Highest-graded tight ends from the 2023 NFL season: George Kittle paces the group

• George Kittle put together a standout 2023 campaign: He recorded 29 gains of 15-plus yards (tied for first) and led all tight ends in deep receiving yards (232).

• Travis Kelce joins Kittle with an 80.0-plus grade: He now has nine consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and six consecutive seasons with over 100 catches.

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Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

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Before we go full steam ahead into free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft, we’re taking one last look at the top players in the NFL at each position.

Here were the top 20 tight ends in the NFL by overall PFF grade in 2023.

Click below to view other positions:

QB | RB | WR

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1. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers: 87.7

Few tight ends were able to stretch the field like Kittle in 2023. He recorded 29 gains of 15-plus yards (tied for first) and led all tight ends in deep receiving yards (232). Kittle averaged 9.9 depth yards per target, tallied 7.3 yards after the catch per reception and gained 279 yards after contact.

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2. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: 82.6

Kelce showed that he still had plenty of juice in his age-34 season. Not only was he the Chiefs' leading receiver in 2023, but he also led all tight ends in targets, catches, yards and first downs. Kelce tied George Kittle in explosive gains (29), forced 20 missed tackles and was the NFL's most-targeted tight end in the red zone (26). He now has nine consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and six consecutive seasons with over 100 catches.

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3. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens: 78.8

Andrews missed the final six games of the regular season and still finished among the top three Ravens in targets, catches, yards and touchdowns. Andrews generated the second-highest passer rating when targeted (135.1) among tight ends in 2023, only trailing his teammate Isaiah Likely (141.2).

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4. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings: 78.8

Hockenson was on pace for his second consecutive 1,000-yard season before tearing his ACL in Week 16. He led the Vikings in catches and finished second on the team in yards and first downs. Hockenson led all tight ends in third- and fourth-down yards (351) and moved the chains 21 times (third most).

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5. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions: 77.0

Sam LaPorta put the league on notice in his rookie season. He was the second-most-targeted tight end in 2023 and the only one to record 10 or more touchdown catches. Nine of his touchdowns came in the red zone, while six came off play-action passes (first).

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6. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals: 76.3

McBride led the Cardinals with 81 catches for 825 yards and recorded 19 gains of 15-plus yards. He led all tight ends in yards per route run (2.03) and notched 383 yards off play-action passes (first).

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7. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints: 75.3

Hill caught 33 of his 39 targets for 291 yards in 2023 — all career highs. Nearly all of his yardage came on early downs (264), and 21 of his catches came within nine yards of the line of scrimmage.

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8. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys: 74.5

Ferguson established himself as a weapon for the Cowboys in 2023, leading all tight ends in red-zone yards (130) while ranking in the top five in first downs and touchdowns.

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9. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears: 73.7

Kmet set career highs in catches and yards while recording his third consecutive season with 500-plus receiving yards. He finished third among tight ends in deep yards (149) and gained 580 yards on early downs.

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10. Tanner Hudson, Cincinnati Bengals: 73.0

Hudson’s usage spiked in his first year in Cincinnati (28 career targets in first three seasons). He recorded six catches of 15-plus yards and caught his first career touchdown in Week 14. Most of his production came in the second half of the season. From Week 11 on, he caught 25 passes on 31 targets for 226 yards.

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11. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars: 71.6

Engram recorded his first career 100-catch season and was the only Jaguar to do so in 2023. He ranked in the top five in first downs and missed tackles forced (16) while recording 14 gains of 15-plus yards. Engram led all tight ends in short-area production (80 catches, 690 yards) and second-half production (58 catches, 519 yards).

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12. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans: 71.5

Schultz recorded his fourth consecutive season with at least 60 catches and 600 receiving yards. He stretched the field for Texans, recording 392 yards on targets beyond 10 yards from the line of scrimmage (fifth most). He finished in the top 10 in missed tackles forced (13) and gains of 15-plus yards (16).

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13. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles: 71.0

Goedert benefited greatly from play action in 2023. He finished in the top three in first downs (17) and explosive gains (10) while generating a 112.1 passer rating. Health will be something to monitor, as Goedert missed eight games over the past two seasons due to injuries.

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14. Darren Waller, New York Giants: 69.4

Injuries have cost Waller 23 games over the past three seasons, including four in 2023. He still finished second on the team in catches, yards and explosive gains (12). Most of Waller’s yardage came from the short area of the field (328), and he led the Giants with 15 conversions on third and fourth downs.

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15. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots: 69.3

Henry was New England’s second leading receiver in 2023, one of three Patriots to record more than 400 yards receiving. He paced the team in target rating (105.5) and third- and fourth-down conversions (11).

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16. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills: 68.8

Kincaid came into form during the second half of the season. From Week 7 on, he led the Bills with 659 receiving yards while ranking second in catches (64) and first downs (30) during that span.

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17. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns: 68.2

Njoku posted career marks across the board while leading the Browns in targets, catches and touchdowns. He led all tight ends in missed tackles forced (23) and explosive gains (24) and ranked second in yardage gained on third and fourth downs (336) and play action (368).

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18. Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers: 68.1

Musgrave missed four games late in the season with a lacerated kidney. He still finished second among all tight ends with 164 deep receiving yards and ranked seventh in passer rating when targeted (112.5). Most of his yardage came in the second half of games (289).

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19. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: 68.1

Pitts rebounded from an injury-plagued 2022 season (28 catches, 356 yards) but is still looking to return to his rookie form (1,026). He set a career high in touchdown catches (three) while gaining 453 yards from passes targeted 10-plus yards downfield (third most).

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20. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers: 65.8

Freiermuth missed four games with a hamstring injury early in the season and returned in Week 11. Most of his production came afterward, as he closed the season with 29 catches for 331 yards and 16 first downs.