with Geno Smith under center, the former UGA Bulldog should put up monster numbers once again.