Mark Andrews (BAL)

Mark Andrews was very special last season. 

He led all tight ends in three major categories: touchdown catches, receiving yards, and total catches. 

With not many other great options for Lamar Jackson to throw to in Baltimore this season without Marquise Brown, Andrews could see similar production to what he was able to get last year. 

That could mean he is the number one tight end in all those categories yet again for the 2022 season.

Travis Kelce (KC)

Travis Kelce had been the No. 1 offensive tight end for the past five years in one or all of the major three categories for tight ends: catches, touchdowns, and yards. 

Last year he was passed up by Mark Andrews in all those categories, but Kelce could be in line for even more targets than he has ever seen in his career without Tyreek Hill on the Chiefs. 

A huge year could be coming for Kelce.

George Kittle (SF)

One of the best tight ends in the NFL for the past handful of years has been George Kittle. 

He can put up massive numbers receiving but is also one of the best blockers in the league as well. 

Kittle will have some huge games and also some games where he is used more as a blocker and doesn’t record many catches or yards on the day. 

He should still be one of the 49er’s quarterbacks’ favorite targets.

Darren Waller (LV)

With Davante Adams now on the Raiders there won’t be as many targets that go Waller’s way this season. 

That isn’t to say that he won’t be as productive as he has been in the past though. 

While he may get less targets, the quality of targets he gets will likely be higher quality due to the double teams that Adams will warrant.

Adams could be a great thing for Waller this upcoming season.

Dalton Schultz (DAL)

There are not many elite tight ends in the league as far as being a top receiving option from the position. 

Schultz is close to becoming that after last season.

Last year he had more catches from the tight end position than some big tight end names like George Kittle, Zach Ertz, TJ Hockenson and Kyle Pitts. 

Schultz actually had the third most tight end catches and the sixth most yards to go with eight touchdowns.

T.J. Hockenson (DET)

T.J, Hockenson was one of the best tight ends early last season. 

He began the year with back to back eight catch games with a touchdown in each. 

He cooled down after that but still had some big games during the year such as one with 10 catches for 89 yards and also a four-catch 49 yard game with a touchdown. 

If Hockenson can have more consistency he could be a top tight end next season.

Dawson Knox (BUF)

It might have been a random occurrence but Dawson Knox scored nine touchdowns last year on just 49 total catches for the Bills. 

Nine touchdowns was tied for the most by a tight end last year. 

He was Josh Allen’s favorite red zone target by far. Knox had 22 red zone targets and eight of his touchdowns came in that zone. 

We will see if he can repeat that success next season after never having more than three touchdowns before last year.

Kyle Pitts (ATL)

Kyle Pitt’s rookie season was just about what everyone expected. 

He was arguably Atlanta’s most talented player on offense and was already one of the biggest and fastest players in the league.

That translated into a ton of targets and yards for the rookie. 

This year Pitts will look to build on that. He now has a new running mate at wide receiver in Drake London but also a new quarterback. 

Still, expect another big season for Pitts.

Hunter Henry (NE)

Hunter Henry had the most touchdowns for a season in his career last year in his first season with the Patriots. 

He had nine touchdowns, which was tied for the most in the league by a tight end. 

It might have been a lucky year for Henry as he received the fewest targets and catches he has gotten since 2019 last year. 

Henry could also be in for a bigger role in 2022 due to his play.

Zach Ertz (ARI)

A change of scenery might have been what Zach Ertz needed to get his career back on track. 

In Philadelphia he had some competition for targets and snaps at the tight end position with the emergence of Dallas Goedert. 

In Arizona though, he was the main tight end and even the top target there overall at times. 

Ertz still has a lot left in the tank and should have plenty of opportunities without DeAndre Hopkins to start the year. 

Irv Smith Jr. (MIN)

There was a lot of hype around Irv Smith Jr. last season. 

It didn’t really matter though as he suffered a season-ending injury before the season even began. 

This year he already suffered a different injury that could cause him to miss the first part of the regular season. 

If he can get healthy, he could be a potential good weapon for Minnesota eventually, but we will have to wait and see if that is even true when he returns. 

Dallas Goedert (PHI)

The Eagles traded away their longtime tight end Zach Ertz to make room for Dallas Goedert last season. 

Goedert ended up turning in a pretty solid season for a tight end with over 800 yards but had just four touchdowns. 

To end the year as one of the top tight ends he will need to find a way to get into the end zone. The good news is he will be the top tight end all year for Philadelphia.

Pat Freiermuth (PIT)

Pat Freiermuth enjoyed a solid rookie season with the Steelers as he commanded 79 targets that he turned into 60 catches for 497 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Instantly Freiermuth was a big red zone target in this offense. Where he needs to improve to be talked about as one of the best tight ends in the league is outside of the red zone. 

Freiermuth averaged just 8.3 yards per catch which was 124th in the league. 

Noah Fant (SEA)

A move from Denver to Seattle could be a good one for Fant. 

Fant was never featured in the Denver offense but now he should have a clearer path to be used as a big time weapon in the offense with the Seahawks. 

It looks like his teammate in Denver, quarterback Drew Lock, will be the starting quarterback for Seattle, so he already should have some chemistry in this offense that could lead to some early success.

Cole Kmet (CHI)

Many people are expecting Cole Kmet to break out with the Chicago Bears in his third season in the NFL. 

The Bears are low on playmakers in this offense, besides wide receiver Darnell Mooney and running back David Montgomery. 

Chicago expects Kmet to be the third option in the offense for Justin Fields. 

Kmet had zero touchdowns in 16 games started last year, which is a scary sign for him heading into 2022, however.

Tyler Higbee (LAR)

Last year was somewhat of a disappointment for Tyler Higbee during the regular season. 

With 25 more targets than the year before he only managed 39 more yards. 

The year before, in 2019, Higbee had 177 more yards than he did in 2021. 

This season Higbee projects to have a similar role where he can expect between five and seven hundred yards with four to six touchdowns. 

His backups may have earned more snaps as well in Kendall Blanton and Brycen Hopkins.

Robert Tonyan (GB)

A disappointing season from Robert Tonyan last year where he played only eight games and caught 18 balls will have to be forgotten for him. 

Tonyan had 11 touchdowns the season before. While he won’t have many big yardage games, he can find the end zone. 

Without Davante Adams, Tonyan may even command more red zone and other targets outside of the red zone. Look for a resurgence for Tonyan in 2022. 

David Njoku (CLE)

David Njoku signed a big deal this offseason to stay with the Cleveland Browns. 

The plan is likely to feature him more than he has ever been featured in the Browns’ offense this year. 

Njoku’s best season in the NFL came all the way back in 2018. 

He will look to eclipse that season this upcoming year. 

There is a question on who his quarterback will be, but it shouldn’t matter as he should be featured regardless.

Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN)

Last season was the first time that Albert Okwuegbunam had a real role with the Broncos. 

This upcoming season he will have an expanded role as the team traded Noah Fant that has paved the way for Okwuegbunam to start. 

Apparently the Broncos plan to feature him in the offense and use him all over the field. 

It will be interesting to see how effective and involved he actually is when the season starts.

Trey McBride (ARI)

Trey McBride was the first tight end taken in the 2022 NFL Draft and the only tight end selected in the second round. 

Most commonly, the first tight end taken would be in store for a big role in their rookie season but McBride will be on the Cardinals who already have Zach Ertz. 

It is possible that McBride sees some extra snaps early in the year to add another big target without DeAndre Hopkins to start the year.