2024 Draft Guide: TE Tier

By Mike Johnson >>

Tier 1 – “The Studs”

This TE’s group is supremely talented and should be the primary receiving option in explosive offensive environments. 

• Travis Kelce, KC
  • Death. Taxes. Travis Kelce. Kelce has been the TE1 or TE2 every year since 2017. He is nearing the end of his career, but he was a menace in the playoffs last season and signed a contract extension this summer.
• Sam LaPorta, DET
  • Last season’s TE1 in his rookie season, LaPorta is situated to repeat as a premium option. He has been dealing with a hamstring injury this summer, which bears monitoring.
• Trey McBride, ARI
  • McBride showed he is a top-end talent at the TE position last season. Now, he has much more talent as target competition but a vastly improved offensive environment.
• Mark Andrews, BAL
  • Andrews was knocked out for the season early in his Week 11 game. Prior to that, he was third among all tight ends in fantasy points. The Ravens are an elite offense, and Andrews is arguably their best pass catcher.

Tier 2 – “It Wouldn’t Shock You…”

This tier consists of talented tight ends on good-to-great offenses who should be critical parts of their team’s game plans. It wouldn’t be shocking for any of these guys to emerge from this season as a top-3 tight end – but it will take a bit more going their way than the first group.

• Kyle Pitts, ATL
  • After dealing with abysmal QB play and play-calling to start his career, this is the year we find out who Pitts really is. Kirk Cousins has made tight ends shine throughout his career.
• George Kittle, SF
  • Kittle has been a top-5 tight end in five of the last six seasons and plays on one of the league’s top offenses. If Brandon Aiyuk ends up getting traded, Kittle would join that top group.
• Dalton Kincaid, BUF
  • The opportunity is there for the 2023 first-round pick to become the featured receiving target for Josh Allen.
• Evan Engram, JAX
  • Engram has consecutive top-5 seasons among tight ends and an elite rapport with Trevor Lawrence.

Tier 3 – “Weekly TE1 Upside”