Lots of quality tight ends are available on the 2021 NFL free agency market as teams can fill a vital position on the roster.
There are only a few days left before the start of the new NFL fiscal year on March 17. There has been a slew of moves made by teams throughout the league as they look to make their financial situation much better ahead of 2021 NFL free agency.
This year’s salary cap stands at $182.5 million (via Kevin Patra of NFL.com), a little higher than was originally projected but a lot lower than a year ago. Hence all 32 clubs will be looking for bargains and many players may not the big payday they were hoping for this offseason.
When it comes to the tight end position, there are some familiar names that are either available now or who figure to be. We’re looking at the five best at the position on the market this offseason.
5. Rob Gronkowski (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
All signs point to the popular veteran returning to Tampa for a second straight season. But do the Buccaneers have enough money to get him and a lot of their key players back under contract for 2021?
Rob Gronkowski caught two of Tom Brady’s three touchdown passes in the 31-9 win over Kansas City in Super Bowl LV. The career numbers are impressive both in the regular season and in the playoffs. It took “Gronk” a little while to get acclimated back to football after taking 2019 off. But he rounded into form eventually and was at his best come the playoffs.
He has an impressive 86 regular-season touchdown grabs and has caught 14 touchdown passes in 20 career postseason contests.
4. Jared Cook (Released by New Orleans Saints)
Over the weekend, quarterback Drew Brees made it official and announced this retirement. But earlier this month, the Saints released tight ends Jared Cook and Josh Hill. It was somewhat mystifying when it came to the former, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this year.
Meanwhile, Hill just inked a deal with the Detroit Lions. Cook has suited up for five teams during his career and just spent the last two seasons in the Big Easy snaring throws primarily from Brees. He’s totaled 80 receptions for 1,209 yards and 16 scores in 29 regular-season tilts with the Saints the past two years.
The 33-year-old pro and two-time Pro Bowler makes for an inviting target.
3. Jonnu Smith (Tennessee Titans)
Update: Jonnu Smith has signed with the Patriots
He is a multi-talented performer who has really come into his own the last year and a half. A third-round pick from Florida International in 2017, tight end Jonnu Smith has seen his production improve on a yearly basis and has become an effective performer for head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
He comes off a season in which he set career highs in targets (65), catches (41), receiving yards (448) and touchdown receptions (8). The 6-3, 248-pound target could draw plenty of interest on the open market and his best football may be ahead of him. Teams like the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks could use Smith’s big-play ability from his position.
2. Kyle Rudolph (Released by Minnesota Vikings)
It was not a super shock that the Vikings let go of veteran Kyle Rudolph after 10 seasons. He was one of the team’s most reliable players but the writing seemed to be on the wall. In any case, whoever claims the two-time Pro Bowler will be getting a quality pass catcher. It wasn’t all that long ago he was catching the game-winning score in overtime when the Vikings surprised the Saints in the 2019 wild card playoffs at the Superdome.
For his career, Rudolph has snared 453 balls and 48 have gone for scores in 140 regular-season contests. But he also comes off a 2020 season in which he played in just a dozen games and totaled only 28 receptions. And his one touchdown was a career-low.
1. Hunter Henry (Los Angeles Chargers)
A year ago, 26-year-old veteran Hunter Henry played for the franchise tender for his position in the form of a one-year, $10.607 million deal. There was speculation that the Los Angeles Chargers might tag him for a second consecutive time but that never transpired. A second-round pick by the club in 2016 from the University of Arkansas, he missed the entire 2018 regular-season due to injury but did return a postseason game vs. the Patriots that year.
So in 55 career regular-season outings he’s totaled 196 receptions for 2,322 yards and 21 scores. This past season and with young Justin Herbert as the primary quarterback, he finished with career bests in targets (93) and catches (60).