Greg Olsen of the Panthers used to be one of the NFL’s unquestioned elite tight ends, but two consecutive seasons of foot injuries and limited production have now dropped him outside of the top 10. Here’s our list of the best in the business heading into 2019.
Honorable Mentions
Greg Olsen – After missing half of the last two seasons with foot injuries and an obvious developing talent for TV analysis, Olsen’s football career is now in its twilight phase. If Olsen can return to form in 2019, he may be able to retire from the league on a high note.
Evan Engram – The numbers that Engram posted in 2018 were not very impressive. However, remember that he missed five games due to injury and is playing with one of the league’s worst quarterbacks. As a rookie, Engram showed a lot of potential and his catch rate has improved a lot.
David Njoku – With Baker Mayfield throwing him the ball, Njoku’s ceiling is arguably much higher than Engram’s. If Njoku can take a real leap forward in his third season in the NFL, he could be in the top 10 by this time next year.
Delanie Walker – When he’s healthy, Walker is one of the most consistent and underrated tight ends in football. He missed all but one game due to injury this past season, though. Given the playing time and the opportunities, Walker could still probably post a 1,000-yard season.
Hunter Henry – Perhaps no tight end had a tougher year than Henry, who missed the entire regular season due to an ACL tear. His first two years he totaled 12 touchdowns and averaged 13 yards per catch, though. Once he’s back, Henry will be rising up this list in no time.
10. Jordan Reed
2018 stats: 84 targets, 54 catches, 558 yards, two touchdowns
There may be no greater what-may-have-been story in the NFL than Jordan Reed. Aside from the guy who’s No. 1 on this list, he might be the most athletic tight end in the sport. Reed just can’t seem to consistently stay on the field, though. In 2015, he posted 11 touchdowns and 952 yards. Since then, he has just 10 touchdowns and 1,455 yards. With his quarterback situation a mess, things aren’t likely to look up for Reed anytime soon.
9. O.J. Howard
2018 stats: 48 targets, 34 catches, 565 yards, five touchdowns
Speaking of messy quarterback situations, Howard has been in an awkward spot since coming into the league. Jameis Winston is famously inaccurate but Howard still managed to catch over 70 percent of his passes this past season and averaged a very healthy 16.6 yards per reception for the second straight year. With Bruce Arians now calling the plays in Tampa, Howard could be in for a true breakout year.
8. Austin Hooper
2018 stats: 88 targets, 71 catches, 660 yards, four touchdowns
Hooper has no such issues at quarterback, as he gets to work with former MVP Matt Ryan. Despite an embarrassment of pass-catching weapons on the Falcons, Hooper still manages to stand out. His ability to break tackles and produce yards after the catch is among the best at the position. Under the tutelage of Atlanta’s new tight ends coach Mike Mularkey, he’s another great candidate to explode in 2019.
7. Jared Cook
2018 stats: 101 targets, 68 catches, 896 yards, six touchdowns
For a minute there it looked like Cook’s career had peaked after he went scoreless in 2015 with the Rams. However, in 2016 Cook had an awakening and went on a great playoff run with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Since then, his stock has been steadily rising. That postseason run got him a new deal with the Raiders and at 31 years old, Cook just posted the best season of his career. He has played well enough to earn himself another significant pay day in free agency, which begins this week.
6. Kyle Rudolph
2018 stats: 82 targets, 64 catches, 634 yards, four touchdowns
Rudolph always flies under the radar and deserves more credit. He has seen his targets drop significantly since 2016, when he posted a career high 840 receiving yards on 132 targets. He only had 82 this year but was as efficient as ever. Rudolph posted a career-best 78 percent catch rate this year despite his QB Kirk Cousins having a rough first season in Minnesota. He also hasn’t missed a game in four years.
5. Eric Ebron
2018 stats: 110 targets, 66 catches, 750 yards, 13 touchdowns
Sometimes players just need a change of scenery before they can really fulfill their promise. After Ebron’s first season in Indianapolis, he definitely qualifies as a testament to that truth. The former first-round draft pick for Detroit exploded for the Colts in 2018, scoring 13 touchdowns — two more than his previous four seasons with the Lions combined. Ebron became a legitimate player to watch by the mid-point of the season and will be looking to cash in next year.
4. Rob Gronkowski
2018 stats: 72 targets, 47 catches, 682 yards, three touchdowns
Oh Gronk, what have they done to you? The former indisputable top tight end in the league has become a shell of his former self. After years of domination, repeated injuries have seemingly caught up with him. After mulling retirement for the second offseason in a row, Gronkowski appears to be ready to return to the Patriots in 2019. But after only playing in only 35 of the last 48 games, it’s a valid question how much longer he can play.
3. Zach Ertz
2018 stats: 156 targets, 116 catches, 1,163 yards, eight touchdowns
This past season, Ertz made the transition from being one of the better tight ends in the league to being one of the elites at his position. Although Philadelphia struggled offensively, ranking just No. 14 in the league in yardage, Ertz was hardly the issue. His eight touchdowns paced the offense. With Nick Foles on his way out, Ertz should only see his stock rise even more. He’s clearly the favorite target of Carson Wentz.
2. George Kittle
2018 stats: 136 targets, 88 catches, 1,337 yards, five touchdowns
Kittle has been a revelation for Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers offense, leading all tight ends in yardage in only his second season. Kittle’s athleticism and soft hands have very quickly made him the face of the offense that is supposed to be led by Jimmy Garoppolo. When the franchise quarterback returns from injury next season, Kittle might very well have the highest ceiling of anyone on this list.
1. Travis Kelce
2018 stats: 150 targets, 103 catches, 1,336 yards, 10 touchdowns
Kelce’s extremely rare mix of size, explosiveness and skill have made him a crucial part of Andy Reid’s powerhouse offense in Kansas City. He ranked second on the team only behind wide receiver Tyreek Hill in total receiving yards and touchdowns this year. Kelce had been on the cusp of greatness the past four seasons, but with Gronkowski’s regression and Kelce’s sudden surge with Patrick Mahomes, he has become the best tight end in the league.
