Our 4th ranked unit in our Tight End Confidential series boast a lot of young talent at the position. The Minnesota Vikings have players who can be game changers in the run and pass game, especially with a conservative head coach and a lights out defense.
Kyle Rudolph is a very talented tight end from Notre Dame who was slowed in previous seasons by injury. Last season was his first full season since 2012 and he responded with 49 receptions for 495 yards and five touchdowns, in an extremely conservative offense. As head coach Mike Zimmer becomes more secure with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, hopefully the defensive-minded coach will loosen the reigns on Bridgewater. That will result in an even better season for Rudolph, who at 26 years old, is just entering into the prime seasons of his career. Rudolph is one of the rare starting tight ends who is effective as a blocker and pass receiver, which is why he is so dangerous in the play-action passing game. Rudolph has Gronkowski-like ability, but has not had the opportunity to have the type of production that warrants that comparison.
Rudolph is backed up by another talented, and complete tight end, in Rhett Ellison. At 27 years old, Ellison and Rudolph have had the opportunity to grow together. They both have been developed with the idea of being intricate parts of the Vikings offense, which makes them dangerous in two tight formations. Ellison make be even a little more bare knuckles than Rudolph. That will need to be the case when they are asked to stay in and help an offensive line that struggled in pass protection. Ellison is just as valuable as Rudolph because he possesses starting ability.
The third end in this group is MyCole Pruitt. At 6’2” 250, Pruitt is a guy who brings a different dynamic to the table. He has the ideal size and athleticism of an H-back. He can line up in the backfield and split out wide. While his blocking still needs to improve to NFL caliber, it isn’t horrible. Pruitt has really good hands and can be a change of pace guy at the position and helps the Vikings stretch the field down the middle even more.
The three guys make this group complete and the offense makes it very hard to gameplan for them. The result is a really valuable unit to an offense that will need a counter to the run game led by Adrian Peterson. That’s what makes them so important and really high on this list
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Marcus Mariota (8th):
Teddy Bridgewater (7th):
Blake Bortles (6th):
Jameis Winston (5th):
Derek Carr (4th):
Andrew Luck (3rd):
Cam Newton (2nd):
Russell Wilson (1st):
It’s not like Witten’s production has waned! He has obviously slowed a bit over the years, but his style of play as a physical pass receiver, who is an effective run blocker, has allowed him to stay on the field regardless of the down and formation. He is valuable inline but also a match-up problem in the slot and split out wide; and the Cowboys utilize all of his talents. Last season he started another 16 games, had over 70 receptions and 700 yards despite dealing with multiple subpar quarterbacks after losing Tony Romo to injury. He will be counted on once again this season to be that dangerous threat in the middle, and with a healthy Romo, he could see his numbers increase.
While Gates production was great considering his availability, the availability is still a concern for San Diego. When Ladarius Green, the original heir apparent to Gates, left for Pittsburgh in free agency, it was important for the Chargers to replace him with another quality tight end. So they used a 2nd round pick in this season’s draft to take Arkansas Razorback tight end, Hunter Henry. Henry had a great career in Arkansas and played in a Pro-style system. He is a guy who is valuable as a blocker and as a pass catcher, and will serve as an immediate impact in that #2 role. Henry will be an upgrade over gates in the run game immediately, which will also facilitate his use in the pass game, especially as a play-action weapon.
Philly has two tight ends that are perfect for any offense. Both Brent Celek and Zach Ertz are guys who can block well enough, and they are dangerous in the pass game. Most teams, including teams on this countdown, don’t have two true tight ends and that is what makes this duo special.
Ebron is essentially a wide receiver playing tight end. As a receiver, he is definitely a threat and a defensive nightmare. His speed makes him an option to take the top off a defense, and his big frame allows him to work intermediately. He’s too fast for safeties and linebackers, and far too big for corners. The crazy part is that he’s going into his third season in the NFL and he is only 23 years old. If you put that into perspective, his teammate Pettigrew was 24 when he broke into the league. Last season, Ebron was fourth on the team in receiving behind Johnson, Golden Tate, and Theo Riddick. He still managed almost 50 receptions over 500 yards and 5 touchdowns. As he continues to grow as a blocker, it will only make him more valuable and allow him to see more time on the field.
The Baltimore Ravens signed 35-year-old Benjamin Watson this offseason. The 12-year vet had a resurgent season in 2015 after spending the previous two seasons as the backup to Jimmy Graham in New Orleans. When Graham was traded to Seattle in the offseason, that opened the door for Watson to take a starting role in the Saints passing offense. He responded with his best season ever; 74 receptions, 825 yards, and six touchdowns later, Watson was sought after on the free agent market and chose to go to another team that values the tight end position in the Baltimore Ravens. He will bring his veteran leadership to a tight end group that was very young last season.