Perry Knotts/Getty Images
Despite having a down season in 2023, at least by his lofty standards, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce remains at the pinnacle of the tight end position.
In a poll of coaches, scouts and executives conducted by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Kelce finished ahead of George Kittle and Mark Andrews as the NFL’s best tight end going into the 2024 campaign.
Top 10 Tight End Rankings
“He’s the focal point. You can put more resources toward stopping him,” one executive said to Fowler about Kelce. “For years, he would kill one-on-ones every time. He maybe doesn’t do that as much but [is] still a problem there.”
Last season marked the first time since 2015 that Kelce failed to record at least 1,000 receiving yards. His five touchdowns were his fewest since 2016 and he averaged a career-low 10.6 yards per catch.
Kelce looked much better during the Chiefs’ run to the Super Bowl. He had at least 71 yards in all four playoff games, including 116 in the AFC Championship Game and 93 in the Super Bowl.
Kittle is often regarded as the best all-around tight end in the league. The San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowler was the only player at the position with more than 1,000 receiving yards last season (1,020)
“Deep in-breaking routes, delays and boots and keepers—he’s just a problem with the ball in his hands,” an NFL personnel director told Fowler. “He’s more explosive [than Kelce] at this point, and being able to stay a little bit healthier this year helped him.”
Kittle didn’t miss a game due to injury last season for the first time since 2018. He did sit out the 49ers’ final regular season game when they had already clinched the top seed in the NFC playoffs.
Andrews’ ranking may have been hindered by a leg injury that kept him out for the Baltimore Ravens’ final six games of the regular season and AFC Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. His six touchdowns in 10 games were tied with Kittle and one more than Kelce.
One thing that stands out about the voting is a lack of consensus about the best tight ends right now. Kelce and Kittle were the only players who received first-place votes, but they were also ranked as low as fifth.
T.J. Hockenson, Dallas Goedert, Dalton Kincaid, Evan Engram and Dalton Schultz were all outside of the top 10 on at least one ballot.
If there’s an emerging tight end who could surpass the Kelce/Kittle/Andrews triumvirate going into 2025, it’s Detroit Lions standout Sam LaPorta. The 23-year-old had a terrific rookie season with 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.
LaPorta, who received at least one third-place vote, figures to be a prominent part of the offense in Detroit once again in 2024. If he improves upon the stats from his first year, there will be a strong argument to move him into the top three.
