Tight end is a difficult NFL position to predict. Players who make the leap to the pros have to juggle blocking and receiving duties in more complex schemes, against faster defenders, than they've ever faced before. Years of wear and tear can break an All-Pro candidate into an also-ran in a single play.
Thus, it's incredibly difficult to accurately rank each team's tight end units in the preseason. In 2019, I ranked the Raiders 32nd out of 32 teams... only for Darren Waller to suddenly and explosively reach his potential, kicking off a wave of angry/satisfied emails and social media mentions from Raiders fans that continues to this day (I apologized to Waller for the disrespect on Radio Row four years later. He seemed OK with it!).
This is all to say, these rankings are not only subjective, but immensely subject to change. Young prospects will rise up and claim their potential. Veterans will see a dropoff or stage impressive revivals. But going off the data we currently have, here's how the preseason 2026 tight end unit rankings look. Stats are from NFL Pro and Sumer Sports where applicable.
Gesicki turns 31 this season. He hasn't had a positive yards after catch over expected (YACOE) since 2020 and saw his numbers drop off after a successful Bengals debut in 2024. Sample is an unexciting but useful piece who gets where he needs to be even if he offers modest returns as a receiver.
All could be the guy who boosts this group into the top 20, but he's also the guy who's played only nine NFL games in two seasons. Until he proves he can fulfill his potential, Cincinnati is stuck here.
#tight #waller #difficult #preseason
Thus, it's incredibly difficult to accurately rank each team's tight end units in the preseason. In 2019, I ranked the Raiders 32nd out of 32 teams... only for Darren Waller to suddenly and explosively reach his potential, kicking off a wave of angry/satisfied emails and social media mentions from Raiders fans that continues to this day (I apologized to Waller for the disrespect on Radio Row four years later. He seemed OK with it!).
This is all to say, these rankings are not only subjective, but immensely subject to change. Young prospects will rise up and claim their potential. Veterans will see a dropoff or stage impressive revivals. But going off the data we currently have, here's how the preseason 2026 tight end unit rankings look. Stats are from NFL Pro and Sumer Sports where applicable.
Gesicki turns 31 this season. He hasn't had a positive yards after catch over expected (YACOE) since 2020 and saw his numbers drop off after a successful Bengals debut in 2024. Sample is an unexciting but useful piece who gets where he needs to be even if he offers modest returns as a receiver.
All could be the guy who boosts this group into the top 20, but he's also the guy who's played only nine NFL games in two seasons. Until he proves he can fulfill his potential, Cincinnati is stuck here.
#tight #waller #difficult #preseason
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