Ranking The Greatest Tight End Draft Classes in NFL History

1. The Pioneers: The 1970 Tight Ends Class

The 1970 NFL Draft class produced a group of tight ends who helped define the position and set the standard for future generations. Here are some of the most notable tight ends from the 1970 class:

• Mike Ditka - Drafted 5th overall by the Chicago Bears, Ditka played 12 seasons in the NFL, earning five Pro Bowl selections and helping the Bears win Super Bowl XX in 1986. Ditka is also known for his coaching career, having led the Bears to a Super Bowl victory in 1985.
• Ted Kwalick - Selected 34th overall by the San Francisco 49ers, Kwalick played seven seasons in the NFL, earning three Pro Bowl selections and finishing his career with over 2,400 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns.

2. The Powerhouses: The 1983 Tight Ends Class

The 1983 NFL Draft class produced a group of tight ends who combined size, speed, and strength to dominate the middle of the field. Here are some of the most prominent tight ends from the 1983 class:

• Ozzie Newsome - Drafted 23rd overall by the Cleveland Browns, Newsome played 13 seasons in the NFL, earning three Pro Bowl selections and finishing his career with over 7,900 receiving yards and 47 touchdowns. Newsome is also known for his successful career as an NFL executive, having served as the general manager of the Baltimore Ravens from 2002 to 2018.
• James Lofton - Selected 6th overall by the Green Bay Packers, Lofton played 16 seasons in the NFL, primarily as a wide receiver but also spending time at tight end. Lofton earned eight Pro Bowl selections and finished his career with over 14,000 receiving yards and 75 touchdowns.

3. The Record-Breakers: The 1996 Tight Ends Class

The 1996 NFL Draft class produced a group of tight ends who set new standards for the position and rewrote the record books. Here are some of the most notable tight ends from the 1996 class:

• Jason Witten - Drafted 69th overall by the Dallas Cowboys, Witten played 17 seasons in the NFL, earning 11 Pro Bowl selections and two First-Team All-Pro honors. Witten finished his career with over 13,000 receiving yards and 74 touchdowns, and is known for his durability and consistency.
• Antonio Gates - Signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers, Gates played 16 seasons in the NFL, earning eight Pro Bowl selections and three First-Team All-Pro honors. Gates finished his career with over 11,000 receiving yards and 116 touchdowns, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest tight ends of all time.
• Mark Bruener - Chosen 27th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bruener played 14 seasons in the NFL, primarily as a blocker but also contributing as a receiver. Bruener helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL in 2006 and finished his career with over 1,100 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns.

4. The New Wave: The 2017 Tight Ends Class

The 2017 NFL Draft class brought forth a new generation of talented tight ends who have already shown great promise in the league. Here are some of the most prominent tight ends from the 2017 class:

• Evan Engram - Drafted 23rd overall by the New York Giants, Engram has played four seasons in the NFL, earning one Pro Bowl selection and finishing his career with over 1,800 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
• George Kittle - Selected 146th overall by the San Francisco 49ers, Kittle has played four seasons in the NFL, earning two Pro Bowl selections and one First-Team All-Pro honor. Kittle finished the 2018 season with the most receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history (1,377).
• O.J. Howard - Chosen 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Howard has played four seasons in the NFL, primarily as a receiver but also contributing as a blocker. Howard has battled injuries but has shown flashes of brilliance, finishing his career with over 1,400 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

5. The Rising Stars: The 2020 Tight Ends Class

The 2020 NFL Draft class brought forth a new group of talented tight ends who have already made an impact in the league. Here are some of the most notable tight ends from the 2020 class:

• Cole Kmet - Drafted 43rd overall by the Chicago Bears, Kmet had a solid rookie season, finishing with 243 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
• Harrison Bryant - Selected 115th overall by the Cleveland Browns, Bryant had a standout rookie season, finishing with 238 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
• Adam Trautman - Chosen 105th overall by the New Orleans Saints, Trautman had a promising rookie season, finishing with 171 receiving yards and a touchdown.