Perhaps of interest to the Indianapolis Colts’ offense, here are the 7 best run-blocking tight ends from the 2024 season, according to PFF’s metrics.
Not to be forgotten about when discussing the tight end position for the Indianapolis Colts is that player’s ability to contribute in the run game as a blocker.
Throughout this pre-draft process, much of the attention when it comes to the tight end position for the Colts has been on the passing game–and understandably so. The Colts very much need a much greater pass-catching presence from that position group after the entire Indianapolis tight end unit in 2024 combined for just 467 receiving yards. For some context, there were 25 individual tight ends who had more receiving yards than the entire Colts tight end room did.
However, being able to impact the game in both facets–as a blocker and pass-catcher–is what the Colts are ideally looking for. A tight end who has spent most of his time at the college level lining up in the slot or is viewed as someone who can’t help out in the running game is a prospect who may not be high up on the Colts’ big board.
“You gotta be multiple in the pass game,” Steichen said at the NFL’s annual league meeting via the team site. “Obviously you would love the guy that can block. I think those guys, it’s hard to find the true blocking tight ends anymore, but a guy that can battle in the run game is good. Great hands, can come in and out of the breaks, big and strong after the catch as well. There’s a lot of good ones in this draft. It’ll be interesting.”
Now, having said that, the pendulum swinging too far in the blocking direction limits that position group’s ability to make an impact in the passing game, and the Colts could find themselves in a similar situation as they did in 2024. There is an obvious balance that needs to be struck, but I tend to think that if the Colts are going to be more willing to lean one direction vs. the other, it’s going to be for that blocking presence, given the staples of Steichen’s offense.
So, who are the top run-blocking tight ends in this year’s draft class?
With help from PFF’s grading system, here are the draft-eligible tight ends who received the highest marks in 2024. But first, and as always, I want to say that PFF’s grading system is not the be-all-end-all by any means. Rather, it is one metric out of many that are out there to measure a player’s performance.
Brock Lampe, Northern Illinois
PFF grade: 84.1
2024 receiving yards: 91
Sean Brown, Jacksonville State
PFF grade: 81.1
2024 receiving yards: 181
Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech
PFF grade: 80.1
2024 receiving yards: 320
Nick Miles, Wyoming
PFF grade: 79.4
2024 receiving yards: 60
Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech
PFF grade: 74.7
2024 receiving yards: 195
Keleki Latu, Washington
PFF grade: 73.8
2024 receiving yards: 371
Matthew Hibner, SMU
PFF grade: 72.1
2024 receiving yards: 368