The tight end position used to be simple. You either had a guy who could block like a tackle, or you had a unicorn who caught passes like a wideout. Now? The lines are so blurred it’s basically a different sport. If you aren't a hybrid threat in today's league, you’re essentially a dinosaur waiting for the ice age.
We just wrapped up a 2025 season that honestly felt like a changing of the guard. For years, you could pen Travis Kelce and George Kittle into the top spots with a Sharpie. But look at the numbers from this past January. The landscape shifted. Hard.
Younger, faster, and—frankly—cheaper options are taking over the nfl top ten tight ends conversation. We’re seeing guys like Trey McBride and Brock Bowers putting up statistics that would make 2010-era receivers jealous. It’s a weird time for the position, but if you’re a fan of explosive offense, it’s the best time.
1. Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals)
McBride didn't just have a good year; he had a "break the game" kind of year. He finished the 2025 campaign with a staggering 126 receptions for 1,239 yards. Those aren't tight end numbers. Those are "All-Pro WR1" numbers.
What’s crazy is how he did it. When Jacoby Brissett took over the huddle in Arizona, he basically decided that throwing to anyone else was a mistake. McBride ended up with 11 touchdowns and the crown for the most PPR fantasy points by a tight end not named Kelce in league history. He is the undisputed king of the hill right now.
2. Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders)
The "rookie" label officially fell off Bowers about three weeks into his career back in '24. By the time the 2025 season hit its stride, he was already a seasoned vet in terms of how defenses had to bracket him.
He followed up his record-breaking 112-catch rookie season with 64 grabs for 680 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2025—and that was despite missing a chunk of time. He’s the most natural separator at the position. If you give him two inches of space, he’s gone.
3. Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons)
He’s back. Finally. After years of fans screaming at their TVs because the Falcons wouldn't throw him the ball, 2025 was the redemption arc. Pitts hauled in 88 catches for 928 yards.
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He didn't quite hit that 1,000-yard milestone he reached as a rookie, but he was the focal point of the Atlanta passing attack. He accounted for over 25% of the team's total receiving yards. When he’s used correctly, he's a nightmare. Seeing him actually utilized in the red zone (5 TDs) was a massive relief for anyone who values common sense in coaching.
4. George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers)
Kittle is 32 now. You can see the wear and tear occasionally, but the "People's Tight End" is still a force of nature. He caught 57 passes for 628 yards and 7 touchdowns this past season.
While the raw yardage is down from his peak, his efficiency remains terrifying. He reached 8,000 career receiving yards faster than almost anyone in history. Plus, he’s still the only guy on this list who will pancaking a defensive end into the dirt on one play and then outrun a safety on the next.
5. Sam LaPorta (Detroit Lions)
The Iowa factory keeps churning them out. LaPorta had a steady 2025, finishing with 40 catches for 489 yards through the first nine games before dealing with some typical NFL attrition.
The thing with LaPorta is reliability. He’s the safety blanket for Jared Goff. He’s already joined the ranks of Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham as the only tight ends to hit 125 catches and 15 touchdowns within their first two seasons. He’s the high-floor king of the nfl top ten tight ends list.
6. Jake Ferguson (Dallas Cowboys)
Ferguson is the "blue-collar" entry here, but his 2025 stats were surprisingly flashy. He caught 82 balls. That is high-volume production.
He only averaged about 7.3 yards per catch, which tells you he’s doing the dirty work underneath, but 8 touchdowns is a massive number. In Dak Prescott’s offense, Ferguson has become the ultimate red-zone weapon. He’s not going to outrun a cornerback, but he will box them out like a power forward.
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7. Dalton Kincaid (Buffalo Bills)
Kincaid is basically a large wide receiver who happens to line up next to the tackle sometimes. In 12 games this past season, he put up 571 yards and 5 touchdowns.
What stands out is his 14.6 yards per catch. That is a massive number for a tight end. He’s the vertical threat in Buffalo’s offense. When Josh Allen needs a chunk play, he isn't always looking for a wideout; he’s looking for #86 streaking down the seam.
8. Mark Andrews (Baltimore Ravens)
It was a weird, rocky year for Andrews. He’s 30 now and the Ravens offense went through some serious growing pains in 2025, finishing 8-9.
Andrews had a "down" year by his standards: 48 catches for 422 yards. A lot of that was due to the rise of Isaiah Likely, who basically ate into Andrews' targets all season. Still, the Ravens gave him a three-year extension in December. They know he’s the heart of that passing game, even if the stats didn't pop this time around.
9. Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs)
This is the part that hurts to write. Kelce is no longer the automatic #1. He’s 36. The Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in forever, and Kelce’s future is a giant question mark.
He’s entering free agency (or retirement) in 2026. Rob Gronkowski is already on record saying Kelce might leave KC to ring-chase elsewhere. Even in a "bad" year, he’s a top ten talent because of his brain. He finds zones that don't exist. But the physical dominance? That’s fading.
10. David Njoku (Cleveland Browns)
Njoku is pure athleticism. He’s been in the league nine years, which is wild to think about, but he’s still only 29.
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His 2025 season was a bit hampered by the quarterback carousel in Cleveland, but he still managed 4 touchdowns and nearly 300 yards in limited action. When the Browns actually get him the ball in space, he’s one of the hardest players in the league to bring down.
What Most People Get Wrong
Everyone looks at yards. Yards are great for fantasy, but they don't tell the whole story of the nfl top ten tight ends.
Take a guy like Tucker Kraft in Green Bay or Cole Kmet in Chicago. They might not have the 1,200-yard seasons, but their impact on the run game is why their teams win. We’re moving into an era where "Specialists" are becoming more common. You have "F" tight ends who are basically slot receivers, and "Y" tight ends who are sixth offensive linemen.
Why the 2026 Draft Matters
If you think this list is set in stone, look at the college ranks. Tyler Warren out of Penn State just put up a historic season, finishing 7th in Heisman voting. Colston Loveland from Michigan is another name that’s going to be in the NFL top ten conversation by this time next year.
The athleticism at the position is evolving faster than defenses can keep up with. We’re seeing 6'5" guys who run 4.5s and have 40-inch verticals. It's not fair.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
- Watch the Kelce Landing Spot: If he doesn't retire, his destination changes the entire AFC landscape. A Kelce on the Bengals or Ravens (imagine that) is a terrifying prospect.
- Invest in the "Year 3" Jump: Keep a close eye on Dalton Kincaid and Sam LaPorta. Year three is traditionally when tight ends fully master the nuance of NFL coverage.
- The Cardinals' Volume: Trey McBride is the new Travis Kelce in terms of target share. Until Arizona signs a true Alpha WR1, McBride will continue to lead the league in targets.
- Health is Everything: Guys like Mark Andrews and George Kittle are still elite, but their availability is the only thing keeping the younger guys ahead of them on these lists.
The age of the stationary, blocking-first tight end is over. If you can't run a deep crosser and beat a nickel corner, you're just a tackle with a cool number.
Next Steps for Your Roster
If you’re building a team or just tracking the greats, prioritize versatility. Look for the guys who stay on the field for 90% of snaps. A tight end who has to come off the field on third down because he can't pass protect—or on first down because he can't block—will never be elite. The future belongs to the hybrids.
Check the injury reports as we head into the 2026 spring camps. The recovery of guys like Dalton Kincaid and the off-season conditioning of veterans like Kittle will dictate who owns the top of this list by next September. Tight end is the most difficult position to learn in pro sports besides quarterback; give the young guys time, and they’ll eventually break the league.