Madden 24: 10 Best Tight Ends, Ranked (2024)

Tight ends are often forgotten about in a team’s offense, as their main objectives are being an extra blocker on run plays or acting as a security option for the quarterback. But a handful of tight ends in the league can be top offensive options and help lead you to victory.

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While there are certainly tight ends that are more offensively gifted than others, only a select few can truly change the game. In Madden 24, you’ll most likely use tight ends in short pass attempts but some possess the ability to stretch the field and put pressure on the defense. We examine the cream of the crop at the tight end position.

10 Evan Engram - 84

After spending five seasons with the New York Giants, Evan Engram joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 and enjoyed his best season. He recorded career-highs in receptions (73) and yards (766), as the tight end helped lead the Jaguars to playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Engram isn’t the best pass-catcher (89) but he’s faster than most tight ends (88) and has the highest agility rating (87). He’s best suited for short routes (75) and has a solid vision of carrying the ball (85) but overall Engram isn’t a player that will severely positively move the needle for his team.

9 David Njoku - 84

For a while, it seemed David Njoku’s days in Cleveland were numbered as the tight end requested a trade from the Browns. However, the Browns kept the disgruntled player and he had a career season in 2022 with 58 receptions, 628 yards, and four touchdowns.

Tight ends aren’t known to be nimble on their feet, but Njoku is a special type of player. He has the highest spin rating (74) to avoid would-be tacklers and he shares the highest jump rating (93) to make spectacular catches (87) over smaller defenders. Njoku’s outstanding jump rating also makes him a viable red-zone option and the quarterback can lob a pass over the top for him.

8 Pat Freiermuth - 85

In just his third season, Pat Freiermuth has established himself as one of the top tight ends in the NFL. He’s recorded over 60 receptions in each of his first two seasons and collected 732 receiving yards last year. His touchdowns decreased from seven to two between 2021 and 2022, but he remains a focal point in the Pittsburgh Steelers offense.

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Only 24 years old, Freiermuth has some of the best hands (95) among tight ends. He doesn’t excel in one or two categories like others at his position, but rather he simply has above-average ratings across the board. If Freiermuth continues to improve, it won’t be long until he ascends among tight ends, and he’s considered one of the best in the NFL.

7 Darren Waller - 86

Darren Waller burst onto the scene in 2019 and 2020, collecting over 1,100 yards in both seasons for the Las Vegas Raiders. Unfortunately, the tight end was a massive disappointment in 2021 and 2022, so the team traded the struggling offensive star to the New York Giants.

Waller should quickly become a favorite target for Daniel Jones. While the Giants will continue to lean into Saquon Barkley running the ball, Waller will find gaps in the middle of the field for Jones to hit him for solid gains. Waller has high speed (88) and agility (84) that feeds into his position-leading change of direction rating (82), making him a threat to extend plays after securing a catch.

6 Kyle Pitts - 87

Coming out of college, Kyle Pitts immediately made history by being drafted fourth overall by the Atlanta Falcons, the highest draft selection for a tight end. The former Florida Gator justified the high selection by gaining 1,026 yards and a Pro Bowl selection in his rookie season. However, the Falcons have plenty of holes on their team, so it remains to be seen whether Pitts will be able to achieve his full potential in Atlanta.

In the meantime, Pitts is the fastest tight end with high marks in speed (91) and acceleration (93), which allows him to burst off the line of scrimmage into his routes (81). Only 22 years old, if Pitts finds a reliable quarterback he could one day claim the top spot among tight ends.

5 Dallas Goedert - 89

For the majority of his career, Dallas Goedert played second fiddle to long-time starter Zach Ertz in Philadelphia. But as Ertz grew older and Goedert displayed more of his playmaking, the Eagles finally bid farewell to Ertz and embraced a new era with Goedert.

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Goedert didn’t have the type of seasons many expected with Ertz now out of the picture, but that was mainly due to a shoulder injury that limited him. But when he’s healthy, Goedert has reliable hands (93). An underrated part of Godert’s game is his ability to run block (74); when you have a mobile quarterback like Jalen Hurts, it’s important to have as many competent blockers possible and Goedert is the second-best run blocker among tight ends.

4 T.J. Hockenson - 90

Similar to Kyle Pitts, T.J. Hockenson was also a high draft pick as he was selected eighth overall by the Detroit Lions. But unlike Pitts, Hockenson had a rough rookie season with only 367 yards and has yet to break the thousand-yard threshold. In 2022, Detroit traded Hockenson to division rival Minnesota Vikings for more future assets.

Hockenson is in a better situation offensively with the Vikings, as Justin Jefferson will take a lot of attention from the defense. The 26-year-old has the highest carry rating (81) which means he protects the ball the best among tight ends. He’s most effective at short (83) and medium (79) routes and is known to make a spectacular catch or two (90).

3 Mark Andrews - 95

Over the last five seasons, Mark Andrews has established himself as one of the best tight ends in the NFL. He’s been selected to three Pro Bowls in the last four seasons, as well as a First-Team All-Pro selection. Andrews saw a dip in his production last season but still enjoyed a decent campaign with 847 yards and five touchdowns.

Operating as Lamar Jackson’s favorite target, Andrews is a monster on short (87) and medium (83) routes. He’s able to quickly release off the line of scrimmage (84) and find a hole in the defense for easy yardage. When Baltimore is in the red zone, Jackson looks for Andrews on any lob opportunities to utilize his position-leading jump rating (93).

2 George Kittle - 96

Since 2017, George Kittle has been a staple in the San Francisco 49ers offense. While his rookie season wasn’t anything to write home about, Kittle erupted for over 1,000 yards in 2018 and 2019. Kittle suffered a fracture in his foot that derailed him for half of the 2020 season, but rebounded nicely with 910 yards in 2021 and then 11 touchdowns scored in 2022.

If there was ever a strongman competition in the NFL, Kittle would be the heavy favorite. Not only does he have the highest strength rating (82), but he’s far and away the toughest (98) player at his position, if not the entire NFL. These marks also impact his ability to truck defenders (84) and break tackles (81), making him the hardest tight end to bring down.

1 Travis Kelce - 99

When it’s all said and done, Travis Kelce will most likely be regarded as the greatest tight end in NFL history. The perfect-rated Kansas City Chief has gained over 1,000 yards in the last seven years and scored double-digit touchdowns in three of the last five. He has otherworldly skills as a receiver, and when you have a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes, Kelce is going to make defenses pay dearly.

The top-rated tight end in Madden 24 hauls in nearly every pass thrown to him (97) and dominates all types of routes. After he secures a pass, he has impeccable ball carrier vision (92) and deploys a devastating stiff arm (85) and juke moves (83) to avoid tacklers. The most important part of Kelce’s game is his ability to remain healthy (97) and not get tired easily (97). Kelce has all the skills necessary to take over games and that’s why he’s rated a perfect 99 in Madden for the fourth time in his career.

NEXT: Madden 24: Best Pass Rushers, Ranked