There are many tight ends in the game that are overshadowed by there teams lack of gameplan or talent around them which disables them to get the ball as much as some high profile tight ends such as todd heap and jeremy shocky. A tight-end from maryland University who ran a 4.3 fourty yard dash that plays for the 49ers has the most “potential” and “talent” in the league in my opinion. Vernon Davis will have a chance to be polished into a blocking TE as well as work on his receiving skills while in Mike Martz offense. Of course Tony Gonzalez is the best active TE in the game as far as stats and records but is no where near his prime. You havent heard much about Alge crumpler either since he was traded to Tennessee. Kellen Winslow is also an amazing talent but doesnt have the coaching staff or talent this year as they did last year when his stats were decent. I would say Jason Witten or Jeremy shockey (when healthy and happy lol) are the Te’s to look up to at this point in the NFL but i think that Shockey had a sports hernia and is out 4-6 weeks

I love Tony. He’s my favorite player in the NFL but I think right now that Witten is the best TE in football due to the fact that he has an offense that gets him the ball a lot. If the Chiefs had a good QB and any type of threat at wide reciever besides Bowe streaking down the sidelines, then Tony would still be the most dominant TE in the game and it wouldn’t even be close.
If you look at an entire body of work, though, there is no doubt that Tony G is the best and nobody else in the league comes even close. He IS the best TE to ever play the game, period, and he still has a few more really good years in him.
Gates??? Thats just funny and you have no idea how offended/disgusted I am that Dallas Clark was even mentioned in the same answer as Tony Gonzalez.

No doubt, all things considered Tony Gonzalez is the preeminent TE and is a cool all around dude. Even though he is a perennial pro-bowler, he still had managed to keep his competitive edge and was perturbed when the chiefs had like 6 losses in a row last season. He could’ve easily not cared and just look at it as no big deal since he’s still gonna make the money anyhow, but he’s still got his competitive edge and that speaks to character.
Plus his wife October is ridiculously hot.

Of All time STATS-wise, that would be Tony. Of Course, he was the first TE to make a name for TE’s. I mean before Gate, Before Witten, before any of these new TE’s, there was Tony. Then you look at TE’s before him, mostly used for blocking, never was there a TE that would get passed to as much as Gonzalez. This is because TE’s were not that athletic before him. Of course you had some that could catch the ball but none with speed and moves before Gonzalez.
Now as far as the TE with most potential, you have to give it to Gates. With the Chargers not looking for a franchise receiver (ie Ocho Cinco, Owens, and Moss) they end up passing the ball mostly to Gates. Yes, Charger fans I know there exists the presence of V. Jackson and don’t forget Veteran Chris Chambers but I just see either one of them being a franchise player like Tomlinson, Gates, or Merriman. Shoot I don’t even see Rivers sticking around too long after his peak. All I am saying is that without the management looking for that big receiver we stick with Gates and that is why he has the most potential.
Now the TE with the best offense to get him the ball is Witten. I am not a Dallas fan at ALL. I was cheering for the skins when they beat them this weekend but Witten has an offense with so many different players that he will most likely be open the most and be able to make big stats this year as a TE. With key players in the backfield, receiver, and a big name QB, Dallas has the offense to get Witten the ball more than any other TE in the league.

Tony G is the best of all time, for sure.
…But he is at the end of his career (or close to it). He isn’t as athletic as he used to be. He still has those hands, but..
..if you asked me right now to pick any single tight end in the league to install on my team, I gotta look at how good they are RIGHT NOW.
..I’m taking Gates. He’s at the top of his game right now.
Tony Gonzalez in his prime VS Antonio Gates in his prime = no contest. Gonzalez blew everyone away about 5-7 years ago.
Sorry, bro. He’s old now.

Well if you look at TE that are great in the clutch and hel pyou win games, you would have to say Chris Cooley and Jason Witten. They are the 2 best TEs right now. Remember stats arent everything just cause one guy has 1,000yrds and one guy has 700yrds, doesnt necessarily make the 1,000yrder better overall.

Im NOT a Cowdung fan.
But, Jason Witten has been looking pretty good. It takes two to three guys to take him down after the catch, Plus he’s such big target, good hands and doesn’t fumble the ball no matter how many guys are trying to strip the ball away.

gates is the best, stats and potential are too very different things, gonzalez might have the stats, but would anyone honestly take him over a healthy gates? gates is still not even 90%, yet he is still putting up very good numbers.

I agree, Tony Ganzalez will go down as the greatest TE in the history of the NFL. Just by pure number, the amount of TD’s and receptions that alone will put him in the HOF in the first ballot.

Tony Gonzalez has great career numbers, but the best tight end today is Antonio Gates.http://americanfootballtopics.blogspot.c…

All around TE is Witten with blocking and catching balance, he’s just playing on the wrong team.
Best Receiving TE is Gonzalez though

My guess of all time tight ends is heath miller if Pittsburgh o-line tightens their game up so he dosent have to block every down or so big ben can stay up right and trow to him

Gonzalez yes is a good player. Dallas Clark would be really good, if he could just keep from getting hurt all the time.

I would have to say witten at this present time. For previous years i would have to say Tony. I remembered every time he played my Dolphins he always murdered us. lolol how crazy

of ALLL time? Tony has to be one of the front runners. But today? Witten and Gates.

Tony Gonzalez is the Brett Farve of TEs.

Jason witten hands down

Of all time or now?
Gates