Who’s the Best TE in the NFL?
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There’s no shortage of talented tight ends in the NFL, but who’s the best? We take a look at the top contenders and make our case for who we think is the best TE in the league.
George Kittle
George Kittle is the best TE in the NFL. He is a very good blocker and is a great receiver. He can catch the ball anywhere on the field and is a very good route runner. He is also a very good blocker.
Why he’s the best
George Kittle is the best tight end in the NFL because of his unique skill set and ability to make an impact on the game in a number of different ways.
Kittle is an elite receiver, capable of making plays down the field and in traffic. He’s also a very good blocker, both in the run and pass game. His combination of size, speed, and strength make him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
Kittle is also a tremendous athlete, with rare physical gifts for a tight end. He’s extremely quick for his size and has outstanding body control. This makes him a dangerous weapon in the open field, as he’s able to make plays that most other tight ends simply couldn’t dream of making.
In addition to all of this, Kittle is also an outstanding leader and teammate. He’s a hard worker who sets the example for his teammates both on and off the field. His positive attitude is infectious, and he’s always looking to improve his game.
There’s no doubt that George Kittle is the best tight end in the NFL. His rare combination of size, speed, strength, athleticism, receiving ability, blocking prowess, and leadership makes him a true difference-maker for any team lucky enough to have him on their roster.
His stats
In his three years in the NFL, Kittle has amassed 2,945 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He has also been named to the Pro Bowl twice and was named first-team All-Pro in 2018. Among tight ends, he ranks second in receiving yards and third in catches since he entered the league in 2017.
Travis Kelce
Why he’s the best
Travis Kelce is the Chiefs’ starting tight end, and he has been one of the best at his position for quite some time now. In terms of raw production, Kelce has averaged nearly 80 catches for 1,100 yards and six touchdowns per season over the last four years. And those numbers actually undersell his true value, as Kelce has also been one of the most efficient tight ends in football during that span.
From a statistical standpoint, Kelce ranks first among tight ends in Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric (which measures a player’s value by comparing their performance to the league average) over the last four seasons. He also ranks first in catch rate (70 percent) and second in yards per reception (13.1) among tight ends with at least 200 targets over that span. Simply put, there’s no tight end in football who has been as productive or efficient as Kelce has been over the last four years.
But raw production and efficiency numbers only tell part of the story. What makes Kelce so special is his rare combination of size, speed, athleticism, and route-running ability. At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Kelce has the size of an elite red zone threat. But he also possesses rare speed and agility for a player his size, as he ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. And that athleticism shows up on tape, as Kelce routinely makes plays that few other tight ends in the league are even capable of making.
Whether it’s outrunning linebackers down the seam or making contested catches in traffic over the middle of the field, Kelce is simply too much for most defensive backs and linebackers to handle one-on-one. He’s also an outstanding route runner with a knack for finding openings in zone coverage, which makes him incredibly tough to defend even when teams know where he’s going to be on a given play. Simply put, there aren’t many players in the NFL who can do what Kelce does on a football field.
His stats
Travis Kelce is an American football player who currently plays tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Cincinnati.
Kelce has been selected to four Pro Bowls, and was a first-team All-Pro in 2016. He holds the Chiefs franchise records for career receptions and receiving yards by a tight end, and is second in touchdown receptions behind Tony Gonzalez. He also holds the NFL record for most consecutive games with a reception by a tight end, with 81.
Zach Ertz
Zach Ertz is currently the best tight end in the NFL. He has been a key player for the Philadelphia Eagles for many years, and has played a big role in their success. Ertz is a very talented player, and is one of the best at his position.
Why he’s the best
Zach Ertz is one of the best tight ends in the NFL because of his unique skill set. He has great size and strength, which allows him to be a force in the running game, but he’s also an excellent route runner with great hands. He’s one of the most versatile tight ends in the league and can be used as a receiver or a blocker. He’s also a very good red zone target and has scored some big touchdowns for the Eagles over the years.
His stats
Zach Ertz is an American football tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and played college football at Stanford.
In his rookie season, he set the Eagles rookie record for catches by a tight end with 36 receptions for 469 yards. Ertz had a breakout year in his second season with 58 receptions for 702 yards and three touchdowns. He continued his strong play in his third season, catching 75 passes for 853 yards and two touchdowns. In 2016, Ertz Pro Bowl-caliber season with 78 receptions for 816 yards and four touchdowns.
