Way Too Early 2024 NFL Draft Tight End Rankings
The tight end list will be much shorter than the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers that we already covered. You’re lucky if you get three in a class that pan out so I’m giving you ten and you’re going to like it. Let’s get right to the way too early 2024 NFL Draft tight end rankings.
Bonus! See… I’ll even give you a bonus. I’m not ranking Arik Gilbert. I’m done with him. He needs to start doing something for me to ever rank him again. Did you know that he was at Nebraska now? Apparently, third string. I’m not doing it. You can but I’m out. When he starts putting up any sort of numbers, let me know. Then we can have a chat about him again.
*just missed: Brevyn Spann-Ford (Minnesota)
You’re also going to notice a theme here today. It’s the transfer portal. Tight ends are hard to find which means college coaches are looking for them to add to their roster. I’m going to assume they know who to look for. You will notice a trend…
Guess what! The coaches that are recruiting players for their team know more than the fake draft analysts that don’t know anything. We’ll keep that in mind as we do our tight end rankings.
10: Var’Keyes Gumms (Arkansas)
At this point you could do a documentary on Var-Keyes Gumms. As a redshirt freshman for North Texas, Gumms notched 34 receptions for 458 yards and five touchdowns. Gumms is now at Arkansas after committing, decommitting, and committing again. That’s a real story.
Regardless, all signs point to Gumms being the tight end for Arkansas this year. From the North Texas stuff you can find, he looks really athletic for the position at 6-foot-3, 230. We’ll find more this year but it’s an intriguing name.
9: Rivaldo Fairweather (Auburn)
Ahhh, yes, another transfer. After spending the last three years at Florida International, Fairweather will be taking his talents to Auburn this year. The production isn’t overwhelming as a redshirt sophomore. Just 426 yards. Still a 6-foot-5, 245 pound body that can really move.
8: Cade Stover (Ohio State)
I talked a bit about Cade Stover during the stock report notes last year. Hybrid player that also plays linebacker. Tough as nails. Hard to tackle. Limited movement skills but can catch. Kinda looks like Mike Vrabel playing tight end but more refined at it? I think Stover can absolutely make it.
7: McCallan Castles (Tennessee)
Are you shocked? It’s another transfer. Is there another offense you want to be part of? The fighting Josh Heupal’s put up points! Castles started out at Cal and then transferred to UC Davis. Former three star guy that has limited production. Will head into his 6th year of college football. 6-foot-5, 233, and is Tennessee’s shiny new toy. Did anybody just see how high Dalton Kincaid just went? He doesn’t look that different this guy. We’ll obviously find out more in 2023 but Castles is definitely a mystery player for 2023.
6: Michael Trigg (Ole Miss)
Another transfer! I know, you’re shocked. Except Michael Trigg will now have been at Ole Miss for two seasons. Originally a four star recruit and number four tight end nationally during the 2021 cycle. Originally went to USC.
Has next to no production. Seven catches in 2021 and 17 in 2022. It’s all projection but the athletic profile is intriguing. You hope that he’s a bigger part of the offense in 2023. We also have no idea who the quarterback will be yet so a lot of questions still need to be answered.
5: Trey Knox (South Carolina)
Another transfer! Except this one wouldn’t have mattered. I liked Trey Knox regardless of whether he stayed at Arkansas or not. Knox will now be tasked with replacing Jaheim Bell at South Carolina.
6-foot-5, 245, and a serious red zone threat. Something that was talked about at length during the stock report notes. Arkansas didn’t have great quarterback play for large stretches last year. Spencer Rattler is shaky in his own right but there is serious potential here.
4: Brant Kuithe (Utah)
Don’t care what anybody says. Brant Kuithe was the best tight at Utah last year. Kuithe’s 2022 season ended after four games and that’s what got Dalton Kincaid the shine. Yes, this will be Kuithe’s 6th year of CFB and he’s not a blocker. All I know is this dude has real receiving ability. If you watched the Florida game, you know exactly what I mean. Actually can run routes and get open. Not overly tall but makes contested catches and fights for the ball.
3: Jaheim Bell (Florida State)
Another transfer! I promise this is the last one. Really intriguing player that will now be taking his talents to Florida State. We’re talking about a tight end that had 73 carries last year. This is a guy that they want to have the ball in his hands. Still figuring the whole tight end thing out but has real movement skills.
2: Ja’Tavion Sanders (Texas)
Former five star guy in 2021 and was listed as the top athlete in the class. 6-foot-4, 249, and has some real production reeling in 54 receptions for 613 yards and five scores in 2022. Faster than the average tight end and can rack up the yac yardage. Not sure he’s a pure blazer but catches the ball well and does damage over the middle of the field.
1: Brock Bowers (Georgia)
People should know how I feel about Brock Bowers by now. He’s a top five player in the class in terms of overall players. I felt that way pretty much the second I saw him as a freshman. If you don’t get it by now you’re never going to get it.
