Throughout the offseason I’ll be assessing where players around the league tier amongst their position group. The idea behind the exercise is to assess the most valuable players in the league at certain positions, what player types are trending up and down, and how fans and analysts should think about player-to-player comparisons at the same position.
Some rules before we begin.
• Within positional tiers, I believe an effective argument can be made for any ordering of players. The tiering is more important than the actual ranking number in terms of determining a player’s value.
• These tiers are based heavily on where a player’s level of play currently lands them, not necessarily where I think they will end up next year at this same time. We have a separate exercise for those discussions!
• These tiers assume a season is starting right now and everyone is healthy. So past injury history/volume certainly could impact the ranking or tiering of a player as I consider his propensity to get injured in the future, but for the purpose of this exercise, every player is healthy currently.
There won’t be much discussion in Tier 1, but after that, ranking the tight end position becomes a choose-your-style endeavor. There are quality tight ends who play a well-rounded role, give their offensive scheme tons of flexibility to maximize their best players, create opportunities for others and allow offensive coordinators to build out a versatile offense.
Then there are the “yay, stats!” tight ends - often superior athletes who are featured more as big wide receivers and focal points of their team’s passing attack rather than lynchpin pieces for a diverse offense. Some of these players can put up numbers and win fantasy leagues, but they create issues for their offenses at times due to the limited number of roles they can play.
In 2026, it can’t be overstated how important I believe it is to prioritize the former group from a team-building perspective. We’re in an age of football where the more answers you can give to offensive coordinators for how to attack opposing defenses exotic looks, the better. Tight end is the ultimate embodiment of this principle. If your tight end can block on the move, pull into space, slice the formation, insert and displace a linebacker, be an asset in the screen game and help seal first level defenders, you’re on your way to being able to really create as an offensive coordinator.
Now, surely you would love for that player to still be an asset in the pass game. That’s why the absolute game-changer, scheme-altering, five-alarm-fire pass-catching tight ends are still at the top of the list. But my Tier 1 features five players who are at least capable blockers, including a few who are even better than that. Beyond that, you probably need to at least have promise as a blocker/scheme enhancer if you’re going to make my next tier.
There are no Rob Gronkowskis in the league currently, although Chicago has a player that could be pretty special in time. But the NFL is full of talented tight ends who are positive contributors in some capacity on Sundays, even if you don’t see the impact in the box score. I’ve done my best to describe what skill sets add the most value to an offense, while not totally discounting the fact that the receiving impact of some tight ends should still be respected even if they lack versatile functionality.
1. Brock Bowers - Raiders
Bowers second season wasn’t quite as strong as his first, but that was mostly due to his health and the Raiders hideous offense. I don’t want to let those things deter me from having him #1, as no tight end in the NFL offers quite the same level of big play ability that Bowers does. His ceiling as a blocker is the only question left to answer for the Raiders star tight end.
2. Trey McBride - Cardinals
McBride’s blocking fell off last year, which is probably the only reason he isn’t #1. He’s not an elite athlete, but he’s more well-rounded than Bowers, catches everything, breaks tackles, plays with an edge and is one of the most consistent receiving tight ends we’ve seen. There is very little to dislike about his game, especially if he can get his blocking back to a quality level this season.
3. Colston Loveland - Bears
I think by the end of the 2026 season, it will be a 2-person Tier 1 with Bowers and Loveland. Although Loveland isn’t a perfect blocker, the fact that he was already a plus in that area as a rookie could give him the inside track to TE1 status next year. He is already outstanding at all the most rare aspects of the position, it’s just getting better at the down-to-down nuances before he can be crowned.
4. George Kittle - 49ers
Kittle is one of the best tight ends of all-time, and when he’s healthy, I’d still take him first. His combination of athleticism, toughness, physicality, leadership and versatility are what every team wants. But given how significant a part of his career injuries have been, even a currently fully healthy version of him is most likely to miss time of the Tier 1 guys.
5. Tucker Kraft - Packers
Kraft might have been on his way to #1 before tearing his ACL in Week 9. He is still developing as a route runner, but Kraft is a big play machine who can make plays with the ball in his hands. There are very few things he doesn’t do well, which opens up the playbook for a high-level offense. One area I would like to see him improve is as a 1v1 route runner/separator that can go get his own bucket more consistently. The top guys can all do that.
6. Sam LaPorta - Lions
I’m a big LaPorta fan, despite two straight seasons of declining production. Don’t fall for the box score stats. Watching the tape reveals a player who has been every bit as good as he was during his outstanding rookie season in 2023. LaPorta has caught an eye-popping 71 percent of contested throws since he entered the league, is a factor after the catch, can move around the formation, never drops the ball and competes as a blocker.
7. Tyler Warren - Colts
There are probably more than six better tight ends out there than Warren right now, who is still finding consistency and learning the tricks of the trade as a route runner and blocker. But his improvement in the run game as a Colt, coupled with his ball skills down the field, have me willing to overlook his mediocre movement ability. I think Warren could develop into a real asset as a run blocker, and a tough-catch, tough-tackle threat as a receiver.
8. Brenton Strange - Jaguars
I don’t think enough people are talking about Strange’s impact on the Jaguars last season. When he missed time, the Jaguars offense sputtered to a -0.008 EPA/play. But when Strange was on the field in 2025, Jacksonville’s offense was a +0.084 EPA/play, the 16th best of 102 qualifying tight ends. For the first time in Trevor Lawrence’s career, he had someone he could trust in the middle of the field. Strange isn’t an amazing athlete, but he can really block in the run and pass game, plays with intensity and is a tough cover between the numbers.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.