Celebrating National Tight End Day with scouting reports gone awry

This Sunday is National Tight Ends Day. To celebrate, we’re looking back at what critics had to say about some of today’s top tight ends before they played in the NFL.

Mark Andrews | Baltimore Ravens

Andrews has been Baltimore’s leading receiver three times since joining the team as a third-round pick in 2018. He topped all tight ends with 1,361 yards in 2021 and has been to three Pro Bowls.

The scouting chatter: 

"Doesn't stand up athletically against the top tight ends in the class," wrote Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. "Doesn't show up on film as a blocker and appears uninterested in the run game. Can lose battles against physical defenders and looks to stay out of traffic."

Andrews missed most of this year’s training camp after being involved in a car accident on the way to the team facility. He’s since recovered and seems to be heating up with 107 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games.

Brock Bowers | Las Vegas Raiders

The 13th pick in this year’s draft, Bowers leads all NFL tight ends with 60 targets and 477 yards and is currently the Raiders’ leading receiver

The scouting chatter:

"The only real knock on Bowers is his lack of elite size," wrote NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, who had Bowers as his top tight end coming into the draft. "He doesn't have a long, rangy body type in the 6-foot-5 or 6-6 range. He is built more like an old school H-back. Obviously, there's nothing he can do to improve in this area. I don't see it as a major issue, but some teams will worry about his ability to hold up as an in-line blocker at the NFL level."

Jeremiah might have had a point. While Pro Football Focus gives Bowers top marks overall among tight ends, he ranks 31st in pass-blocking. Still, with 47 catches in seven games, Las Vegas is obviously thrilled to have him.

Travis Kelce | Kansas City Chiefs

Kelce may not have a touchdown this season and currently be tied with Pittsburgh’s Pat Friermuth with the 13th-most yards (245) of any tight end in 2024 but per Stamuse, his 11,573 yards and 74 scores are more than any tight end since he joined the league in 2013. 

The scouting chatter:

"Suspended for an entire season for violating team rules," noted NFL.com's scouting report on the future Hall of Famer. "Only one season of production. Doesn't have blazing speed. Not a tremendously explosive athlete. Doesn't come out of his breaks all that well."

Kelce discussed how his suspension came up in a pre-draft interview with the Dallas Cowboys on his "New Heights" podcast in the offseason.