The AFC West has quickly become one of the best divisions in football. One of the reasons is the overwhelming amount of talent on both sides of the ball.
Today, we are taking a look at the five best tight ends in the division, ranking them from No. 5 to 1. So without further ado, let us begin.
5. Luke Willson, Oakland Raiders
Coming in at No. 5 is veteran tight end Luke Willson of the Oakland Raiders. Willson is now on his third NFL team and has been primarily used as a blocker during his career.
While Willson is an incredible athlete with fantastic speed, his value comes in the run game. Look for him to open the season as the second tight end for the Raiders behind the No. 4 player on this list.
4. Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders
The fourth-best tight end in the AFC West is a player who hasn’t played the position for very long; Darren Waller of the Oakland Raiders.
Waller was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens to play wide receiver out of Georgia Tech, but he made the transition to tight end during his second year in the NFL. He was then suspended for the entire 2017 season due to a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy.
Eventually, he made his way to Oakland where he played in four games, catching six passes for 75 yards. While we haven’t seen a ton of him in the NFL, his talent is undeniable. This is a bit of a projection, but look for Waller to make a massive leap in his play in 2019.
3. Noah Fant, Denver Broncos
One player who could dramatically rise up this list in future seasons is Noah Fant of the Broncos. After being selected at pick No. 20, Fant is projected to be the starter in Denver right away.
Fant is an incredible athlete who does most of his work after the catch. With Joe Flacco at quarterback, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Fant have a monster season as a rookie. He is clearly one of the most talented players at the position in the league, and it shouldn’t be long before we are having conversations about Fant being a top tight end in the NFL.
2. Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers
Coming in at No.2 is Hunter Henry of the Los Angeles Chargers. Henry has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, but his talent is undeniable. He is an athletic receiver with soft hands and is improving as a blocker. But it’s his injury history that has caused him to miss significant time during his career.
In 2018, Henry missed all of the regular season with a torn ACL, returning for the playoffs. He failed to catch a pass as he still wasn’t 100 percent healthy from his knee injury.
With Antonio Gates becoming an afterthought in L.A., look for Henry to have a bounce-back season with the Chargers in 2019.
1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
By far the best tight end in the division is Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only is Kelece the best at his position in the AFC West, but you can also make a case that he is the best tight end in the entire NFL.
For the third straight season, Kelce eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards, but he set career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He averaged 13 yards per reception as he was one of the most dominant players in the entire league.
With Tyreek Hill in trouble once again, don’t be shocked if Kelce sees even more volume in Kansas City. The four-time Pro Bowl selection is on his way to a Hall of Fame career.
