The NFL’s Elite Tight Ends: Kelce, Kittle, and Andrews Lead the Way

Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs star, remains the best tight end in the NFL.

As the NFL season approaches, coaches, scouts, and executives have weighed in on the league’s top tight ends. According to a poll by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Mark Andrews are the top three tight ends in the league.

The Top 10 Tight Ends

Kelce, despite having a relatively down season in 2023, remains the focal point of the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense. “He’s the focal point. You can put more resources toward stopping him,” one executive said. “For years, he would kill one-on-ones every time. He maybe doesn’t do that as much but [is] still a problem there.”

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, on the other hand, 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 said. “He’s more explosive [than Kelce] at this point, and being able to stay a little bit healthier this year helped him.”

 The top 10 tight ends in the NFL.

Mark Andrews, despite missing six games due to injury, still managed to rack up six touchdowns in 10 games. His ranking may have been hindered by his injury, but he remains one of the top tight ends in the league.

The Rise of Sam LaPorta

One emerging tight end who could surpass the Kelce/Kittle/Andrews triumvirate going into 2025 is Detroit Lions standout Sam LaPorta. The 23-year-old had a terrific rookie season with 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.

 Sam LaPorta, the Detroit Lions standout, had a terrific rookie season.

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.

The Future of the Tight End Position

As the NFL continues to evolve, the tight end position is becoming increasingly important. With players like Kelce, Kittle, and Andrews leading the way, it will be exciting to see how the position develops in the coming years.

 Tight ends are becoming increasingly important in the NFL.