The 2024 NFL Draft is right around the corner. Last year, we were absolutely spoiled with rookie tight ends. This year, it does not appear to be as good of a group. The average NFL fan probably can’t name anyone outside of the top two consensus rookie tight end rankings. That is because the rest of the group is relatively unknown, and most will go on Day 3. We are going to talk about the “other guys” in the 2024 NFL Draft rankings by ranking our top 20 Rookie Tight Ends.
2024 NFL Draft Rankings: Top 20 Rookie Tight Ends
We have had plenty of great NFL tight ends go later in the NFL Draft. Who is your favorite rookie tight end sleeper? As the NFL has changed, this position has evolved as well. A lot of tight ends are hybrid full backs. Some tight ends play more snaps in the slot or out wide than they do on the end of the line. We are also seeing a lot of teams using a tackle instead of a tight end in 12-Personnel (1 RB/2 TE).
Fullbacks only and blocking tight ends are starting to become a thing of the past. Some tight ends are glorified wide receivers, and finally, teams are starting to embrace it.
Using them as their big slot option to help control the middle of the field. Tight ends offer a large catch radius and are mismatches. They can be a nightmare if they are too big for the corners and too fast for the linebackers.
If you can find a tight end that can do damage after the catch, that is where you can find something special. Not all tight ends have Brock Bowers’ college profiles.
There is a lot of projection to this position because of their limited usage in college. George Kittle had 48 career receptions, with only 22 receptions his senior year.
Travis Kelce had 14 receptions until his 5th season, when he had 45 receptions. The list goes on with so many examples. Now, here are my top 20 tight end rankings for the 2024 NFL Draft.
1. Brock Bowers, Georgia (Age 21)
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 243 lbs.
NFL Player Comparison: “George Kittle” – Lance Zierlein
Brock Bowers could easily end up as a top-five pick in this draft. He is a high-level prospect who had extremely high-level production at one of the biggest schools.
His ability as a receiver is spectacular, and what he can do after the catch is special. He was First-Team SEC as a Freshman and led his team in receiving production. Brock won the John Mackey Award for Nation’s Top Tight in back-to-back seasons to end his career.
People are nitpicking him at this point, specifically his size. We just saw Sam LaPorta (75.25″) and Dalton Kincaid (75.63″) explode onto the scene, both under 6’4″ at the combine as well. Bowers is not just a receiving tight end, he shows he is a willing and able blocker.
Coming from a pro-style offense, as well as playing in the SEC, will have its advantages. If the Jets pass on him, I think the Indianapolis Colts run the card up to the podium.
A top-6 pick in your dynasty rookie drafts. Bowers has a special ability as a pass-catcher, and he can do what he can after the catch. He could be another early fantasy performer as a rookie like Kincaid and LaPorta were in 2023. He will be a popular late-round tight end in your redraft and best ball formats.
2. Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas (Age 21)
Height: 6’0
Weight: 200 lbs.
NFL Player Comparison: “David Njoku” – Lance Zierlein
Sanders ran a little slower at the NFL Combine than people expected. This doesn’t seem to have affected his draft stock much. He is still the consensus number-two tight end in almost every ranking.
He is another player who is special once they get the ball in their hands. His 4.69 40-yard dash at just under 6’4″ is plenty fast. However, the other explosive numbers, such as vertical, broad, and bench, were very low percentile numbers.
As of now, he is a projected second-round draft pick. He still doesn’t appear to have much competition for the second tight end in this class. Where he shines is in his lateral quickness and elusiveness in the open field.
He is a player that they use on screens and in other ways where he could create after the catch. A lot of mock drafts would love to see him go to Miami on Day 2.
3. Ben Sinnott, Kansas State (Age 21)
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 250 lbs.
NFL Player Comparison: “Noah Fant” – RAS Profile
Sinnott is a former walk-on who has put on 40 lbs, converting from Hockey to Football. Kansas State used him in a variety of ways and as more of a Flex Tight End. He played some fullback and was put on the move a lot. He lacks some as a blocker, but he is a playmaker.
The NFL Combine really helped put some light on him. Sinnott stood out against the group with top numbers in the 3-Cone, Vertical, and Broad Jump out of all tight ends.
These athletic traits bring a big upside and are why Sinnott is one of my favorite sleepers in the class. Everything points to upside for a player with the prototypical size and his athletic profile. His yards after the catch (YAC) ability and his burst
Ben Sinnott is a TE prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.49 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 57 out of 1105 TE from 1987 to 2024.
Splits projectedhttps://t.co/cxnYFtYIau pic.twitter.com/csteYTHzQb
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 2, 2024
4. Cade Stover, Ohio State (Age 23)
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 251 lbs.
NFL Player Comparison: “Jake Ferguson” – Lance Zierlein
Stover is an older prospect who converted to tight end from linebacker. He is an athletic player, a former basketball player who shows off his jumping ability on the field.
Cade is more a receiver than a blocker, but that is what we are looking for in fantasy football. As a former linebacker, he has no fear of going over the middle or going through defenders. Cade does show the ability to make defenders miss and create after the catch at times.
He has great hands; the quarterbacks rated him 133.5 when targeting him. He is a projected third-round pick who showed off some big play potential at Ohio State. Stover was in the 80th percentile in both the 40-yard dash and 10-yard split. At his size, he can move and could end up being one of the more fantasy-friendly options.
5. Theo Johnson, Penn State (Age 21)
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 259 lbs.
NFL Player Comparison: “Luke Schoonmaker/ Luke Musgrave” – NFL Draft Buzz
Theo has been a late riser with a great senior bowl and a fantastic combine. His combination of size, speed, and athleticism was put on display at the NFL Combine.
His RAS score was 9th out of 1,141 tight ends they have scored. He has an extremely large wingspan and catching radius on top of having top-end jumping numbers. The only categories that were yellow for him were bench and 3-cone. Everything else was bright green.
When targeted, his quarterbacks rated an excellent 135.2 in his senior year. He finished with 32 receptions, 325 receiving yards, and 6 touchdowns this year at Penn State. Johnson is a massive target in the middle of the field and in the red zone. He will go late day 2 or early day 3 as one of the top 3-5 tight ends drafted.
6. Dallin Holker, Colorado State (Age 23)
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 241 lbs.
NFL Player Comparison: “Dalton Schultz” – Last Word on Sports
Holker is one of the most fun personalities in the class. He is a transfer from BYU who took a year off to go on a mission trip. He moves like a Wide Receiver and has naturally soft hands.
Dallin showed them off by catching two balls while doing the gauntlet drill at the NFL Combine. Brock Bowers was the only tight end with more yards after the catch. Holker is a really fun player who could be fantasy-friendly in the right situation.
What a catch and run by Dallin Holker 🤯
Colorado State takes a two-possession lead in the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/rAyX6omsL1
— 247Sports (@247Sports) September 17, 2023
7. Jared Wiley, TCU (Age 23)
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 249 lbs.
NFL Player Comparisons: “Greg Dulcich” – NFL Draft Buzz
Wiley was super productive at TCU, and Next Gen Stats likes him a lot. He was 7th at the position in both athleticism and total score, 9th in production. He transferred to TCU from Texas in 2022 and had an okay season.
But he really broke out in 2023 with career highs in all major categories. Jared had 47 receptions, 520 yards, and 8 touchdowns for the Horned Frogs. As a blocker, he allowed one pressure and zero sacks.
8. Erik All (Age 23)
Height: 6’4
Weight: 252 lbs.
NFL Player Comparisons: “Greg Dulcich” – NFL Draft Buzz
It comes from the tight end factory in Iowa. Based on that, you might want to take a chance. All have your prototypical size. Other than his crazy 81″ wingspan, the traits are average.
He comes from an awful offense and was behind Sam LaPorta until this season. At this point, everything is more of a projection. If the NFL likes him enough to draft him in Rounds 3-5, I will be more interested.
9. Jaheim Bell, Florida State (Age 23)
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 241 lbs.
NFL Player Comparisons: “Stephen Anderson” – Bleacher Report
Jaheim Bell is built like a big running back. This helps him a lot once he gets the ball in his hands. He is similar to Jonnu Smith, who was 6-3 and 248. We could see him used in similar ways, more short and intermediate routes.
Bell does a lot of damage after the catch, but his shorter build has its negatives. He doesn’t offer a large catching radius and struggles at times as a blocker. Bell is a fun player, but I don’t see him used in a traditional way.
10. Tanner McLachlan, Arizona (Age 24)
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 244 lbs.
NFL Player Comparisons: “Daniel Bellinger” – NFL Draft Buzz
A converted wide receiver, McLachlan has great speed and runs sharp routes. Tanner has good size and has been able to bulk up over the past few seasons. He is a Super-Senior, and that will weigh against him.
But he really shined at the combine in a weaker tight end class. His receiving ability will catch the eyes of scouts. We just hope he can get the draft capital.
11. A.J. Barner, Michigan
12. Tip Reiman, Illinois
13. Trey Knox, South Carolina
14. Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota
15. Devin Culp, Washington
16. Jack Westover, Washington
17. Isaac Rex, BYU
18. Mason Fairchild, Kansas
19. McCallan Castles, Tennessee
20. Austin Stogner, Oklahoma
