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.
So yes, the younger generation has been productive to start their careers, and with the rise of Colston Loveland, Tyler Warren, and Harold Fannin, the options for high end pass catching tight ends, seems to be increasing. The previous generation may be getting older, but have they lost their production, and how are they being drafted?
How Have the Older Tight Ends Aged?
While Travis Kelce is in his mid to late thirties, his production has dropped, but is he still able to make an impact? In 2022 Travis Kelce finished as the TE1 and scored 316.3 fantasy points and in the subsequent years he has hasn’t scored more than 220. In the offseason leading to 2023 a lot changed for Kelce and the Chiefs. Kelce stopped training with his longtime speed and agility coach Tony Villani, and the Chiefs lost Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy. After that season we saw a decrease of over 100 fantasy points, and Kelce went from TE1 to TE3 and then TE5 in 2024. Heading into 2025, Kelce and Villani reunited and Kelce finished as TE3 on the season scoring just below 200 fantasy points. Heading into 2026, the Chiefs offense should see improvements with the return of Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Kelce should be a serviceable tight end in fantasy in the 2026 season.
George Kittle has also gotten older, and while he has never finished as the TE1 in a season, consistent years at TE2 through TE5 have kept his name at the top of the position category for almost a decade. Kittle has dealt with his share of injuries, but his production when he is on the field keeps him at the top of these conversations. Since 2024, in games where Kittle sees 5 targets or more, he has scored 18.1 fantasy points per contest. This is unquestionably elite production. If Kittle can see 15 games with 5 targets per game and keep this average up, he can still see over 270 fantasy points.
After the 2023 season T.J. Hockenson went quiet. With finishes as TE34 and TE26 you might think his career is coming to a sharp decline, but I think the Iowa product might not be done quite yet. Late in the 2023 season Hockenson tore his ACL and MCL in his right knee. After a slow return in 2024, and struggling with JJ McCarthy at QB in 2025, Hockenson is a prime target for a resurgence with the way presumed Vikings starting QB Kyler Murray has used Trey McBride in the last few years. With a round 14 draft price heading into the 2026 season, Hockenson might be able to return to his 200+ point form for an extremely cheap price.
While these tight ends may be getting older, the drop in production has been from elite to very good in many cases. There are still good fantasy seasons to be had from these older players. How many more? We’ll have to wait and see.
How Should You Draft Tight Ends in 2026?
Getting a guy like Trey McBride or Brock Bowers, or even Colston Loveland can give you incredible upside at the position and a locked in starter each week. If we see another 300 point season from some of these early picks, then it’s probably worth the early draft capital, but if the production doesn’t match, and your second or third round pick only gets you 175 points, you’ll be kicking yourself in week 13 if you’re on the verge of the playoffs. With the poor outlook for the Raiders and the Cardinals, I have a hard time seeing Bowers and McBride returning on the early investment. I’d rather secure my running back or wide receiver positions with this early capital and take a couple of guys later in the draft like pairing Travis Kelce with Isaiah Likely.
Looking at the other available options in those draft positions, would you rather have Brock Bowers and Ricky Pearsall/Jakobi Meyers, or A.J. Brown and George Kittle? Give me Brown and Kittle every time. A guy like Ricky Pearsall or Jakobi Meyers won’t see my starting lineup, unless I have significant injuries, in which case, if I’m starting Pearsall or Meyers I’m probably not making the playoffs. But I’m happy to start a guy like George Kittle in my tight end spot every week knowing that if he can see 5 targets I can safely expect to see 12+ points. The value of your picks is so important in the draft.
Drafting tight end early is a risky game. If he gets you around 300 points in the season, it’s worth the investment. But for the price of a second round pick, and with options like Tucker Kraft, George Kittle, and Travis Kelce available later in the draft, I’ll let my league mates spend on tight end early.
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