This offseason, we’ve heard that the 2023 rookie class is better than the 2022 class. I’m going to be doing a series of articles talking about the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. I’ll be ranking the 2021 rookies and the 2022 rookies together.
I have covered quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers and will be concluding the series with tight ends. Outside of Kyle Pitts, no one compares. Sure you may think Trey McBride can be something, but don’t forget about Zach Ertz. There are too many question marks, and other pass catchers ahead of most of these players so their odds of doing something in year one, is well, not anything better than a TE2.
If you are drafting today, you are looking at taking none of these rookie tight ends till late Round 2 of rookie drafts. The rest were Round 4 or waiver wire priority adds. Pitts and Pat Freiermuth are ones easily to draft in redraft.
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Rankings of all these tight ends for dynasty purposes:
- Kyle Pitts
- Pat Freiermuth
- Brevin Jordan
- Cade Otton
- Trey McBride
- Greg Dulcich
- Jelani Woods
- John Bates
- Daniel Bellinger
- Hunter Long
- Charlie Kolar
- Isaiah Likely
- Chigoziem Okonkwo
- Jeremy Ruckert
- Noah Gray
- Jake Ferguson
- Kylen Granson
- Tre’ McKitty
- Jacob Harris
Tier 1
- Kyle Pitts
It should come as no surprise of having Kyle Pitts here in a tier all to himself. As a rookie, he finished no worse than fifth at his position in yards, targets, yards per catch, yards per route run, the average depth of the target, and explosive play rate. On the other hand, he was invisible in the red zone, being 10th in targets with only one touchdown.
Pitts was the first rookie tight end to get over 1,000 yards (1,026) since Mike Ditka did back in 1961 (1,076). As long as he can improve on his touchdowns (which he should) and work as a viable threat in the red zone, he should be pushing for high-end TE1 numbers (11th last year). He should be viewed as the TE1 in dynasty and TE3 in redraft.
Tier 2
Here we have Pat Freiermuth kicking off Tier 2, but he’s nowhere near Kyle Pitts and Tier 1. Freiermuth was a red zone target last season and a favorite for Ben Roethlisberger. With Roethlisberger retiring, and the current quarterback(s) in question, the upside is still there. Whoever starts at quarterback will lean on Freiermuth. He’s a TE1 in dynasty and a low-end TE1 in redraft.
Tier 3
- Brevin Jordan
Outside of the first two tiers, this is where the question marks start flying. Tight ends here are a blip on the radar and are more notably a backup. I, along with a lot of the community was high on Jordan, but as he fell in the 2021 NFL Draft (5th round) things changed. The upside that we saw last year was hit and miss, thanks to the Houston offense and being pushed down the depth chart behind Jordan Akins and Pharaoh Brown. He’s a TE3 at the moment.
With the retirement of Rob Gronkowski, the assumption of Cameron Brate being the TE1 for the team seems reasonable. The tight end position is a transition that is the hardest to translate from college to the NFL level. Otton comes in a 6’5, 250 pounds, and is a good blocker and receiver, which may help him get on the field in year one.
Being the first tight end drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft says a lot for Trey McBride. Especially when he was drafted in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals. Ertz signed a three-year, $31.65M contract extension this off-season, but McBride could still find a way to play in the next year or two. Ertz is 31, so who knows how much high-end production he has left as the Cardinals can cut him after the 2024 season.
Tier 4
- Greg Dulcich
- Jelani Woods
- John Bates
- Daniel Bellinger
- Hunter Long
These tight ends have a chance, but will more than likely need an injury to the player ahead of them before they can make an immediate impact. Right now I like Daniel Bellinger’s odds the best of this group as he has Ricky Seals-Jones and Jordan Akins ahead of him. I was high on Greg Dulcich too, but there are so many other pass-catchers there that he’s far down the line. I see these tight ends as more of an end of the bench or taxi squad.
The Rest
- Charlie Kolar
- Isaiah Likely
- Chigoziem Okonkwo
- Jeremy Ruckert
- Noah Gray
- Jake Ferguson
- Kylen Granson
- Tre’ McKitty
- Jacob Harris
- Jalen Wydermyer
- James Mitchell
In regards to Tier 4, these are borderline in there but just miss the cut for me and are more of waiver wire adds or late-round rookie picks. The tight end position can take at least three years for some to transition into the NFL with, or at worst do nothing at all. Yes, these players were good in college, but that transition sometimes just gets the best of them. These players have a lot in front of them before they can even think of making it on the field, not to mention special teams. Special teams are where these guys hope to make it right now. This group is the 3+ years group in my eyes.
What are some players you love/hate? Did I miss someone? Am I too low or too high on someone? Hit me up on Twitter @RyanMiner_FFB and let’s discuss!
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