Who is the greatest TE in NFL history?

[rtfgbfan]

93TD’s for Gronk in 143 games is mighty impressive, as well.

He also played with the same HOF QB for 2 franchises. Sharpe had 1, then won with Dilfer in Baltimore.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

This gets difficult.

Gronk was IMO one of the most unstoppable. It was borderline ridiculous WHEN he was healthy. But then again, he had the GOAT QB of all time throwing his way and recognizing coverage (Brady was bar none the best in NFL history at reading pre-snap, and that goes a LONG way with TEs and slot receivers).

I know a lot of people are going to groan at this, but Kelce to me is a little more a product of a system. Reid makes TEs work. He runs a WCO.. always has, always will. Those kind of HCs are a dying breed but they get a ton out of their TEs. Mahomes is certainly capable of making a ton of throws and Kelce is a security blanket.

Gonzalez just made it happen regardless of QBs or offensive scheme. Guy was a beast.

I'd prob. put Kelce 2nd or 3rd. Gronk and Gonzo 1 or 2. Those two also knew how to block, Kelce is OKAY at blocking but mid at best. Shannon Sharpe is way up there too, just played in a different era. Jimmy Graham was a WR in a TE body, doesn't count. If we put Justin Jefferson at TE, we couldn't call Justin Jefferson the best TE in NFL history.

If I was building a team, and I could have one TE 100% healthy for ONE season to help my team/QB... who would I choose? Gronk, hands down. Easy. And I think that is where Kelce is not it. Kelce would be my #2 or #3 for sure, but I'll take Gronk #1.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

This gets difficult.

Gronk was IMO one of the most unstoppable. It was borderline ridiculous WHEN he was healthy. But then again, he had the GOAT QB of all time throwing his way and recognizing coverage (Brady was bar none the best in NFL history at reading pre-snap, and that goes a LONG way with TEs and slot receivers).

I know a lot of people are going to groan at this, but Kelce to me is a little more a product of a system. Reid makes TEs work. He runs a WCO.. always has, always will. Those kind of HCs are a dying breed but they get a ton out of their TEs. Mahomes is certainly capable of making a ton of throws and Kelce is a security blanket.

Gonzalez just made it happen regardless of QBs or offensive scheme. Guy was a beast.

I'd prob. put Kelce 2nd or 3rd. Gronk and Gonzo 1 or 2. Those two also knew how to block, Kelce is OKAY at blocking but mid at best. Shannon Sharpe is way up there too, just played in a different era. Jimmy Graham was a WR in a TE body, doesn't count. If we put Justin Jefferson at TE, we couldn't call Justin Jefferson the best TE in NFL history.

If I was building a team, and I could have one TE 100% healthy for ONE season to help my team/QB... who would I choose? Gronk, hands down. Easy. And I think that is where Kelce is not it. Kelce would be my #2 or #3 for sure, but I'll take Gronk #1.

Calling Gonzo a better blocker than Kelce is just trolling or nostalgia bias, imo.

 

[msgkings322]

Calling Gonzo a better blocker than Kelce is just trolling or nostalgia bias, imo.

Your objection smells of its own bias

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Your objection smells of its own bias

My bias would be to call Gonzalez the GOAT because of his dogwater QB's he had in his prime, actually. If you can find a Chiefs fan over the age of 25 who agrees Gonzalez is a better blocker than Kelce, I'll cry uncle.

 

[black francis]

Bowers

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

Another great question with no clear cut answer. I think Gronk was the most dominant and seemed unstoppable around the goal line he was such a mismatch against defenders.

 

[Ojb81]

Gronkowski and it's not particularly close, IMO

 

[broncosmitty]

Ditka vs a thousand tiny Ditka’s.

 

[PhilSimms11]

To think Antonio Gates was undrafted and turned out to be among the greatest of all-time (955-11,841-116).

 

[chappee11]

Ditka vs a thousand tiny Ditka’s.

“Mini Ditkas 147-Redskins 14”

 

[chappee11]

Polls are still open! Vote vote vote!!!

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Yeah, Gonzalez didn't block for shit. He was basically a big body, glorified WR. That isn't taking away from how great he was either, just a fact. I know everybody has some recency bias or whatever you want to call it but Winslow was the guy that really changed the position to what a lot of these guys are doing now. And he could really do it all. Gronk as a blocker was as dominating as anyone I ever watched at the position. Kelce and Gronk are both amazing "Big Game" players. Kelce definitely smarter and has the ability to avoid big hits better. Gronk was all out, all the time and fuck the body which is why his career wasn't as long.

 

[belcherboy]

LaPorta