It’s common to see NFL power rankings of the league’s top quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. Tight ends may not be as flashy, but they’re just as important. An elite tight end can be the difference between a well-running offense and a predictable one. So, who are the top 10 tight ends in the NFL ahead of 2026?
Travis Kelce is entering what may be his final season in the NFL. After 13 years, he’s had a Hall of Fame-worthy career, and he’s still deserving of a top 10 spot.
While Kelce has undoubtedly slowed down in recent years, he’s been Patrick Mahomes’ favorite weapon. In a struggling 2025 Chiefs offense, he recorded 76 receptions for 851 yards and five touchdowns.
Over the last two seasons, Kelce has recorded 1,674 receiving yards, ranking fourth in the NFL. He’s one of the most reliable weapons a quarterback could ask for. Life without him will certainly bring issues for Kansas City.
When the Colts drafted Tyler Warren 14th overall in 2025, they drafted a monster. At 6’6” and 256 pounds, the Penn State product is a bully on the field, and he showed it in his rookie year.
Warren appeared in all 17 games last season, starting 12 of them. He recorded 76 receptions for 817 yards and four touchdowns. 42 of those catches resulted in a first down for Indy.
Warren has an extremely bright future with the Colts. He excels as a run-blocker, and he has extremely reliable hands. For a team that’s spent most of the last decade in quarterback purgatory, he’s a perfect safety blanket.
Speaking of bright futures, Colston Loveland is well on his way to a great career. The Michigan product was drafted by Chicago just four picks before Warren, and he lived up to that position.
Loveland started his rookie year off slow. In a new system under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, there were bound to be some growing pains. He found his footing mid-season and ended the year with 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns.
Loveland was a weapon for the Bears in the playoffs as well. His 193 receiving yards led all tight ends in the postseason. He’s a perfect fit for Johnson’s offense, and instrumental in quarterback Caleb Williams’ ascent.
Isaiah Likely is partially on this list because of his potential in the NFL. He’s spent his four-year career with the Baltimore Ravens, serving as the backup to Mark Andrews. He’s now in New York with his former head coach, John Harbaugh, as the number one option.
Likely missed three games in 2025 due to a foot injury. While he’s appeared in at least 14 games every year, his numbers show that of a backup. His career year in 2024 saw him record 42 receptions for 477 yards and six touchdowns.
While other tight ends on this list are recording 70+ receptions a year, Likely has seen half of that, with great production. His ability to line up in the slot makes him an even greater threat to defenses. 2026 will determine if he has the makings of a true TE1.
Dalton Kincaid has slowly emerged as one of the best weapons in the Bills’ offense. While his numbers don’t show an elite tight end, his impact with Josh Allen does.
Kincaid appeared in 12 games in 2025, hauling in 39 catches for 571 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. He also averaged 14.6 yards per reception, another career high. 27 of his 39 catches resulted in a first down.
The criticism in Buffalo is that Allen doesn’t have weapons that meet his level of play. Kincaid is the exception to that. With a career catch percentage of 72.6%, he’s Allen’s most consistent weapon on an annual basis.
The Lions’ turn of luck could be attributed to many things. Head coach Dan Campbell changed the culture, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs are premier weapons, and Jared Goff has revived his career. Another key piece of their success is Sam LaPorta.
In three seasons, LaPorta has recorded 186 catches for 2,104 yards and 20 touchdowns. In 2025, he only appeared in nine games due to a back injury. Despite his limited time, he brought in 40 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns.
LaPorta is essential to the Lions’ success. Their offensive woes were on display all season, but showed even more after his injury. A great offense needs a great tight end, and there’s no doubt Detroit has that.
Tucker Kraft is entering his fourth season in the NFL. While he was impressive in his first two years, 2025 was a breakout season for him. He appeared in eight games, recording 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns.
A torn ACL in November sidelined Kraft for the rest of the 2025 season. Similar to LaPorta, the offense sorely missed its elite tight end.
22 of Kraft’s catches resulted in first downs last season. Of his 489 receiving yards, 344 came after the catch. With the Packers losing Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, a healthy Kraft will produce elite numbers in 2026.
Over the last three years, Trey McBride has emerged as an unreal weapon in the NFL. In 2025, he posted career highs in receptions (126), yards (1,239), and touchdowns (11).
McBride has been the lifeblood of the Cardinals’ offense. With Marvin Harrison Jr. struggling to meet his potential, the star tight end is Arizona’s best weapon. Of his 126 receptions, 63 of them resulted in a first down, and he averaged 7.4 receptions per game.
Brock Bowers’ 2025 season was hampered by a PCL sprain and a bone bruise, causing him to miss five games. The Raiders also had the NFL’s worst offense in total yards per game (245.2) and points per game (14.2).
To understand Bowers’ talent, look at his 2024 rookie season. He recorded 112 catches for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. He broke the record for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end, set by Mike Ditka in 1961.
Bowers is an elite tight end and a nightmare for opposing defenses. His versatility allows him to line up in the slot and out wide, and he runs a 4.53-second 40-yard time. Out of all the up-and-comers in the NFL, he may be the best.
Even at 32 years old, George Kittle is the best tight end in the NFL. While injuries have been a concern, that’s unfortunately common in San Francisco. When he’s on the field, there is no one better than 85.
Through his nine-year career, Kittle has been a key reason for the 49ers’ success. He’s versatile, a terrific run blocker, and his on-field consistency is something most head coaches would give anything to have.
While Kittle is in the tail-end of his career, he’s still elite. When healthy, he brings in 1,000+ receiving yards a season, and he has 52 career touchdowns. He’s the gold standard of tight ends in the NFL until someone proves otherwise.
Tight ends aren’t always viewed in the same light as other playmakers. The reliable, safe weapons don’t bring in weekly highlight plays. Despite that, their importance to an offense’s success cannot be overstated. The players in this NFL power ranking are proof of that.
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