Analysis
7/5/22
3 min read
Tiering the Best Tight Ends in the NFL 2022
The NFL Insiders of The 33rd Team tier out each NFL team’s top tight ends into separate tiers from Tier 1 to Tier 7. After tiering each NFL starting quarterback, their supporting weapons, and the league’s best offensive lines, we continue chipping away at the offense, by looking at the league’s top tight ends.
Tier 1
Tier 1 consists of the elite TEs in the NFL. They have all consistently shown to be dynamic and assertive in the passing game, which is highly coveted in the modern-day NFL. The group continues to set records for the position, and when healthy have been the No. 1 option in their respective offenses.
Travis Kelce
George Kittle
Darren Waller
Tier 2
Tier 2 is made up of extremely talented pass catchers at the TE position. Each has shown the ability to lead a receiving core with their athleticism, size, and reliability. Each has the receiving ability to have 100-plus receptions and over 1,000 yards in a season if they are able to stay healthy. The physicality of the tight end position can cause a high likelihood of injuries, with each in this mix having felt the effects in their careers.
Mark Andrews
Kyle Pitts
TJ Hockenson
Dallas Goedert
Mike Gesicki
Tier 3
Tier 3 consists of the group of young, ascending TEs. Each in the group are 25 years old or younger and have shown flashes, including consistent flashes of high-end receiving ability, especially in the red zone. Three out of the four tight ends in this grouping had 7-plus TDs in 2021, with Fant being the odd man out, despite being featured in a lackluster offense.
Noah Fant
Dawson Knox
Dalton Schultz
Pat Freiermuth
Tier 4
Tier 4 consists of playmakers that have peaked in Tier 2 but have dealt with a slew of injuries during their careers and may be aging towards the backend of their career. All still have the ability to be mismatches, especially in the red zone, but the consistency can be challenged due to age or past injury history.
Zach Ertz
Logan Thomas
Robert Tonyan
Hunter Henry
Tier 5
Tier 5 consists of the currently middling tight ends. Many have not reached their full potential yet. This group could see the most movement up, and down, during the 2022 season, with a mix of high-upside young playmakers, solid blocking TEs, and declining older options.
Mo Alie-Cox
Irv Smith Jr
CJ Uzomah
Tyler Higbee
David Njoku
Cole Kmet
Hayden Hurst
Tier 6
Tier 6 presents the most inconsistencies as well as the most question marks. Both Brevin Jordan and Albert Okwuegbunam have yet to start more than six games in their respective careers, while Engram and Hooper have been extremely inconsistent on a week-to-week basis.
Austin Hooper
Brevin Jordan
Albert Okwuegbunam
Evan Engram
Tier 7
Tier 7 is the bottom tier of the starting tight ends for 2022. These options will not be featured in their offenses but could serve as adequate options in their respective passing games.
Gerald Everett
Ian Thomas
Adam Trautman
Cameron Brate
Ricky Seals Jones
Watch More: NFL Coordinators Discuss How Athletic Tight Ends Are Impacting The NFL
