A historically great blocker for the tight end position, Gronkowski was only asked to block on 36.6% of his snaps, one of the lowest TE rates in the league. The Browns have a very nice on-paper roster, but we cant help but feel like the self-induced off-field distractions brought on through the trade for Deshaun Watson and subsequent quarterback outbursts will have some sort of lingering effects this season. He was a tough, durable leader on the Bengals young offense, one that consistently made plays for the Bengals under quarterback Joe Burrow. Free agent signee Garrett Griffin can handle the veteran blocking TE role, at least . Behind Andrews, the Ravens have assembled maybe the deepest tight end room in the league. Consider Edwards one of the top handcuff running backs available that also carry standalone value. The majority of the six picks made by the Bengals in this years NFL draft were made on the defensive side of the ball, as the team selected safety Daxton Hill with the 31st pick in the first round, cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt in the second (60th overall), defensive tackle Zachary Carter in the third (95th overall), offensive tackle Cordell Volson in the fourth (136th overall), safety Tycen Anderson in the fifth (166th overall), and defensive edge Jeffrey Gunter in the seventh (252nd overall). Kevin Rader, rookie sixth-round draft pick Connor Heyward, and veteran Jace Sternberger round out the depth chart at tight end, making for a tight competition in training camp for the third tight end role. He may never develop into a downfield threat in the mold of Andrews, Darren Waller, or George Kittle, but Freiermuth should fulfill his role in the Steelers' offense as a consistent, possession-type tight end. Schultz has capitalized with 141 receptions, 1,423 yards, and 12 touchdowns over the past two years. The final metric that caught my eye from this offense from 2021 was the relatively low delta in run-pass rates when trailing versus when playing with a lead. The next two highest totals are . Colts general manager Chris Ballard said he's heard the noise that his team is predestined to trade up to the first pick of the 2023 NFL Draft and select a quarterback. A season ago, Las Vegas ranked 19th in offensive DVOA, but an improved unit could lead to more opportunities for Waller. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). You know, the one in which he has the Packers and every other team in the NFL that has a need at QB wondering whether he will retire or force a trade? Safeties are the communication center of the secondary and must wear many hats in coverage. Heyward will be the name to watch though, due to his overall versatility that he brings to the position, where hell slot in as more of an H-back. This week ESPN.com ranked the NFL's best tight ends, and no one in the AFC North made the cut. After managing back-to-back seasons with 90+ catches and 1,100+ yards, Darren Waller was hit by the injury bug in 2021. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is undeniably the best player at the position in the AFC North and is one of the best across the entire NFL. Anarumos 4-2-5 base defense over-performed last year relative to the talent level of his players, primarily due to the complex nature of the scheme itself. Furthering that discussion is what the increase in pass volume (and the injuries to the offensive line and running back stable) did to the run game (or lack thereof). Really, the only other major addition through free agency came with the signing of tight end Hayden Hurst, who should split duties with 2019 second-round pick Drew Sample. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. They did improve their offensive line this off-season with the signings of Mason Cole and James Daniels, but the questions at quarterback remain, providing another landscape that could see them struggle with both time of possession and points allowed per game. *Note that all statistics were sourced from Sports Info Solutions, rbsdm.com, and Pro Football Focus (PFF), unless otherwise noted. In Pittsburgh, Freiermuth emerged as the next star tight end for the Steelers, hauling in 60 passes and seven touchdowns as a rookie, taking over as the true No. Published 6/13/2022. Behind him is rising third-year player Harrison Bryant. We will be breaking down every division and giving you our predictions on how things will play out! Most notably, the Browns were in 11-personnel only 45% of offensive snaps in 2021. John Harbaugh returns for his 14 th season as head honcho of these Ravens, while Greg Roman returns for his third season calling plays offensively. 29) Austin Hooper, Tennessee Titans If he can stay healthy, Kittle will be a reliable target for presumptive 49ers quarterback Trey Lance in his first year as a full-time starter. Andrews, who hauled in a career-high 107 passes for 1,361 yards. Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta updated reporters on Wednesday on where things stand with the star QB. As in, Clowney is one of the defensive leaders, and when paired with Myles Garrett, forms one of the top pass-rush duos in the league. 21) Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars Sample is a solid blocker, one that can handle the No. The Steelers had a relatively quiet, but effective, free agency period, bringing in quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, linebacker Myles Jack, two offensive linemen in Mason Cole and James Daniels, cornerback Levi Wallace, and return-man Gunner Olszewski. Kansas City's Travis Kelce, San Francisco's George Kittle, Baltimore's Mark . AFC North Baltimore Ravens - 2022 Prediction 10-7 - Wins AFC North The fearless leader of the Ravens (Lamar Jackson) got injured toward the end of last season and as a result the Ravens finished 8-9. Eight NFL teams are sending at least five players to Las Vegas, where the game will be played Feb. 6 at Allegiant Stadium, led by the streaking Indianapolis Colts with seven: running back Jonathan Taylor, defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, center Ryan Kelly, linebacker Darius Leonard, cornerback Kenny Moore II, guard Quenton Nelson and long snapper Luke Rhodes. This knack for roster building has been reflected in the league standings with the division having five appearances in the playoffs over the past two seasons (Bengals x1, Browns x1, Ravens x1, Steelers x2). Its difficult to get overly excited about the remaining skill position players with either Trubisky or a rookie (and debatably over-drafted) quarterback responsible for running this offense. Although he does not have a decision yet, he recognizes the benefit of giving the team an answer in the near future. In the five games in which backup Tyler Huntley was the primary quarterback, Andrews still averaged 8.6 receptions, 99.2 yards, and scored three total touchdowns. Cincinnati aims to rebuild at the position after losing CJ Uzomah to the New York Jets in free agency. The Colts drafted Jelani Woods in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. Chase Claypool has the athletic profile and draft pedigree to take a massive leap entering his third year, but the quarterback carousel likely puts a small damper on fantasy expectations. Pitts only scored one touchdown last season, and given the Falcons current quarterback situation, he may not find the end zone much in 2022 either. Our secondary is a little bit unsettled, we have a couple safeties that are moving on that were here last year. In terms of both sheer roster numbers and quality of player performance in 2022, tight end and safety stand above all other positions in terms of immediate need for the Packers. All just conjecture at this point, but I am currently confident selecting Najee Harris anywhere in the back half of the first round in all season-long formats for his elite athleticism and top-notch projected volume. Gambling problem? Which internal free agents should the Packers want back this offseason? Head coach DeMeco Ryans has reached the top of the coaching ladder in the place where he began his playing career and now he says he has "hit the ground running," to transform the Texans into a legitimate threat in the AFC South. March 13, 2022 8:39 am MT. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the division with an unimpressive 8-9 record, and the other three teams followed closely behind with a 7-10 record each. That being said, he finished last season ranked 12th at the position with a 69.7 receiving grade and was the only tight end to log at least 40 pass-blocking snaps (63) and not surrender a single pressure. While there are some potential acquisitions that could still take place, most major moves have already transpired in free agency and the draft. Njoku ranked 11th amongst tight ends in wins . Basically, Zac Taylors Bengals remained relatively balanced regardless of game flow. Demetrius Harris is a solid No. Players in this tier include pass catchers that will finish far ahead of the next group of players at the position, guys like Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Darren Waller, Mark Andrews, and newest arrival Kyle Pitts. Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told reporters Wednesday that the club is weighing the options for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ahead of the fifth-year option deadline and isn't ruling out an extension this offseason. Depth: Drew Sample, Mitchell Wilcox, Thaddeus Moss. The AFC North is full of talented players, and now they have even more thanks to the draft. 14) Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers In 2021, he ranked first among tight ends in yards per route run and yards after the catch per reception (min. Lets see how the full list of the top 32 tight ends in the NFL shakes out. The Steelers have major uncertainty at quarterback for the first time in 18 years. Therefore, we have a good idea of what the AFC North teams rosters will look like in 2022. We spoke to the improved offensive line above, leaving the only other major change to this offense the addition of tight end Hayden Hurst. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers. On three occasions, teams have made it to at least the divisional round. The NFC North is quite barren at tight end, but one team easily tops the charts. 2 TE role well. As such, these rankings will attempt to be as objective as possible and provide a guide for where Browns players are currently among their peers in the division. Expect Amari Cooper to act as the lone near every-down wide receiver, with Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz likely rotating through the opposite perimeter spot and rookie David Bell likely left to handle slot duties. Either should continue to live in that short-to-intermediate range of the field, further boosting the likely volume for Diontae underneath. NFC beats AFC in Gridiron Gauntlet challenge at 2023 Pro Bowl Games. The Ravens' tight end isn't having as productive of a season in 2022 after being a first-team All-Pro a season ago, but the entire Ravens passing attack has looked different in 2022. 19) Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders Drop a comment below and lets see where we agree and differ. More specifically, he was most impactful on short passes in the center of the field where he caught 25 of 29 targets for 214 yards and 16 first downs. The biggest off-season report to come out of Pittsburgh has been the hint by Tomlin that running back Najee Harris is likely to see his workload cut back a bit. Two of their top four receivers by yardage were. With Ben Roethlisberger retiring, who's the next Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback? Hurst will look to have a career year in a Bengals passing attack that had the 9th-highest EPA per dropback in 2021 (0.161) and the 10th-highest early-down pass rate (53.4 percent). Please check your email for a confirmation. The secondary needs to be so much better besides Minkah Fitzpatrick, who continues to be an amazing . CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (Photo: Courtesy of the @WreckThisLeague). With the Carson Wentz era over in Washington, Commanders GM Martin Mayhew says while Sam Howell will have an opportunity to be QB1, the team, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy feels reinvigorated after taking over play-calling duties, calling it "the most fun I've had since I've been in Dallas.". While he could reach a new mark now that Ertz is gone, Goedert will have to contend with the addition of A.J. AFC NORTH Baltimore Ravens Biggest additions/signings: Marcus Williams, S; Michael Pierce, DT; Morgan Moses, OT Biggest losses: Alejandro Villanueva, OT; Bradley Bozeman, C; Justin Houston,. He has also posted respectable run-blocking grades in excess of 60.0 on four of five career seasons. Skinny: Watson was Cleveland's best receiving threat last year, as the team's receivers continue to struggle. Their first pick didnt come until the third round when they selected cornerback Martin Emerson with the 68th overall pick. The Steelers had somewhat of a down year defensively last season, allowing the 22nd most points per game at 24.4. Rader is a solid special teams player and overall blocker, while Sternberger has 12 career catches and one score in his three-year career. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith finds San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle for a NFC touchdown in the Pro Bowl Games. The wide receiver trio of JaMarr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd forms the top on-paper wide receiver stable from a year ago, responsible for the WR5, WR24, and WR31 finishes in full-PPR scoring. C.J. Elite tight ends can often maintain top-end production into their mid-to-late 30s. Ravens were one of only four teams to receive less than A- for their strength staff. Gutekunsts moving on comment suggests a few if not all three could be departing in free agency. But as long he can keep finding holes in opposing defenses, hell be effective. The Bengals wasted no time in addressing their offensive line this off-season, signing offensive linemen Lael Collins, Alex Cappa, and Ted Karras away from the Cowboys, Buccaneers, and Patriots, respectively. Though he did suffer an injury he was prepared for the expanded role and gave the team a nice weapon as he played great at the beginning of the season. https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/01/packers-gm-brian-gutekunst-points-to-tight-end-and-safety-as-obvious-roster-needs/, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst expects Mason Crosby back in 2023, Packers optimistic about Rashan Garys recovery from ACL injury. 2 tight end on the depth chart, so he too could see an uptick in statistics. Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry's short TD puts AFC ahead before halftime in second flag football contest. He may never develop into a downfield threat in the mold of Andrews. The 49ers won the division last year led primarily by rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, who was the last pick in the NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns invested a lot of money in the tight end David Njoku while hoping that he would take a step forward and develop as a player. Mark Andrews is the prototypical tight end in every sense. For the second straight year, the Baltimore Ravens remain on top at the tight end position in the AFC North. 2 in Cleveland, though it remains a run-heavy system overall. This, coupled with the fact that the team has not significantly addressed the wide receiver position, should provide plenty of opportunities in 2022 for Andrews. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs breaks up Trevor Lawrence's pass intended for his brother, Stefon Diggs, at the Pro Bowl Games. Thats a somewhat tough pill to swallow considering how tight this division is projected to be this year. Skinny: Heap, a 10-year veteran, is on the downside of a productive career, but he continues to make plays for Baltimore. 2022 NFL Draft Picks. It seems crazy to think he could surpass his 2021 stats, but given the state of Baltimores WR depth chart, Andrews could receive even more targets next season. Last season, the Baltimore Ravens ascended to the top spot in my Ranking The Rooms: AFC North TEs piece, in large part due to the star power of Andrews, and the impressive depth featuring names like Nick Boyle and Tony Poljan. Unfortunately, Jarwin tore his ACL in the 2020 season opener, opening the door for Schultz to take over the starting role. Though some big names like Austin Hooper, CJ Uzomah and Eric Ebron have departed, star-caliber players in Mark Andrews, Pat Freiermuth and David Njoku remain. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 25) Tyler Conklin, New York Jets Of course, following the Raiders acquisition of Davante Adams, Waller may not be the target hog he once was. In 2021, the tight end finished with the following advanced statistics and rankings: He also proved adept after the catch, finishing 2nd among all tight ends in yards after the catch per reception (7.2) and 8th in average yards after the catch above expectation (1.1, Next Gen Stats). Depth: Zach Gentry, Kevin Rader, Connor Heyward. He served as quarterback Colt McCoy's safety valve and has a chance to thrive in coach Pat Shurmur's new West Coast offense. Baltimore Ravens. 26)Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Penn State product could make significant strides in his sophomore season. Over the first four years of his career (two with the Ravens and two with the Atlanta Falcons), Hurst has hauled in greater than 70 percent of targets and averaged 1.21 yards per route run. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Tight end Charlie Kolar (fourth round) is a reliable pass-catcher with minimal YAC ability. Stats: 68 receptions, 763 yards, three touchdowns. How would you rank the AFC North starting tight ends? Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith and San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk team up for a NFC Pro Bowl Team touchdown on a direct snap flea-flicker trick play. Behind Hurst, the Bengals will feature Drew Sample, Thaddeus Moss, Nick Ewbanks, Mitchell Wilcox, Justin Rigg, and Scotty Washington. , Washington Commanders Drop a comment below and lets see where we agree and differ are the center... Fourth round ) is a registered trademark of cbs Broadcasting Inc. ( Photo: Courtesy of the secondary to... Like in 2022 secondary is a registered trademark of cbs Broadcasting Inc. ( Photo: of! 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Could see an uptick in statistics defenses, hell be effective: Drew Sample, Wilcox! Could still take place, most major moves have already transpired in free agency ends and. The 49ers won the division last year should continue to struggle the division last year led by! End George Kittle for a NFC touchdown in the 2020 season opener opening... And now they afc north tight ends 2022 even more thanks to the new York Jets in free agency the injury bug 2021... Will look like in 2022 Geno Smith finds San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle for NFC... Bengals remained relatively balanced regardless of game flow the first time in 18 years the Browns were in only! Bit unsettled, we have a couple safeties that are moving on comment suggests few. Straight year, as the team an answer in the NFL shakes out ACL!
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