Who Are The Best Tight Ends In The NFL?
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We take a look at the best tight ends in the NFL today. Who are the best at catching the ball and blocking?
Rob Gronkowski- New England Patriots
Rob Gronkowski is one of the best tight ends in the NFL. He is a big target for quarterback Tom Brady and is a red zone threat. Gronkowski has good hands and is a reliable receiver. He is also a good blocker.
Career Highlights
Rob Gronkowski, nicknamed “Gronk,” is an American football tight end who plays for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He is considered one of the best tight ends in NFL history,and has been selected for five Pro Bowls. The Patriots drafted Gronkowski in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft with the 42nd pick, and he played his entire professional career with the team.
Gronkowski played college football at Arizona, where he was recognized as a consensus All-American. He caught a then-school record 52 passes for 909 yards during his sophomore year. After contemplating forgoing his final two years of eligibility to enter the 2009 NFL Draft, he decided to return to Arizona for his junior year.
In This season, Gronkowski became only the second player in school history to be named first-team All-Pac-10 and was also named a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the nation’s top collegiate tight end. He led all collegiate tight ends in receiving yards (1,197), touchdowns (16), and average yards per reception (22.4), while his 90 receptions were third among all players at his position.
After his junior season, Gronkowski declared for the 2010 NFL Draft, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round with the 42nd overall pick.
Why He’s the Best
Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in the NFL because of his combination of size, strength, speed, and agility. At 6’6″, 265 pounds, he has the size to overpower defenders and the speed to outrun them. He’s also an excellent route runner and has great hands, which makes him a tough matchup for any defense.
Travis Kelce- Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce is one of the best tight ends in the NFL. He is a great route runner and has good hands. He is also a very good blocker. Kelce has been a big part of the Kansas City Chiefs offense since he was drafted in 2013.
Career Highlights
Kelce was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Cincinnati, where he was a two-time first-team All-American. He has been selected to five Pro Bowls, and is a three-time first-team All-Pro. He holds the Chiefs franchise record for career receiving yards by a tight end, and is second in receptions and touchdowns. In 2015, Kelce was featured on the HBO series Hard Knocks.
Why He’s the Best
Travis Kelce is the best tight end in the NFL because of his route running, hands, and run-blocking.
Kelce is a great route runner. He can create separation from defensive backs with ease. He also has great hands. He can catch the ball even when he’s covered. Kelce is also a great run blocker. He can open up holes for the Chiefs running backs.
Zach Ertz- Philadelphia Eagles
Zach Ertz is one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Zach Ertz has been with the Philadelphia Eagles since he was drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Zach Ertz has caught 441 passes for 4,816 yards and 38 touchdowns in his career.
Career Highlights
Zach Ertz is an American football tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stanford, and was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Ertz has been selected to three Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2017. He set the Eagles franchise record for receptions in a season by a tight end with796 receptions yards and eight touchdowns.
Why He’s the Best
Zach Ertz is one of the best tight ends in the NFL because of his combination of size, speed, and catching ability. At 6’5″, 250lbs, he has the size to be a physical presence in the middle of the field, and the speed to stretch the field vertically. He’s also an excellent route runner with great body control, which makes him a nightmare for opposing defenses.
In addition to his physical tools, Ertz is also a very smart football player. He does a great job of reading defenses and finding holes in coverage, and he’s also a very reliable receiver. In his six NFL seasons, he’s caught 409 passes for 4,737 yards and 36 touchdowns. He’s been especially productive over the last three years, catching at least 74 passes for 824 yards and six touchdowns in each season.
Ertz is also a very good blocker, which is an important trait for tight ends. He’s not the biggest or strongest guy on the field, but he uses his body well to seal off defenders and open up holes for running backs.
The Eagles have one of the best offenses in the NFL thanks in large part to Zach Ertz. He’s one of the toughest players to defend in the league, and he’s a big reason why the Eagles are perennial contenders.
Jimmy Graham- Green Bay Packers
Jimmy Graham is a 6 time Pro Bowl tight end who has played for the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, and currently the Green Bay Packers. He has had an up and down career, but when he is healthy, he is one of the best in the NFL.
Career Highlights
Graham was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played five seasons for the Saints, where he was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time first-team All-Pro. He also set the Saints franchise record for most receiving yards by a tight end.
In March 2015, Graham was traded to the Seattle Seahawks, where he played for two seasons before being released in 2017. He then signed with the Green Bay Packers, where he has played for the past two seasons.
Throughout his NFL career, Graham has amassed 5,885 receiving yards and 69 touchdown receptions. He is currently ranked as the sixth all-time leading receiver among tight ends in NFL history.
Why He’s the Best
Jimmy Graham is an American football tight end for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Miami, and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Graham has been selected to five Pro Bowls, and was a First-team All-Pro in 2013. In his first season with Green Bay in 2018, he was selected for his sixth Pro Bowl.
Graham is considered one of the best tight ends in NFL history. He is one of only five tight ends with more than 700 career catches, and his 76 career touchdown catches are second most all-time among tight ends. His average of 10.1 catches per game is the highest for any tight end in NFL history.
During his time with Seattle, Graham became known as one of Russell Wilson’s favorite targets near the goal line, as he caught 10 touchdown passes in both the 2013 and 2014 seasons. In 2015, he led all tight ends with 65 catches and had 664 receiving yards.
Hunter Henry- Los Angeles Chargers
The tight end position is one of the most important in football. They are responsible for catching passes and blocking for the quarterback. A good tight end can be the difference between a win and a loss. Hunter Henry is one of the best tight ends in the NFL.
Career Highlights
Hunter Henry is an American football tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arkansas, and was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Chargers.
Henry has appeared in 39 career regular season games with 28 starts, compiling 145 receptions for 1,741 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has also appeared in one career postseason game.
Why He’s the Best
In 2018, Henry finished the season as the second-best tight end in the NFL, behind only Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. He was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team and was also named a Second-Team All-Pro.
In 2019, Henry had another excellent season, once again finishing as the second-best tight end in the NFL behind Kelce. He was again named to the AFC Pro Bowl team and was also named a First-Team All-Pro.
Henry is one of the best tight ends in the NFL because he is an excellent receiver and an outstanding blocker. He has good size and speed, and he is a tough player who is not afraid to go over the middle and make tough catches. He is also a very good route runner with great hands.
