George Kittle snubbed from top spot in ESPN tight end rankings
By Peter Panacy
In an ESPN poll of coaches and executives, it was Travis Kelce and not George Kittle who claimed the No. 1 spot.
For the better part of the last six years, the debate surrounding who is the best tight end in the NFL overall has come between two All-Pros, the Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce and the San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle.
And the argument usually goes something like this: Kelce is the better offensive weapon who'll put up bigger numbers on a year-to-year basis, typically, while Kittle is the better all-around tight end, especially when factoring in his blocking prowess.
From that vantage point, ranking the No. 1 tight end any given year comes down to a matter of preference.
According to an ESPN poll of coaches and executives who ranked the best tight ends entering 2024, compiled by insider Jeremy Fowler, the bulk of those polled seemed to prefer the statistics-based argument.
Even though there's a flaw in their most recent data analysis.
ESPN poll says Travis Kelce, not George Kittle is No. 1 tight end
That poll put Kelce in the top spot heading into 2024, whereas Kittle was slated at No. 2. But there are certainly flaws to that conclusion.
Kelce was a Pro Bowler in 2023 but not an All-Pro. Kittle was both.
Kelce failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards last season, marking the first time that has happened since 2015, whereas Kittle posted 1,020 receiving yards last year.
On top of that, the reputation of Kittle being the far superior blocker in contrast to Kelce continued, and Kittle doesn't have the benefit of serving as his team's bona fide top weapon in the passing game, whereas KC's passing offense last season almost exclusively had to go through Kelce because of the lack of other weapons at quarterback Patrick Mahomes' disposal.
Related story: George Kittle tried (and failed) to haze Brock Purdy back in 2022
Kittle had to fight for touches alongside other stars like running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.
Perhaps the voters based their conclusions on the fact Kittle managed just two receptions for 4 yards in the Super Bowl last February against Kelce's Chiefs, while Kelce helped spark Kansas City's comeback to the tune of nine catches for 93 yards.
Maybe there's the whole Taylor Swift thing, too, although we won't go there.
As for the 10 best, here's what Fowler's poll of coaches and executives had to say:
- Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
- George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
- Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
- Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
- T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
- David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
- Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
- Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
Perhaps the polling should have been more like 1A and 1B with regard to Kelce and Kittle, but it's not our call.
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