Antonio Gates is NFL's best tight end

Filed in archive NFL on June 11, 2007

Courtesy NFLfreaks.com

End Zone Buzz continues its NFL's Best series with the tight end position.

For a relatively unheralded skill position, there are several very good NFL tight ends. Tony Gonzalez, Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow and Alge Crumpler are just a few outstanding tight ends.

For our book, though, san diego's Antonio Gates is the best tight end in the NFL.

Although Gates doesn't have the longevity of Gonzalez or the flair of Shockey, Gates has three straight tremendous seasons, which is quite an achievement, when you're playing alongside LaDainian Tomlinson -- the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player.

In those seasons, Gates has averaged roughly 80 catches, 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. Plus, Gates has fumbled only one time in his four NFL seasons. For a player who is a large red-zone target, this is a key statistic.

With Tomlinson touching the ball most of the time, Gates' stats are that much more amazing. Bottom line, when Gates gets the ball, he produces.

The previously-mentioned tight ends are outstanding players. If we were starting an NFL team, though, we'd want Antonio Gates as our tight end.