2013 NFL Predictions: Top 5 Tight Ends – Gronk, Graham, Witten the NFL’s Best TE’s

2013 NFL Predictions: Top 5 Tight Ends – Gronk, Graham, Witten the NFL’s Best TE’s: It wasn’t all that long ago when tight ends in the NFL were used mainly as blockers or for the occasional short pass over the middle or in the red zone. Those days are a thing of the past, and not have tight ends become major weapons in the passing attacks of most teams, but more and more teams are using two tight ends on a regular basis. Players at the position are getting bigger, and more importantly, they are getting faster and more skilled. Heck, there are a lot of tight ends that can run routes and catch passes like a receiver. Not surprisingly, many tight end records have fallen in recently years. Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham both broke the old single-season yardage record in 2011, and Gronkowski also set a new touchdown mark that year. Last year, Jason Witten broke the record for catches. The numbers being put up by tight ends aren’t likely to dip any time soon, and with that in mind, here is a closer look at the top players at the position heading into the 2013 season.

1.      Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

“Gronk” has been in the NFL for three seasons, and has led tight ends in touchdowns in all three years, and he did so last season despite playing just 11 games. Two years ago, he set a single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end, and his 17 receiving touchdowns led the entire NFL. Plain and simple, Gronkowski’s combination of size and speed is almost unfair. He runs over defensive backs and runs away from linebackers. He will likely miss a few games to start the year, but he should more than make up for lost time when he gets on the field.

2.      Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints

The former college basketball player has used his size and athleticism to become one of the premier tight ends in the game. Over the past two years, he has averaged 10 touchdowns and more than 1,100 yards, and in 2011, he recorded the second-most receiving yards ever by a tight end. Graham can have occasional issues with drops and is still learning some of the finer points of route running, but his physical gifts alone make him an impossible matchup for most defenses.

3.      Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

He doesn’t have the freakish athletic gifts of some other tight ends, but there isn’t a more consistent player at the position. Witten has had at least 79 catches and more than 900 yards in each of the past six seasons. He has topped 90 catches four times during the stretch, and he set an NFL record for tight ends with 110 grabs last year. Witten isn’t flashy, but he goes over the middle and makes tough catches and big catches in traffic on a weekly basis.

4.      Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons

It is becoming clear that Gonzalez could be one of the game’s top tight ends for as long as he feels like playing. Last year, he finished second among tight ends with 93 catches and ranked third with 930 yards. Gonzalez hasn’t had fewer than 70 catches since way back in 1998, and in his 16 seasons, he has only had less than 700 yards three times. The future Hall of Famer, and he is still playing at an elite level.

5.      Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings

While his overall stats are still lacking compared to some of the other tight ends, Rudolph did manage to finish second among tight ends with nine touchdowns last year in just his second season in the NFL. Meanwhile, he made an array of incredible catches thanks to his athleticism and oven mitt-sized hands. With Christian Ponder throwing to him, Rudolph isn’t likely to have the catches or yards that jump off the page, but he is a nightmare to cover and red zone monster.

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