Ranking the top 20 NFL tight ends for 2022

Tight end is one of the few offensive positions that has completely evolved since the turn of the century to meet the needs of modern offenses

Tight end is one of the few offensive positions that has completely evolved since the turn of the century to meet the needs of modern offenses. We’re fortunate to be football fans in an era with multiple future Hall of Famers at the position. In this article, we’ll stack the NFL’s top tight ends based on recent production, injuries, age, situations, and skill sets.

I divided the top 20 tight ends into five main tiers. The tiers are more important than the individual number ranking since most players are interchangeable in their tiers.

There are two 2021 rankings below each tight end. The first shows where I ranked the player among his peers during the 2021 offseason. The second rank shows where each tight end landed on my top 200 players project last summer.

I understand these rankings will be controversial. Please remember that they are just my opinion and don’t really hold any greater meaning. You can reach me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 to tell me what I got wrong and what you would change.

*Indicates rookie player

NFL 2022: Top 20 Tight Ends

Tier 1: The Perennial All-Pros

1. Travis Kelce, TE Kansas City Chiefs

2021 Tight End Rank: 1

2021 Top 200 Rank: 4

2. Mark Andrews, TE Baltimore Ravens

2021 Tight End Rank: 4

2021 Top 200 Rank: 124

3. George Kittle, TE San Francisco 49ers

2021 Tight End Rank: 2

2021 Top 200 Rank: 11

I don’t think it’s crazy to say that the three tight ends in Tier 1 have Hall of Fame potential. I’m not saying they’ll all get there, but these are special players. It’s somewhat similar to how the last generation had Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, and Jason Witten. It’s too early to draw a direct line from the elite guys in Tier 1 to those legends, but you get the idea.

Kelce could retire tomorrow and be a Hall of Famer in five years. He’s produced over 1,000 yards in six consecutive years and more than 90 receptions in four straight seasons. The six-time All-Pro is 32 years old and entering his first year without a prime Tyreek Hill since 2016, but all signs point toward Kelce producing at a high level for another year or two.

Andrews also enters 2022 without his top wide receiver from the past year. The passing game in Baltimore ran through Andrews more than ever in 2021. Lamar Jackson’s injuries and Marquise Brown’s hit-or-miss play funneled the football to Andrews and helped him earn First-Team All-Pro honors. The soon-to-be 27-year-old should have another big year now that Jackson is healthy.

Injuries and quarterback play continue to hinder Kittle’s career. He’s missed 13 games over the past three seasons and failed to hit 1,000 yards in 2021. However, Kittle arguably offers the best combination of pass catching and blocking skills among the league’s elite tight ends. When healthy, the two-time All-Pro is the most physically gifted tight end in Tier 1.

Tier 2: Future All-Pros

4. Darren Waller, TE Las Vegas Raiders

2021 Tight End Rank: 3

2021 Top 200 Rank: 65

5. Dallas Goedert, TE Philadelphia Eagles

2021 Tight End Rank: 9

2021 Top 200 Rank: 160

6. Kyle Pitts, TE Atlanta Falcons

2021 Tight End Rank: 5

2021 Top 200 Rank: 128

Tier 2 consists of players with All-Pro potential. Waller has already performed at an All-Pro level, but he’s never earned the recognition. Meanwhile, Goedert and Pitts are still developing, but they have the potential to reach Tier 1 soon.

I’m still not over the Associated Press picking slot receiver Cole Beasley over Waller for Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2020. That was a pitiful joke because Waller totaled 107 receptions for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns. Injuries slowed down the 29-year-old last season, but he’s on pace to star alongside Davante Adams in 2022.

Goedert brings plenty to the table as a blocker and pass catcher. He’s the only tight end in the top ten that can challenge Kittle regarding versatility. However, Philadelphia’s offense hasn’t put Goedert in a position to post big numbers. He saw about 20 fewer targets than Kittle and Waller last year despite appearing in more games.

Pitts produced just over 1,000 yards in 2021, but it took 17 games and roughly 110 targets to reach that milestone. His rookie campaign was about the flashes he showed as Atlanta’s offense imploded around him. Unfortunately, Pitts hasn’t received much help on offense this offseason, but he’s demonstrated the potential to remain in Tier 2 or higher throughout his career.

Tier 3: Needle Movers

7. Dalton Schultz, TE Dallas Cowboys

2021 Tight End Rank: NR

2021 Top 200 Rank: NR

8. Mike Gesicki, TE Miami Dolphins

2021 Tight End Rank: 7

2021 Top 200 Rank: 133

9. T.J. Hockenson, TE Detroit Lions

2021 Tight End Rank: 6

2021 Top 200 Rank: 132

10. Hunter Henry, TE New England Patriots

2021 Tight End Rank: NR

2021 Top 200 Rank: NR

Only one or two players in Tier 3 have Tier 2 potential. They’ve mostly settled into consistent streams of production and can’t emulate the output or physical skill sets of Tier 2 tight ends. Tier 3 tight ends still can impact games at a high level and are valuable assets on offense that teams pursue and try to retain, but they aren’t All-Pros.

Gesicki and Schultz are playing on the franchise tag in 2022 because their teams realized they were too valuable to lose for nothing. Schultz was a revelation for the Cowboys in 2021 after a solid 2020 season. The 26-year-old worked in front of the sticks last year but posted more yards after the catch than his Miami counterpart.

Gesicki runs deeper routes than Schultz and spends much more of his time in the slot. Last season, the former second round selection posted more than 700 yards for the second straight year. It’ll be interesting to see how the dynamic with him, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle evolves in Miami.

Henry and Hockenson have received high praise in the past, but I think we’re at the point where most people acknowledge neither will become Tier 2 players (and certainly not Tier 1). I won’t slam the door shut on Hockenson yet, but he appears to be a good but not great tight end.

Hockenson missed five games this past season, which held him under 600 yards after a 723-yard breakout performance in 2020. However, the former eighth overall pick has never averaged more than 50 yards per game in a season. Henry has strung together three consecutive 600-yard seasons, but his averages have experienced statistical regression during that time.

Tier 4: Quality Starters

11. Zach Ertz, TE Arizona Cardinals

2021 Tight End Rank: NR

2021 Top 200 Rank: NR

12. Pat Freiermuth, TE Pittsburgh Steelers

2021 Tight End Rank: NR

2021 Top 200 Rank: NR

13. Dawson Knox, TE Buffalo Bills

2021 Tight End Rank: NR

2021 Top 200 Rank: NR

14. Noah Fant, TE Seattle Seahawks

2021 Tight End Rank: 8

2021 Top 200 Rank: 135

15. Tyler Higbee, TE Los Angeles Rams

2021 Tight End Rank: NR

2021 Top 200 Rank: NR

Tier 4 tight ends are players NFL teams believe they can win with. Squads with depth at the position or stars at wide receiver are willing to roll with these players knowing they’ll get solid production each year. However, it’s unlikely that anyone in this group will even earn a Pro Bowl nod.

At 31 years old, Ertz isn’t the perennial Pro Bowler he was in Philadelphia. However, the nine-year veteran’s career experienced a resurgence when he joined Arizona last year. Ertz averaged 5.1 receptions and 52.2 yards per game with the Cardinals and even signed a new contract this offseason. A 750-yard season seems like the floor for Ertz if his usage remains the same in 2022.

Freiermuth showed everything Steelers fans hoped to see from the rookie tight end in 2021. He was a consistent presence who rarely dropped the ball and created mismatches in the red zone. There’s still plenty for the 23-year-old to learn, but he has the foundation to develop into a Tier 3 player eventually.

Higbee (29) and Knox (25) are in the primes of their careers. Higbee statistically peaked in 2019, but he’s produced more than 500 yards in each of the past two seasons. Last season was Knox’s big break. He more than doubled his 2020 production across the board, finishing the year with 49 receptions for 587 yards and nine touchdowns. Knox should keep that production up as he grows alongside Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs.

Fant is the most interesting tight end in Tier 4. The former 20th overall pick is only 24 years old and opened his career with three consecutive years of more than 550 yards. He’s produced 670 yards or more in 2020 and 2021. However, he royally struggles to block opponents despite taking most of his snaps as an in-line tight end. We’ll see if Fant’s usage and performance improve in Seattle.

Tier 5: Looking to Rebound

16. Austin Hooper, TE Tennessee Titans

2021 Tight End Rank: 11

2021 Top 200 Rank: 198

17. Logan Thomas, TE Washington Commanders

2021 Tight End Rank: 12

2021 Top 200 Rank: 202

18. Cole Kmet, TE Chicago Bears

2021 Tight End Rank: NR

2021 Top 200 Rank: NR

19. David Njoku, TE Cleveland Browns

2021 Tight End Rank: NR

2021 Top 200 Rank: NR

20. C.J. Uzomah, TE New York Jets

2021 Tight End Rank: NR

2021 Top 200 Rank: NR

Tier 5 tight ends have low Tier 3 potential and can definitely make it into Tier 4. However, they’ve been hindered by injuries, poor quarterback play, limited targets, etc. over the past few years. These tight ends could rebound in 2021 and rise a few tiers.

Hooper was a Tier 3 performer during his final days in Atlanta, but the 27-year-old saw his targets slashed when he arrived in Cleveland. He produced 780 yards in his only two seasons with the Browns after tallying 787 yards with the Falcons in 2019. Luckily he got out of Cleveland and is taking over the position Jonnu Smith vacated in Tennessee. Hooper should see more targets, especially considering Tennessee’s lackluster wide receiver room.

Thomas and Uzomah have been in the NFL for a while, but they broke out in recent years. Unfortunately, Thomas is returning from a torn ACL while Uzomah is battling back from a series of minor injuries, including an MCL sprain, hip sprain, and knee strain, after a torn Achilles in 2020.

Kmet (23) and Njoku (26) still have time to realize their potential, but both former top 45 picks have disappointed early in their careers. Kmet failed to score a touchdown in 2021, but he caught 60 passes for 612 yards. Meanwhile, the Browns gave Njoku a massive boost of confidence this offseason when they cut Hooper and gave the former first round selection a four-year extension. Clearly, the Browns have big plans for Njoku.

Tier 6: The Void

Jonnu Smith, TE New England Patriots

2021 Tight End Rank: 10

2021 Top 200 Rank: 191

The Patriots gave Smith a lot of money to not use him. The former Titan played more than 200 fewer offensive snaps in 2021 than he did in 2020 despite appearing in one more game. Smith’s production plummeted off the face of the Earth, and he finished the year with 28 receptions for 294 yards and one touchdown.

Honorable Mentions

Daniel Bellinger, TE New York Giants*

Cameron Brate, TE Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tyler Conklin, TE New York Jets

Jared Cook, TE Free Agent

Evan Engram, TE Jacksonville Jaguars

Gerald Everett, TE Los Angeles Chargers

Hayden Hurst, TE Cincinnati Bengals

Trey McBride, TE Arizona Cardinals*

Albert Okwuegbunam, TE Denver Broncos

Irv Smith Jr., TE Minnesota Vikings

Robert Tonyan, TE Green Bay Packers

Jelani Woods, TE Indianapolis Colts*