How early are you willing to select Travis Kelce? He plays a less-valuable position, but he’s definitely got lot of difference-making ability – he’ll outproduce most tight ends by a bunch.

Kelce, in fact, is a rare tight end who’s good enough that his numbers look good even for a top-level wide receiver.

Since the merger in 1970, only 41 times has a tight end finished with numbers that would make him a top-10 wide receiver. Kelce is one of three tight ends who’s done it three years in a row.

All three, oddly, come from the AFC West. Kellen Winslow put up huge numbers for the Chargers from 1980-83, and Todd Christensen piled up a lot of catches for the Raiders five years in a row starting in 1982.

TIGHT ENDS FINISHING WITH TOP-10 WR NUMBERS
YearPlayerRecYardsAvgTDPPRRk
1971Bob Tucker, NYG5979113.44162.28
1971Ted Kwalick, S.F.5266412.85154.610
1972Bob Tucker, NYG5576413.95162.010
1972Rich Caster, NYJ3983321.410182.94
1972Ted Kwalick, S.F.4075118.89170.27
1973Charle Young, Phil.5585415.57184.84
1973Riley Odoms, Den.4362914.67153.210
1973Ted Kwalick, S.F.4772915.55153.69
1974Charle Young, Phil.6369611.13154.48
1974Rich Caster, NYJ3874519.67154.57
1976Dave Casper, Oak.5369113.010182.68
1976Walter White, K.C.4780817.27171.39
1978Dave Casper, Oak.6285213.710207.76
1980Kellen Winslow, S.D.891,29014.59272.02
1981Joe Senser, Min.791,00412.78227.68
1981Kellen Winslow, S.D.881,07512.210255.54
1982Dave Casper, Hou.3657315.96130.28
1982Kellen Winslow, S.D.5472113.46162.13
1982Ozzie Newsome, Cle.4963312.93130.37
1982Todd Christensen, Oak.4251012.14116.410
1983Kellen Winslow, S.D.881,17213.38253.26
1983Ozzie Newsome, Cle.8997010.96222.010
1983Todd Christensen, Oak.921,24713.612288.72
1984Todd Christensen, Oak.801,00712.67222.79
1985Todd Christensen, Oak.8298712.06216.78
1986Todd Christensen, Oak.951,15312.18258.34
1987Mark Bavaro, NYG5586715.88189.78
1993Shannon Sharpe, Den.8199512.39234.58
1994Ben Coates, N.E.961,17412.27255.47
2004Tony Gonzalez, K.C.1021,25812.37270.39
2005Antonio Gates, S.D.891,10112.410259.110
2008Tony Gonzalez, K.C.961,05811.010261.88
2009Dallas Clark, Ind.1001,10611.110271.78
2010Jason Witten, Dall.941,00210.79250.29
2011Jimmy Graham, N.O.991,31013.211296.04
2011Rob Gronkowski, N.E.901,32714.718330.93
2013Jimmy Graham, N.O.861,21514.116303.57
2014Rob Gronkowski, N.E.821,12413.712266.410
2017Travis Kelce, K.C.831,03812.58235.510
2018Travis Kelce, K.C.1031,33613.010296.69
2019Travis Kelce, K.C.971,22912.76256.38

—Ian Allan