Every year a couple of tight ends work their way into the first couple rounds of the draft. We used to see guys like Travis Kelce and George Kittle being taken in the early rounds of drafts. The names have changed, but is the production staying the same? How has the position evolved, and are the young guys we’re seeing take over the position now like Brock Bowers and Trey McBride retaining the value that was once had by the last generation of tight end?
Have Tight Ends Earned Their Early Draft Price?
In 2025, Trey McBride was the TE1 on the season scoring an incredible 315.9 fantasy points in 17 games. This was the best TE season we’ve seen since Travis Kelce in 2022. We have only seen a TE score more than 300 points six times, so you could argue that this feat is pretty rare. At least it used to be. Since 2020 the top tight end has scored over 300 points 4 times in those 6 seasons. In the 2010’s this only happened twice when Jimmy Graham scored 303.5 in 2013 and Gronk scored 330.9 setting the all time fantasy points record for a tight end in 2011 when he scored 17 touchdowns. The usage of the tight end in the league has been growing. This increase that we’re seeing in the 2020’s doesn’t seem to be going away.
Last year Trey McBride had 125 catches on 169 targets. That was the second highest catch total in the league behind only Puka Nacua, and the third most targets among pass catchers trailing only Ja’Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown. If the Cardinals and McBride can put together another season like 2025, he’s certainly earned an early second round pick. Possibly a late first.
Brock Bowers is another name coming up in these discussions, and his draft price follows suit. Brock Bowers entered the league scoring 262.7 fantasy points as a rookie. In 2024 Bowers saw 154 targets and 112 catches for almost 1200 yard and 5 touchdowns. He seemed to be on a slightly slower pace in 2025 while only playing 12 games. I attribute this slower pace to the poor quarterback play from Geno Smith and a mid season trade removing Jakobi Meyers from the offense, opposing defenses locked in on stopping Bowers. Heading into 2026, Bowers should be healthy and with Kirk Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza in town throwing him the ball, his fantasy production should improve.