Top 10 Best Tight Ends Going Into the 2020 NFL Season

Travis Kelce

Travis Michael Kelce is an American football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He has played for the Chiefs since being drafted in 2013. Kelce is considered one of the top tight ends in NFL history and has been selected to multiple Pro Bowls.

In a close race between Kelce and Kittle, I chose the Super Bowl champion. He is the best receiving tight end in football and provides a big and consistent target for Patrick Mahomes.

George Kittle

Kittle comes in a close second for me, and he could end up first soon. He burst onto the scene in 2018 after a quiet rookie season and had his best season yet last year. He is arguably the most balanced tight end in the NFL, with great catching and blocking skills.
His best play from last season was that insane catch-and-run against the Saints where he was getting taken down by like three defenders. He is the face of the future at tight end in the whole league.

Zach Ertz

Zachary Adam Ertz (born November 10, 1990) is an American professional football tight end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League. He played college football at Stanford and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Ertz has also played for... read more

Before Kittle came onto the scene, it was Kelce and Ertz competing for the NFL's top tight end spot, and for good reason. He holds the NFL record for most receptions by a tight end in a season with 116 in 2018, a few hours after Kelce set the record. He has made three straight Pro Bowls and expects him to make more.

Mark Andrews

It's strange to think Andrews lasted longer with the Ravens than the 2018 first-round pick at tight end, Hayden Hurst. Andrews was a good target for Lamar Jackson, alongside Nick Boyle. He also made his first Pro Bowl last season.

Darren Waller

After four uneventful seasons with the Ravens, Waller was traded to the Raiders in 2018. The next season, he became one of the NFL's best tight ends. He has formed a formidable duo with Foster Moreau, giving Derek Carr steady and reliable targets.
He is one of the most underrated tight ends in the NFL currently.

Austin Hooper

A Pro Bowler, Hooper recently signed a big deal with the Browns after becoming a star with the Falcons. He will now be in a passing attack with Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. He will help Baker Mayfield with his inconsistencies.

Hunter Henry

When he is not injured, Henry is a top tight end in the NFL. The Chargers have had a lot of success with tight ends in their franchise's history, and Hunter could be the next great to come from the team, after Kellen Winslow and Antonio Gates played.

Jared Cook

Jared Cook Jr., born on April 7, 1987, is an American former professional football tight end. He played college football at South Carolina and entered the NFL in 2009. Cook signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2019 and earned Pro Bowl honors that year before being released by the team in 2021.

Cook went around the NFL for a little bit before reaching his first Pro Bowl with the Raiders in 2018. Now with the Saints, he reached his second Pro Bowl in 2019. He is now going into this season as a good target in a stellar offense for Drew Brees.

Kyle Rudolph

Kyle Daniel Rudolph is a former American football tight end who played 12 seasons in the National Football League, primarily with the Minnesota Vikings. He also spent time with the New York Giants in 2021 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. Rudolph was selected to two Pro Bowls, in 2012 and 2017, and... read more

Rudolph is playing alongside a younger tight end with Irv Smith, but he is still playing at a good level. He even made the game-winning touchdown catch against the Saints in the Wild Card. He will continue to produce for the Vikings and help mentor the younger Smith.

Rob Gronkowski

Robert Paxton Gronkowski, nicknamed "Gronk," is a former American football tight end. He played most of his career with the New England Patriots before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After retiring at the end of the 2018 NFL season, he returned in 2020 to play alongside Tom Brady and won another Super... read more

Coming out of retirement to play for the Buccaneers, Gronkowski gets to play with his old quarterback on the Patriots, Tom Brady. He still has to prove that he can play well coming off of a year out of football, but playing alongside two other decent tight ends, he will do fine.

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Cole Kmet

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Mike Gesicki

Jonnu Smith

Jordan Reed

Jordan Reed, born on June 11, 1990, is an American former professional football tight end. He played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins and later for the San Francisco 49ers. Reed retired due to multiple concussions but was widely regarded for his athleticism and receiving skills during his career... read more