After previously looking into the wide receivers, we’re onto tight ends in Silver and Black Pride’s AFC West position rankings. The position group has some star power at the top with Brock Bowers on the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster and Travis Kelce on the Kansas City Chiefs’ roster, creating some drama at the top of the rankings. That leaves the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers to fill out the rest of the list, as there’s plenty of room for an up-and-comer to make a name for himself.
All stats
referenced below are from the regular season unless otherwise noted.
1. Brock Bowers, Raiders
2025 Stats: 64 catches, 680 yards, 7 TDs (12 games)
After a historic rookie season, the 2024 13th overall pick’s numbers took a significant dip in year two, as his catches and yards were nearly cut in half. However, Bowers also battled injuries, missing multiple games at two points in the season, and he was playing on one of, if not the worst, offenses in the NFL last season. Still, he ranked in the top 10 at the position in the three major receiving categories and is one of the hardest tight ends to cover in the NFL.
2. Travis Kelce, Chiefs
2025 Stats: 76 catches, 851 yards, 5 TDs (17 games)
Kelce isn’t the same athlete he used to be, making it difficult for him to create separation consistently. However, the 13-year veteran has become a savvy pass-catcher, exposing holes in zone coverage and operating scramble drills at a high level. It also helps that he and Patrick Mahomes have great chemistry together and are always on the same page. While Kelce’s production has been sliding over the last three years, he still ranked tied for sixth in receptions and fourth in yards among tight ends league-wide last year.
3. Oronde Gadsden II, Chargers
2025 Stats: 49 catches, 664 yards, 3 TDs (15 games)
Seeing Gadsden this high on the list might surprise people because the 2025 fifth-round pick wasn’t a high-profile draft prospect and didn’t really breakout until around the midway point of last season. However, he ended up finishing with the third-most yards and touchdowns among AFC West tight ends, trailing only Kelce and Bowers while making just seven starts. Gadsden was one of the best field-stretchers at the position during his rookie season, finishing with the third-highest yards per catch (13.6) and tied for the fifth-longest average depth of target (9.4), per Pro Football Focus. The Syracuse product is someone to keep tabs on for next season and beyond.
4. Evan Engram, Broncos
2025 Stats: 50 catches, 461 yards, 1 TD (16 games)
Engram has always been more of a big wide receiver than a true tight end, meaning he’s a solid pass catcher but struggles to block. That’s why he technically isn’t the Broncos’ starting tight end—Adam Trautman is—having started just two games last season. But the two-time Pro Bowler put up good numbers during his first season in Denver, ranking third in catches and fourth in yards among AFC West tight ends.
5. Noah Gray, Chiefs
2025 Stats: 21 catches, 178 yards, 0 TDs (16 games)
Gray’s stat line above is pretty underwhelming, as he undoubtedly had a disappointing 2025 campaign in what was a disappointing season for the Chiefs overall. But he did have 68 grabs for 742 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 and 2024 combined, which is pretty good production for a No. 2 tight end. Also, he’s on the list for what he brings as a blocker, owning a 65.3 PFF run blocking grade that ranked second at the position in the division a year ago.
Honorable Mention: Charlie Kolar, Chargers
2025 Stats: 10 catches, 142 yards, 2 TDs (17 games)
Kolar has a strong case to be in the top five as he enters the division as the best blocking tight end in it, finishing last year with the 10th-best PFF run blocking grade (71.5) at the position while playing for the Baltimore Ravens. However, Gray got the nod because he’s been a productive pass-catcher in the past, whereas Kolar has never recorded more than 10 catches and 150 yards in a single season.
