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NFL Rankings: 10 best tight ends in the league

By Brad Rowland

New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) dunks over the goal post following a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during a preseason game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) dunks over the goal post following a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during a preseason game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) celebrates a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of the 2013 NFC wild card playoff football game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) celebrates a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of the 2013 NFC wild card playoff football game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

8) Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Ertz is the least proven player on this list, but he also possesses some of the greatest upside, even when it comes to his sophomore campaign in 2014. As a rookie who was splitting time with Brent Celek in 2013, Ertz piled up 469 yards and four touchdowns, and with a full year to learn the NFL game, that production could legitimately double in his follow-up season.

Ertz does not suffer from the same blocking issues that most explosive tight ends are afflicted with, and his physique helps him to avoid would-be defenders. He isn’t blindingly fast, but for his size (similar to Heath Miller), he can really run and that trait isn’t likely to deteriorate any time in the near future.

Chip Kelly has an interesting dilemma in how to deploy Ertz in Philadelphia’s system, but with Desean Jackson gone and Celek ready to fade into the background, there could be an explosion coming.

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