Trey McBride was the first tight end selected, the only one drafted in the first two rounds. But he went to Arizona, where the team just gave Zach Ertz a new three-year contract, so at best he'll be the 2nd option at the position there this season. But rookie tight ends making an impact are rare anyway.
Kyle Pitts went over 1,000 yards a year ago, but that's the exception rather than the rule. Since 2000, only seven rookie tight ends have ranked in the top 12 at the position in PPR scoring. Only 44 have ranked in the top 25 (and most of those aren't even starters in typical leagues).
TOP-25 ROOKIE TIGHT ENDS (PPR), 2000-PRESENT | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Tgt | No | Yds | TD | Rk |
2002 | Jeremy Shockey, NYG | 128 | 74 | 894 | 2 | 3 |
2017 | Evan Engram, NYG | 115 | 64 | 722 | 6 | 5 |
2021 | Kyle Pitts, Atl. | 110 | 68 | 1026 | 1 | 6 |
2008 | John Carlson, Sea. | 80 | 55 | 627 | 5 | 7 |
2002 | Randy McMichael, Mia. | 68 | 39 | 485 | 4 | 9 |
2010 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 59 | 42 | 546 | 10 | 11 |
2004 | Chris Cooley, Was. | 63 | 37 | 314 | 6 | 12 |
2021 | Pat Freiermuth, Pitt. | 79 | 60 | 497 | 7 | 13 |
2013 | Tim Wright, T.B. | 76 | 54 | 571 | 5 | 13 |
2010 | Aaron Hernandez, N.E. | 64 | 45 | 563 | 6 | 14 |
2008 | Dustin Keller, NYJ | 78 | 48 | 535 | 3 | 14 |
2006 | Owen Daniels, Hou. | 51 | 34 | 352 | 5 | 14 |
2005 | Heath Miller, Pitt. | 52 | 39 | 459 | 6 | 14 |
2019 | Noah Fant, Den. | 66 | 40 | 562 | 3 | 15 |
2001 | Eric Johnson, S.F. | 64 | 40 | 362 | 3 | 15 |
2018 | Chris Herndon, NYJ | 56 | 39 | 502 | 4 | 16 |
2010 | Jermaine Gresham, Cin. | 83 | 52 | 471 | 4 | 16 |
2007 | Zach Miller (ASU), Oak. | 68 | 44 | 444 | 3 | 16 |
2018 | Mark Andrews, Balt. | 50 | 34 | 552 | 3 | 17 |
2010 | Tony Moeaki, K.C. | 73 | 47 | 556 | 3 | 17 |
2016 | Hunter Henry, S.D. | 53 | 36 | 478 | 8 | 18 |
2002 | Doug Jolley, Oak. | 37 | 32 | 409 | 2 | 18 |
2017 | George Kittle, S.F. | 63 | 43 | 515 | 2 | 19 |
2005 | Alex Smith, T.B. | 61 | 41 | 367 | 2 | 19 |
2000 | Bubba Franks, G.B. | 55 | 34 | 363 | 1 | 19 |
2018 | Dallas Goedert, Phil. | 44 | 33 | 334 | 4 | 20 |
2017 | O.J. Howard, T.B. | 39 | 26 | 432 | 6 | 20 |
2003 | Jason Witten, Dall. | 54 | 35 | 347 | 1 | 20 |
2003 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 42 | 24 | 389 | 2 | 21 |
2001 | Alge Crumpler, Atl. | 41 | 25 | 330 | 3 | 21 |
2013 | Jordan Reed, Was. | 59 | 45 | 499 | 3 | 22 |
2007 | Greg Olsen, Chi. | 66 | 39 | 391 | 2 | 22 |
2005 | Bo Scaife, Ten. | 56 | 37 | 273 | 2 | 22 |
2001 | Boo Williams, N.O. | 42 | 20 | 202 | 3 | 22 |
2013 | Zach Ertz, Phil. | 57 | 36 | 469 | 4 | 23 |
2002 | Jerramy Stevens, Sea. | 42 | 26 | 252 | 3 | 23 |
2000 | Aaron Shea, Cle. | 51 | 30 | 302 | 2 | 23 |
2018 | Ian Thomas, Car. | 49 | 36 | 333 | 2 | 24 |
2017 | David Njoku, Cle. | 60 | 32 | 386 | 4 | 24 |
2014 | Jace Amaro, NYJ | 53 | 38 | 345 | 2 | 24 |
2013 | Mychal Rivera, Oak. | 60 | 38 | 407 | 4 | 24 |
2003 | Dallas Clark, Ind. | 42 | 29 | 340 | 1 | 24 |
2015 | Will Tye, NYG | 62 | 42 | 464 | 3 | 25 |
2012 | Dwayne Allen, Ind. | 66 | 45 | 521 | 3 | 25 |
Pitts of course finished 6th last year, and Steelers rookie Pat Freiermuth finished just outside the top 12. So maybe McBride, or Colts rookie Jelani Woods (the Colts like to throw to the position in their offense) or Bronco Greg Dulcich (with just Albert Okwuegbunam ahead of him) surprise. But not worth investing in too heavily. Odds are against a rookie year impact.
--Andy Richardson