Detroit Lions at the bottom of the NFC North tight end power rankings
By Ash Thompson
The Minnesota Vikings tight ends
Kyle Rudolph in the best tight end in the division. Barring injury, he will be the only tight end on the field for the majority of the Minnesota Vikings snaps in 2018. For that reason, his presence makes the Vikings tight end group the best in the division.
Rudolph never puts up gaudy receiving stats. but he tends toward the second tier on a per game basis. He is also one of the league’s better blocking tight ends though. Rudolph has been the consummate dual threat tight end in the NFL for the better part of a decade. He is no Rob Gronkowski, but he is the closest thing to it that you are going to find in the NFC North.
David Morgan II is the Vikings number two tight end. He earned the third best run blocking grade in the NFL for the 2017 season. Unlike Lewis of the Packers, Morgan also earned a pretty good grade as a receiver.
Morgan is one of the slowest position players in the NFL. He ran a 5.01 40 at the 2016 scouting combine. He is a very agile and quick player though, despite his lack of speed. Morgan made only ten catches in 2017, but he has the potential to fill a role similar to that of Darren Fells with the Lions last year.
The wildcard in Minnesota is CMU alum, Ty Conklin. Like Morgan, Conklin is quicker than fast. Unlike Morgan, Conklin is on the smaller side and is primarily useful as a receiver. He is not going to be very effective as a rookie, but the Vikings have put some effort into taking care of the future at the position. Conlkin was a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
Next: Lions top the NFC North wide receiver power rankings
The Lions are weak here. The tight end spot is one where the team’s roster is lacking. Because they have the least upside, and the least talent, the Lions are unfortunately the worst tight end group in the NFC North. The Bears potential still only lands them at third. Proven skill and depth earns the Packers second. The best individual player and good young depth are the reasons that the Vikings get the top spot in the NFC North Power Rankings.