With the upcoming season quickly approaching, I’m going to be taking a look at the landscape of the NFL, position by position, over the course of the next several weeks. We’ll be talking about the who’s who of the NFL in our own little version of the NFL Network’s “Top 100 Players” bit they do every year. Up next, we have the tight ends!
The Top 10 NFL Tight Ends for 2018
10. Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills – I mean, he has more guaranteed money than any other tight in the NFL, so he has to be good, right? In all seriousness, he’s been a rock at the tight end position. And, good thing, too – because that Bills offense is going to need him in 2018. He had just 558 yards and two touchdowns in 2017, but that’s not an accurate measure of his value to the Buffalo Bills.
9. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings – Rudolph has quietly become one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL in recent years. 15 touchdowns over the past two seasons is quite impressive, so don’t expect too much to change with this steady Eddie. Rudolph had 532 yards and a whopping eight touchdowns in 2017.
8. Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins – If he could prove that he can stay healthy, Reed would be much higher on this list. But, he’s yet to prove he can play a full season in the NFL. His best season came in 2015, when he tallied 952 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Even then, he only played in 14 games. He’s one of the most gifted athletes at the position. Reportedly, he’s ready to go for 2018. Time will tell.
7. Jimmy Graham, Green Bay Packers – Graham proved to be one of the best red zone targets in the NFL last season, regardless of position, catching 10 touchdowns. All of it was on just 57 receptions for 520 yards. We’re still talking about a guy who has declined from what he once was in New Orleans, but all in all, still one of the more productive tight ends in the league. We’ll see how he transitions to a new offense with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. And, can we quickly note that Graham has only played with elite quarterbacks? Drew Brees, Russell Wilson, and now Rodgers??? Sick.
6. Evan Engram, New York Giants – Engram is a pure athlete at the tight end position. His 722 yards were 5th among tight ends in 2017, and he posted a solid touchdown number with six as a rookie. What makes it all the more impressive is the fact that that New York Giants offense STUNK last season. But, this dude is as electric as they come. Of all the people on this list, Engram is the future of the position.
5. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles – Ertz’s 824 yards was third among tight ends in 2017. His eight touchdowns were tied for second. The guy is one of the focal points of a loaded, Super Bowl-winning Eagles offense. If he can continue to improve as a red zone target, his reception and yardage totals are gold. This guy could become one of the most complete tight ends in the league in 2018, if he’s not already.
4. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers – Olsen had the best years of his career as a Panther from 2014-16. Injuries kept him off the field for the bulk of 2017, but given that he’s the top guy on that Panthers offense, and given that he’s reportedly fully healthy now, I expect he’s going to return to his back-to-back-to-back thousand yard season form.
3. Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans – I don’t care if you call me a homer. For my money, Walker is one of if not the most complete tight end in the entire NFL. The guy does everything well – block, run, catch, protect. I don’t know that any tight end is as good a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ as #82 is. @ me. Walker had 807 yards and three touchdowns in 2017, but with another year as Marcus Mariota’s security blanket, and in a new, more modern offense, I expect him to improve dramatically.
2. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs – Kelce was one of only two tight ends to post more than 1,000 receiving yards in 2017 (1,038). His eight touchdowns were tied for second among tight ends. He is an elite level play-maker that has developed into one of the most consistent tight ends in the NFL over the past two seasons. Don’t expect too much to change in 2018.
1. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots – I’m willing to put Gronk in the Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez class of all-time play makers at the tight end position in NFL history. I know injuries have slowed him down, but if the man is healthy, he is far and away the best tight end in the game. The king stays the king. Gronk led all tight ends in receiving yards in 2017 with 1,084. His eight touchdowns were tied for second alongside Ertz, Rudolph, and Kelce.
Other 2018 NFL Top 10s
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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