NFL.com Says the Best Tight End Duo in the League Belongs to the Patriots

Steven Senne. Shutterstock Images.

Welcome back to another edition of NFL List Season, that low budget summer replacement series all the football sites run in July to fill content hours in a slow news month. Like a journalism version of American Ninja Warriors or prime time game shows played by celebrities. So we get treated to high school yearbook-style superlatives like this:

And on this episode, we turn to Bucky Brooks, one of NFL.com's leading voices and, in my opinion, one of the best analysts in the business. This week his list ranks "The Top Duos at 11 Key Position Groups." So, for instance, Buffalo quarterbacks Josh Allen and Case Keenum, Chargers wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and so on. And I'm here to discuss his choice for the top tight end tandem in the league. Putting the Ravens' Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle at number two and the Browns David Njoku and Harrison Bryant third, Brooks has the Patriots with the best tight end room in the league:

1. Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith

Do not let the modest numbers put up by this veteran tandem in their first season together in New England (50 catches, 603 yards, nine TDs for Henry; 28 catches, 294 yards, one TD for Smith) overshadow their immense talent and potential. Henry, 27, and Smith, 26, are outstanding pass-catchers with the route-running savvy and instincts to find voids in coverage. In addition, they are interchangeable seam runners with the speed and quickness to scoot down the hashes on a variety of play-action passes that lure linebackers and safeties to the line of scrimmage. With quarterback Mac Jones expected to take his game up a notch after playing at a Pro Bowl level as a rookie, the Patriots' dynamic duo could create plenty of headaches for opponents ill-equipped to deal with a versatile "12" personnel package.

While I'll correct Brooks slightly with the reminder that Henry was far and away Mac Jones' favorite red zone target and was on the business end of 26% of his touchdown passes, I won't beef with his overall take that last year's numbers for these two were sub-optimal, to put it mildly. Smith was, in fact, the biggest disappointment on the roster. In his last two seasons in Tennessee - in a clearly run-oriented offense, he had over 80 receptions for almost 1,000 yards, 12 touchdowns, and Pro Football Focus receiving grades of over 77.0. But in his first year in Foxboro, he missed OTAs and never really recovered. He dropped a pass in his second game an two more in a bad loss to New Orleans. Then started seeing the ball less, aside from a series of gadget plays  where he'd get the ball in the backfield in a sort of Cordarelle Patterson role. But even his rushing numbers didn't blow anybody's kilt up, averaging 4.4 YPA with his longest being a carry of nine yards. 

But - and have a seat before you read any further because this is going to make your brain swell - I also share Bucky Brooks' optimism. Henry and Smith were the top two free agents at their position in 2021 for a reason. Because they have been productive over several years and are entering their primes. Both joined an offense that relies heavily on two tight sets. A system that has traditionally taken a year or more to master for rookie tight ends and veterans alike. Let's not lose sight of the fact that 2010 Rob Gronkowski was every bit the superhuman physical specimen he was later on. But in his first year in New England produced almost identical numbers to Henry's (42 receptions, 546 yards, 13.0 YPC, 10 TDs in 16 games). Gronk needed a year to get fully acclimated to a complex scheme that asks a lot of its tight ends. The hope of every Pats fan is that the same is true of Henry and Smith. And here's one of the best in his field agreeing with us. 

Moreover, it's worth mentioning just how abysmal this situation was a year and a half ago. After Gronk "retired" in 2019 - long after the draft, though I'm not bitter - the leading tight ends the next two years were Ben Coates in 2019, with 17 catches for 173 yards, and Ryan Izzo in 2020, with 13 for 199. And over those two seasons, the position produced an astonishingly low two touchdowns. Over 32 games. 

Now in no way, shape or form am I content with comparing the 2022 TE room to 2019-20, just to feel good about things. By that standard, you could randomly select two lucky ticket holders every week, suit them up and get more production. I prefer the bar set slightly higher. Like comparing it to the other 31 tight end tandems in the league. And by that measurement, I agree that the Pats have the best in the business. And for sure, they'll be better than last year. And that's all that really matters.