Alright, listen up, Emerald City! You gotta see this new bombshell dropped by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. We're talking about the top tight ends heading into the 2026 NFL season, as voted on by actual coaches, scouts, and executives. And guess who snagged the top spot? None other than Brock Bowers from the Las Vegas Raiders. Let that sink in for a second, because that's a wild shift at the top of the food chain.
The New Tight End Order Is HERE
So, yeah, Brock Bowers is leading the charge according to the guys who actually know football. That's a huge statement when you look at the talent behind him. Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals came in strong, followed by George Kittle from the San Francisco 49ers. Detroit Lions' Sam LaPorta also made the cut, proving he's a force. Then you've got Tyler Warren from the Indianapolis Colts and Tucker Kraft of the Green Bay Packers, showing some serious respect. The Chicago Bears' Colston Loveland, Kyle Pitts Sr. of the Atlanta Falcons, Mark Andrews from the Baltimore Ravens, and yes, even Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs rounded out that elite top 10. It really tells you just how deep this position is, when veterans and rising stars are all duking it out for those top spots.Who Got SNUBBED? You Won't Believe It
Now, if you thought that top 10 was spicy, wait 'til you hear who got left *just* outside of it. Fowler's honorable mentions list is stacked, and honestly, some of these guys could easily be in the top tier on any given Sunday. We're talking Dalton Kincaid from the Buffalo Bills, Pat Freiermuth with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cole Kmet of the Chicago Bears, Jake Ferguson from the Dallas Cowboys, and Harold Fannin Jr. of the Cleveland Browns. Any of those names could be giving defenses nightmares. And then, there's the "also received votes" category, which feels like the biggest snub list of all. T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings, Isaiah Likely from the New York Giants, Dalton Schultz from the Houston Texans, Dallas Goedert of the Philadelphia Eagles, Oronde Gadsden II from the Los Angeles Chargers, Juwan Johnson with the New Orleans Saints, and Brenton Strange from the Jacksonville Jaguars all got some love but not enough to crack the top 15. The coaches and execs are clearly sleeping on some serious talent if these guys aren't getting more recognition. It's clear the tight end position is as deep as it has ever been in the NFL. These rankings are only going to spark debates and fuel these players all through the 2026 season. Get ready, because the competition is absolutely cutthroat, and we're about to see some incredible performances trying to prove these rankings wrong.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.