Chiefs training camp preview: Tight Ends

Part five of our training camp preview of the position groups with the last of the offense in tight end.

Welcome to what is probably the second strongest position group on the offense. There are currently five tight ends on the Chiefs roster with each of them behind Travis Kelce impressing the coaches both during the season and during mini-camps. Andy Reid loves to run his three tight end formations for both extra blockers in the running game and extra big pass catchers down in the red zone.

History has shown that the tight end is Alex Smith’s best friend in the passing game and for him the Chiefs may be thinking that more is definitely better. Outside of Jamaal Charles, Kelce has had the most targets consistently from Smith over the past three years. Before Smith came to the Chiefs, Vernon Davis had the best years of his career with Smith at the helm. The Chiefs could be on the verge of one of the best tight end groups in the league but only camp can tell.

Overall Grade B+

This could be the year that Kelce takes that final step towards becoming Gronk level elite. The Chiefs hope that having a legitimate threat opposite Kelce will open the coverage and allow more yardage down the middle of the field. Probably the biggest advantage about this group is that most linebackers will be unable to cover them as the corner backs will have their hands busy with the Chiefs improved receiver group.

Should defenses elect to use safeties to guard these tight ends, their size and jumping ability should give even the best safeties major headaches. The Chiefs expect a lot of production from this group going so far as possibly keeping four of the five tight ends on the final roster.

Next: Projected starters