Who are the NFL's best tight ends? Execs, coaches and scouts help rank 2023's top 10 (2024)

NFL training camps are fast approaching, which means it is again time for the league's true insiders to have their say. As part of ESPN's 2023 NFL season preview, we surveyed league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This is the fourth edition of these rankings, and as usual, several players have moved up or fallen off last year's lists.

By way of refresher, here's how our process works: Voters give us their best 10 players at a position, then we compile the results and rank candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average, along with dozens of interviews, research and film study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, more than 80 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. We had several ties, so we broke them with the help of additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed.

Each section includes quotes and nuggets from the voters on every ranked player -- even the honorable mentions. The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2023. This is not a five-year projection or a career achievement award. Who are the best players today? Check out who makes the list at every position on ESPN+.

We will roll out a position per day over 11 days. The schedule: Off-ball linebackers (7/8), defensive tackles (7/9), edge rushers (7/10), cornerbacks (7/11), safeties (7/12), tight ends (7/13), running backs (7/14), offensive tackles (7/15), guards and centers (7/16), quarterbacks (7/17) and wide receivers (7/18).

For the past three years, the tight end conversation started with one simple question: Travis Kelce or George Kittle?

And from 2020 to 2022, the voting for the best tight end was incredibly close. Kelce was the Ferrari route runner with plenty of tread on the tires. Kittle was the off-road Hummer with hybrid sensibilities.

This year's voting was not at all close, marking a rare style of victory for this exercise: A 33-year-old at a skill position dominating the process.

Let's look at some of the game's top tight ends as ranked by execs, coaches, scouts and players around the NFL. The class includes mostly familiar faces, and a few new ones who made the cut.

1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 3
Age: 33 | Last year's ranking: 2

The Kelce-Kittle gap has now widened, and then some: Kelce dominated the 2023 process with more than 80% of the first-place votes.

Reasons to appreciate his game aren't hard to find: Kelce's 9,482 receiving yards since the start of the 2015 season are the most in the NFL regardless of position. His streak of seven straight 1,000-yard seasons is the longest in NFL history for a tight end.

And he's at his best in the playoffs, ranking second in receiving yards (1,548) and receiving touchdowns (16) in postseason history, trailing only Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.

"You got to see a different element of his game last year as the focal point of the offense with Tyreek Hill gone, with an appreciation and respect for what he does," an AFC personnel evaluator said. "He can take over a game."

A veteran NFL scout added: "He has that Steph Curry thing, like, how long can be he an All-Pro? He ages well because his game is not predicated on speed."

2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 4
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 1

Voters still love Kittle's combination of pass-catching prowess and elite blocking.

Despite playing with three different quarterbacks in 2022, he produced 11 receiving touchdowns, tied for third in the league.

And he's still one of the most dangerous with the ball in open space. Kittle's 7.2 yards-after-catch average leads all tight ends since 2017.

"So much inconsistency with the quarterback and durability issues have held him back a bit, but he's still top-notch," said a NFL personnel man, citing Kittle's 13 missed games since 2020. "He's the most explosive athlete at the position, probably the best at creating separation and yards after the catch."

3. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 4

Andrews is one of the most well-rounded skill players in the league and produces when the Ravens need him most. He has 25 red-zone receiving touchdowns over the past four years, tied with Mike Evans for fifth in the NFL.

His blocking is elite, too, with Andrews ranking first in run-block win rate (86%) out of 115 qualifying tight ends last year.

"Major matchup issue with his size, speed, athleticism and route-running ability," an NFL scouting director said. "Huge catch radius. A really easy guy to throw it to. Always the primary guy for the defense."

Though Andrews' production dropped from 6.3 catches per game in 2021 to 4.9 last year, the Ravens believe injuries at wide receiver loomed large there; defenses sent extra defenders Andrews' way.

4. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 7
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 6

Goedert has long been one of the game's most underrated tight ends, and his work with Jalen Hurts last year brings him closer to the forefront.

Last season, Goedert led all tight ends in yards after catch per reception (7.8). Hurts posted a 93 QBR with 10 yards per attempt when targeting Goedert, who is also known for his blocking prowess.

"Probably the most well-rounded of all the tight ends," an AFC scout said. "He's probably one of few guys who ranks highly in every phase -- size, athleticism, speed and blocking make him rare."

An NFC exec said: "He has developed into a real mismatch in the passing game. It's been fun to watch how [the Eagles] have used him the last two years."

5. Darren Waller, New York Giants

Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: 9
Age: 30 | Last year's ranking: 3

Waller's on-field presence is undisputed. He's elite when he's out there. But missing 14 games over the past two years has hurt his ranking.

Yet he still ranks third in receptions (280) and receiving yards (3,394) among tight ends since 2019.

Waller can take over a game at any point. His 12 games with 100 receiving yards since 2019 trails only Kelce among tight ends. The Giants acquired him from Las Vegas in March.

"It's hard to knock him for a bad situation with the QB transition in Las Vegas and injuries," an NFC exec said. "He's still behind just Kelce as pass-catcher."

One AFC executive said Waller can be a high-level player for the Giants because "he can still run," but pointed out that his two best seasons (2019 and 2020) came when Las Vegas had minimal targets around him and losing records. He still has something to prove in the eyes of some.

6. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 7

Hockenson is a cornerstone player for Minnesota's offense.

After the Vikings executed the rare in-division trade with Detroit to acquire Hockenson, the tight end rewarded the team with 62 receptions for 583 yards from Weeks 8 to 18. Both were top-two finishes among tight ends, and Hockenson finished the year with career highs in receptions (86) and receiving yards (914).

"He's a good player but nothing dynamic to him in the pass game and average in the run game," an NFC exec said. "He's the classic case of a player that does everything well but nothing exceptional."

A high-ranking NFL official added: "Really dynamic route runner with speed, size, quickness -- attacks football in the air and has some better yards after the catch than given credit for. Decent blocker, three-down-impact player."

7. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 22 | Last year's ranking: 4

Similar to Waller, injuries stunted Pitts' momentum.

After a 1,026-yard season -- the second most by a rookie tight end in NFL history -- Pitts missed seven games of his sophom*ore campaign and produced 28 catches for 356 yards and two scores in the 10 games he played.

One caveat: 26% of the passes thrown his way last season were considered off-target. More catchable passes thrown his way should help him return to form.

"I feel bad for Pitts. It's not his fault he doesn't get the ball," an AFC scout said.

The promise of Pitts, an all-world talent, is still very much intact. And it would be no surprise if he's top-five or higher next year.

"Big, athletic tight end with elite speed," an NFC coordinator said. "He's the biggest matchup concern when you play them [the Falcons]. Not much of a blocker but can help in that area."

8. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars

Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: Unranked

Evaluators stuck with Engram despite lean years in New York, placing him in 2021's top 10 amid pedestrian production.

Fast-forward and he is deservedly back among the best after a banner year in Jacksonville.

Engram ranked among the top four in tight ends in receptions (73), receiving yards (766) and yards after catch (475). He was particularly good late in the year, during Jacksonville's playoff push, ranking third among all NFL players in yards after catch (294).

"He can create mismatches from various alignments, and he can win against various types of defensive personnel -- linebacker, corner, safety," a high-ranking NFL official said. "Underrated blocker."

9. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

Highest ranking: 6 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention

The Steelers' journey to replace Heath Miller at tight end has been a long one. Since Miller's retirement in 2015, the Steelers started the likes of Ladarius Green, Jesse James, Vance McDonald and Eric Ebron.

Freiermuth is the long-term solution, becoming the first player in franchise history to record 60 receptions in each of his first two seasons.

"The guy is just a football player -- savvy route runner, good hands, will mix it up as a blocker," an NFL coordinator said.

All nine of Freiermuth's touchdowns have come in the red zone, tying for the fifth most among tight ends in that area over the past two seasons.

"He's solid -- probably gets more love than he should because he plays for the Steelers and is local [Penn State] and has a Heath-ish aura about him," a veteran AFC scout said.

10. Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills

Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 9

Knox has graduated from role player in his first two years to Pro Bowl tight end and two-time recipient of a ranking in our top-10 series.

His 15 touchdown receptions over the past two seasons rank third among tight ends, behind Kelce (21) and Kittle (17).

"Becoming more consistent as a pass-catcher and overall feel for the game," an AFC executive said. "Has improved each year."

Buffalo's tight end plans have come into focus with the drafting of first-rounder Dalton Kincaid. The Bills used 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) on 3.6% of their offensive snaps last season, the lowest mark in the league. That should change this year, with Knox and Kincaid forming a potent duo.

Honorable mentions

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans: "A lot like [Dallas] Goedert, just a little smaller, but does everything really well," an AFC scout said. "Should catch 50 to 60 balls again." Schultz has collected 2,122 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns across his five-year NFL career. An NFC exec added: "Very natural. The game makes sense to him."

David Njoku, Cleveland Browns: Njoku posted some of the best numbers of his career last season. He finished with 4 touchdowns, 628 receiving yards and 58 receptions. "Rare blend of speed, power and strength," an NFC offensive coach said. "A lot of upside. Has never quite put it all together but every offense would love a guy like that, and he's perfect for what Cleveland does."

Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks: Fant stepped up in a big way during his first season with the Seahawks. He led Seattle's tight end room in yards (486), touchdowns (four) and yards after catch (221). "He's big and can run, works hard at his deficiencies, good with the ball, but very little feel for the game," an NFL coordinator said. "Productive and good, just not dynamic."

Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams: Higbee played in all 17 games last season -- a significant feat for a player who had missed time with nagging injuries in each of the previous three seasons -- collecting 620 yards and three touchdowns. "Great hands. Not fast but has a lot of savvy, feel, and is a fluid player, just keeps getting hurt," an AFC scout said.

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots: Henry led all Patriots tight ends in yards (509) and yards after catch (203). "Not much has changed with his game -- he's still a big, trusted target with good hands," an AFC coordinator said. "He's just been in a so-so offense the last two years."

Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears: Kmet led the Bears in receiving yards (544), touchdowns (7) and receptions (50). "Big as hell, prototype Y body," an NFC executive said. "Might be most competitive player on that team. High-end blocking ability but can also get adequate separation as a receiver with an excellent catch radius. Hard to bring down."

Others receiving votes: Mike Gesicki (New England Patriots), Gerald Everett (Los Angeles Chargers), Zach Ertz (Arizona Cardinals), Logan Thomas (Washington Commanders), Juwan Johnson (New Orleans Saints), Josh Oliver (Minnesota Vikings)