NFL · 1 year ago

Ranking the Top 32 NFL Tight Ends for 2024

Zack Cook

Host · Writer

32. Darnell Washington - Pittsburgh Steelers
Although we haven't really seen Darnell Washington involved in Pittsburgh's passing game, he continues to grow as a run blocking tight end that can be used as a weapon in different areas of their offense. Let's see how he develops under Arthur Smith.

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1. Travis Kelce - Kansas City Chiefs
Until Travis Kelce hangs up his cleats and walks off into the sunset with Taylor Swift, he'll be our top ranked tight end in the NFL. Kelce does everything you'd want from a tight end, and is a big reason why the Kansas City Chiefs are looking to three-peat at Super Bowl champs.

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2. George Kittle - San Francisco 49ers
Even though the production isn't necessarily what it could be, George Kittle is an elite blocker and is always a threat to go off on any given Sunday. Kittle remains a powerful tight end for the San Francisco 49ers and is coming off another 1,000-yard campaign.
3. Trey McBride - Arizona Cardinals
There's a lot to like about Trey McBride as a breakout candidate in 2024. McBride had a strong final stretch for the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, and he'll be counted on to help elevate on offense that should be on the rise this year.
4. Mark Andrews - Baltimore Ravens
Even though injuries hampered Mark Andrews last year, he's still one of the NFL's most dominant tight ends. Andrews does all of the little things well, and if he can stay on the field, he's right in the conversation for the top tight end in football.
5. Sam LaPorta - Detroit Lions
Sam LaPorta stormed onto the scene in 2023 with a dominant rookie season for the Detroit Lions where he tallied just shy of 900 receiving yards and ten touchdowns. LaPorta remains a major safety blanket for quarterback Jared Goff.
6. Dallas Goedert - Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Goedert does a lot of things well as a tight end that NFL teams covet. Staying healthy will be something he needs to do in 2024 to enjoy a big campaign, but he has all the tools in order to make a big impact if he can do that.
7. T.J. Hockenson - Minnesota Vikings
Even though T.J. Hockenson won't start 2024 on time for the Minnesota Vikings, that doesn't mean we can discount him in our rankings. Hockenson is one of the NFL's top receiving tight ends, and his impact plays a big role on how Kevin O'Connell's offenses like to run.
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8. Brock Bowers - Las Vegas Raiders
Some might say is a little bit high for a rookie, but Brock Bowers was an elite prospect at the position. Bowers can block, run high-end routes, and has great hands. Look for him to play a big role in the Las Vegas Raiders offense in Year 1.
9. Kyle Pitts - Atlanta Falcons
Even though we'd like to see more from Kyle Pitts from a production standpoint, he's quietly becoming one of the more well-rounded tight ends in the NFL. With Kirk Cousins leading the charge in Atlanta now, we might see the big bump in receiving from Pitts that we've been looking for.
10. Jake Ferguson - Dallas Cowboys
Jake Ferguson has continued to solidify his ranking as a key component in the Dallas Cowboys offensive scheme. Ferguson is a major factor in the red zone, and should continue to see a solid target share from Dak Prescott.
11. Evan Engram - Jacksonville Jaguars
With his role set in stone with the Jacksonville Jaguars on offense, Evan Engram is due to have another solid season. It's up for debate if he'll be the second-highest target earner on offense for the Jaguars, but his role is certainly secure.
12. David Njoku - Cleveland Browns
It will be interesting to see if David Njoku can find the same sort of success with Deshaun Watson that he did with Joe Flacco last season. Njoku has explosive elements to his game that can hinder a defense.
13. Dalton Kincaid - Buffalo Bills
Dalton Kincaid had a very strong rookie campaign for the Buffalo Bills. With the departure of Stefon Diggs, Kincaid might just end up as the leader in targets for the Bills in 2024. The Bills trust Kincaid in the blocking game as well, which plays a role in his strong ranking.
14. Pat Freiermuth - Pittsburgh Steelers
With the way that new Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith utilizes tight ends, Pat Freiermuth could be in for a big bump in usage in 2024. Freiermuth brings a lot of the qualities to the table that you look for in a good tight end.
15. Dalton Schultz - Houston Texans
After signing with the Houston Texans, Dalton Schultz's role in the offense has gone up. With multiple moves in the offseason and development of young players, that might chance in 2024. Still, Schultz remains a very strong option at the position.
16. Cole Kmet - Chicago Bears
One tight end we're very interested in tracking this season is Cole Kmet. He usage was certainly concerning during the preseason, but there's also been reports that he's the most athletic and explosive he's been. Time will tell.
17. Hunter Henry - New England Patriots
Hunter Henry can really help an offense in the red zone with his receiving ability. With the New England Patriots having a young offense, Henry offers their signal-callers a nice safety blanket option.
18. Tyler Conklin - New York Jets
Tyler Conklin has been the definition of consistency at the tight end position. You know exactly what to expect from Conklin on a weekly basis. With Aaron Rodgers liking his tight ends, it will be interesting to see if Conklin enjoys an uptick in targets this year.
19. Dawson Knox - Buffalo Bills
Although Dawson Knox isn't going to blow your mind with his receiving numbers, he's made his mark as a solid weapon in the red zone for the Buffalo Bills. In addition, Knox's bread and butter revolves around his blocking ability.
20. Gerald Everett - Chicago Bears
Gerald Everett is past the stage of being a full-time tight end, but he can still be productive in an NFL offense. It will be interesting to see how many two tight end sets the Chicago Bears operate with in 2024.
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21. Chigoziem Okonkwo - Tennessee Titans
There's a ton of potential with Chigoziem Okonkwo in Tennessee, we're just waiting to see him reach it. In an offense that should take another step forward in 2024, look for Okonkwo to have the breakout campaign we've been searching for with this talented player.
22. Jonnu Smith - Miami Dolphins
It's hard to envision a more perfect offense for Jonnu Smith to utilize his skillset. Mike McDaniel and company targeted Smith this offseason, and it's easy to see him getting involved in a big way. Smith's overall athleticism is going to be a big selling point for getting him more targets.
23. Luke Musgrave - Green Bay Packers
It's going to be interesting to see how the Green Bay Packers utilize Luke Musgrave in 2024. He had some spike weeks last season, and certainly can contribute as a blocker. With a lot of mouths to feed in Green Bay, and a potential sleeper in Tucker Kraft, let's see how Musgrave manages this year.
24. Isaiah Likely - Baltimore Ravens
If the Baltimore Ravens didn't already have one of the top tight ends in the NFL, you'd likely see Isaiah Likely much higher on this list. No pun intended. Even with Mark Andrews in the fold, early reports suggest that Likely may be in line for a big jump in snaps this season.
25. Taysom Hill - New Orleans Saints
It won't be a surprise if we get some flack for this, but whatever position you want to label Taysom Hill as, he's effective. Hill can block and catch passes, and you'll see him out of the backfield operating the wildcat. He's a gadget player, and if you want to label him a tight end, we're content with that.
26. Noah Fant - Seattle Seahawks
With the way that Ryan Grubb like's to run his offenses, it won't be a surprise if Noah Fant sees a bigger role with the Seattle Seahawks in 2024. Fant has proven to be a receiving threat, and that should help give the team a reliable threat over the middle of the field.
27. Cade Otton - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cade Otton has really found a consistent role inside the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense. He plays a ton of snaps for this group, and is a known favorite to target in the red zone. Otton could be in for a big season with the Buccaneers.
28. Zach Ertz - Washington Commanders
It won't be a surprise to see Zach Ertz play a big role for the Washington Commanders offense in commanding targets. Playing with a rookie quarterback, Ertz is a good safety blanket, even if he no longer has the separation skills he once did.
29. Hayden Hurst - Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh loves to run two tight end sets, which should have Hayden Hurst in a good position in 2024. Hurst has proven to be a valuable red zone target, but there's more to his game than just in the box scores.
30. Tucker Kraft - Green Bay Packers
There's a fair amount of buzz that Tucker Kraft is quietly taking over the top tight end role with the Green Bay Packers. Kraft brings a big frame to the table, and can also block effectively and catch passes. Let's see how this plays out.
31. Colby Parkinson - Los Angeles Rams
With the way that the Los Angeles Rams are currently structured on offense, it won't be a surprise to see Colby Parkinson become a more featured target with this group. The Rams saw something in him when they signed him in free agency, and it'll take some time to implement him successfully in the offense.
32. Darnell Washington - Pittsburgh Steelers
Although we haven't really seen Darnell Washington involved in Pittsburgh's passing game, he continues to grow as a run blocking tight end that can be used as a weapon in different areas of their offense. Let's see how he develops under Arthur Smith.

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1. Travis Kelce - Kansas City Chiefs
Until Travis Kelce hangs up his cleats and walks off into the sunset with Taylor Swift, he'll be our top ranked tight end in the NFL. Kelce does everything you'd want from a tight end, and is a big reason why the Kansas City Chiefs are looking to three-peat at Super Bowl champs.

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Ranking the Top 32 NFL Tight Ends for 2024

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