The “Shock and Awe” Series: Part 4 – Offense (Tight Ends)

The NFL’s Top Tight End

There is little need to review the History of Travis Kelce in the NFL. He is the top TE in the business, bar none. The Catch in the endzone which won the division round highlights his career at Kansas City. he is “Mr. Money in the Bank.” Travis joins elite company as a Tight End for the Chiefs: Fred Arbanas, Tony Gonzales, and more. Those three players epitomize the import of the Tight End for Chiefs football–and the NFL.

Heading into the 2022 Season, Kelce can set more records including the 1,000-yard receptions per season, which he already owns. (Kelce has 6). The next closes are Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten and the Gronk (all with 4). All time? Tony Gonzalez is #1, Witten, Gates, Sharpe, Gronk and then Kelce. Kelce will surpass Rob Gronkowski this year and has a chance at surpassing Sharpe if Travis has another 1,000-yd season. When that happens Kelce will be 3rd all time in receiving yards. Kelce is 7th on the receptions list but will move up by one or two notches in 2022. Gonzalez is #1. Kelce, ranked #7, has 704 receptions and will surpass Graham and Olsen this year.

Gotta’ Love Our Travis Kelce!

If Kelce remains healthy for another 5 seasons, who knows how far he will ascend but that is not the biggest point in the NFL. Kelce himself isn’t concerned with his stats — It’s the Legacy Baby! Go #87!

Blake Bell – Consummate prototypical NFL tight end. Bell is a great blocker, versatile, and teammate. Bell doesn’t have the speed or moves to be a top receiving Tight End, but he fulfills the role needed by the Chiefs in protecting Patrick Mahomes.

Blake was a starting QB at Oklahoma before Switching to TE. He was drafted by the 49ers. He developed his knowledge of playing TE over the next couple of seasons and blossomed into Dependable player, an excellent blocker who can also play H-Back. Bell has capable hands to boot.

Blake was a starting QB at Oklahoma before Switching to TE. He was drafted by the 49ers pick 18, round 4 in the 2015 draft. He developed his knowledge of playing TE over the next couple of seasons and blossomed into a very good TE, an excellent blocker who can also play H-Back. Bell has capable hands to boot.

Bell is 6’6″-252. He has never been a starter but has been a solid #2 TE and that is the case with the Chiefs. We should see the Chiefs continue to depend on Bell for blocking when he is lined up at the LoS or off-set as an H-Back with the Chiefs hybrid offense. The Chiefs also use 2 and 3 TE-Sets, and he will continue to be deployed there as well. I do think in 2022 he will be surpassed for the #2 role, however.

Jody Fortson- It seems everybody and their uncle loves UDFA Jody Fortson.

Fortson was emerging as an offensive threat in 2021. His season was ended in week seven when he sustained an Achilles Tendon injury. Thus far in 2022, I hear complimentary observations from Sports Writers who have been following Fortson since he arrived. Fortson has length and a wirey frame that makes him a valuable receiver. He started out as a WR and then switched to TE. If Fortson gets back to the 53-man roster I look for a continuation and expansion of what Jody accomplished in 2021. Like most fans, I have followed Fortson since he joined the Chiefs. In 2022 he signed a ERFA Contract to continue his Chiefs tenure.

Noah Gray- Gray was drafted by the Chiefs in 2021. He did see playing time on a limited basis as the photo below shows.

Gray was learning the NFL Ropes in his rookie season in 2021. He was drafted in the 5th round by GM Brett Veach. Gray played college ball at Duke. He has versatility and can play the H-Back role as well as line up tight or offset in the slot. He was used in the 3-TE hybrid sets in 2021’s offense. Gray is 6’4″-240, so he is a bit lean for NFL play. Still, he did make an impact with receptions and a TD in 2021. At Duke, Gray became the all-time receptions leader for a TE with 105 catches. In 2019, he had 51 catches for 342 yards for the Blue Devils. Gray is versatile. He can line up in-line, split to the slot or in the backfield as an H-Back. PFN’s view of Gray is summarized as follows: “First and foremost, Gray is versatile. At Duke, he lined up in the slot, inline, and at fullback, and he also went through motion a lot. He’s also a willing blocker.”

Summary of the Preliminary TE Outlook

These are the Four TEs I expect to see on the final roster. I think both Fortson and Gray will see increased use as receivers in 2022. If they expand their contribution in 2022 and succeed in being targets for QB Patrick Mahomes, it gives our stellar QB more options, even with Kelce on the field. What will be interesting is to see how the 13-personnel package is implemented in 2022. I can see three receiving TEs lined up in the slot and that is going to be a tough group to defend, especially with Fortson, Gray, and Kelce who can run routes like WRs. It also could be a way that OC Eric Bieniemy gets Kelce time off from being the target so frequently — saving Kelce from injury must be a goal over the next few years.

No matter how I envision things with the TEs, I see capable and willing blockers and receivers who will be a threat. That is “Goodness” from this position group in 2022.

David Bell – ArrowheadOne