Pitts only scored one touchdown last season, and given the Falcons current quarterback situation, he may not find the end zone much in 2022 either. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. *Note that all statistics were sourced from Sports Info Solutions, rbsdm.com, and Pro Football Focus (PFF), unless otherwise noted. Though he did suffer an injury he was prepared for the expanded role and gave the team a nice weapon as he played great at the beginning of the season. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb puts the NFC ahead 33-27 in the Pro Bowl Games with a 32-yard touchdown reception against the AFC from Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. He may not be the most explosive player at the position (4.6 career yards after the catch per reception and 10 missed tackles forced), but he is a reliable pass-catcher with just three career drops on 183 targets. Additionally, if you'd like to donate above and beyond the ad-free option, you can donate via PayPal as well. A season ago, Las Vegas ranked 19th in offensive DVOA, but an improved unit could lead to more opportunities for Waller. The team also brought in wide receiver Amari Cooper to replace Jarvis Landry, who left for New Orleans. Njokus production to this point does not match his new salary, but hes talented enough to make a jump in a featured pass-catching role. The contracts of Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis voided, and Tyler Davis is a restricted free agent who isnt likely to receive a tender. The Browns have a very nice on-paper roster, but we cant help but feel like the self-induced off-field distractions brought on through the trade for Deshaun Watson and subsequent quarterback outbursts will have some sort of lingering effects this season. They instead elected to re-sign tight end David Njoku, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, and running back DErnest Johnson. Veteran Josh Oliver also returns as a big move tight end for the Ravens, though his roster spot is in serious jeopardy. The Ravens move Andrews at the line of scrimmage to maximize his matchups, which he often dominates. Andrews already blew up last year, and his 153 targets were the third-most by a tight end since 2000. A lot of the trajectory of this team comes down to how successful they are able to be on the ground behind an improving offensive line, which should trickle down to the other areas of the field for them. The wide receiver trio of JaMarr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd forms the top on-paper wide receiver stable from a year ago, responsible for the WR5, WR24, and WR31 finishes in full-PPR scoring. He responded by putting up 56 catches for a career-high 830 yards and four touchdowns on a 79% snap rate. Zach Ertz, Maxx Williams, Darrell Daniels and Demetrius Harris all are free agents . Their first pick didnt come until the third round when they selected cornerback Martin Emerson with the 68th overall pick. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet. Well, for one, the Ravens attempted 35.9 passes per game in 2021 after averaging just 25.9 in 2020. That honestly is more of a testament to the level of health these three enjoyed throughout the season as each played more than 840 offensive snaps. AFC North 2022 Position Rankings: Tight End, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta gives update on WR Rashod Bateman, RB J.K. Dobbins, The Ravens GM covered the injury and surgery of Rashod Bateman, and the exciting 2023 season for J.K. Dobbins, NFLPA poll votes Ravens strength staff as the NFLs worst. AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC West Broncos Chargers Chiefs NFC East Commanders Cowboys Eagles Giants NFC North Bears Lions Packers. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke publicly for the first time since completing his darkness retreat. Additionally, he generated the 6th-highest explosive play rate (13 percent), while the Ravens' air attack in total finished with an eight percent explosive pass rate that was good for 15th. Please check your email for a confirmation. The youth at wide receiver persists heading into 2021, with Marquise Hollywood Brown off to Arizona, leaving second-year wide receiver Rashod Bateman as the de facto lead wideout, and a smattering of youth in Devin Duvernay, James Proche II, and Tylan Wallace left to fight over the WR2 and slot snaps. While he could reach a new mark now that Ertz is gone, Goedert will have to contend with the addition of A.J. That's what happens when he produced one of the best rookie seasons we've ever seen from a tight end. Hurst will look to have a career year in a Bengals passing attack that had the 9th-highest EPA per dropback in 2021 (0.161) and the 10th-highest early-down pass rate (53.4 percent). The Ravens' tight end isn't having as productive of a season in 2022 after being a first-team All-Pro a season ago, but the entire Ravens passing attack has looked different in 2022. 30) Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings AFC North Dynasty Breakout Players for 2022 - Dynasty Nerds Dynasty AFC North Dynasty Breakout Players for 2022 There are always players that breakout every year in dynasty, but @DarthDbacks gives you some names to go get before they have their dynasty breakout in 2022, AFC North edition September 2, 2022 The Bengals wasted no time in addressing their offensive line this off-season, signing offensive linemen Lael Collins, Alex Cappa, and Ted Karras away from the Cowboys, Buccaneers, and Patriots, respectively. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! Colts' 2022 training camp preview: Tight Ends Share this article 57 shares Kevin Hickey July 12, 2022 2:18 pm ET The Indianapolis Colts are just a few weeks away from returning to Westfield. Chalk it down as a head-scratcher, and I have been hesitant to project Njoku for any meaningful increase to his modest 45% route participation rate from a year ago. Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Njoku finally found his game in the NFL last year for the Browns as well, turning in a 36/475/4 season, leading to a huge extension from the Browns after receiving the franchise tag. Cleveland underwent some significant change at the tight end position this offseason, cutting former starting tight end Austin Hooper in a cap casualty move, before then turning around and handing a massive extension to Njoku, whom the Browns placed the franchise tag on after the 2021 season. Hes quickly become the top target in Baltimore. They did improve their offensive line this off-season with the signings of Mason Cole and James Daniels, but the questions at quarterback remain, providing another landscape that could see them struggle with both time of possession and points allowed per game. Kittles lack of size and production at Iowa forced him to fall to the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, but hes capitalized on his elite athletic testing at the pro level. Anarumos 4-2-5 base defense over-performed last year relative to the talent level of his players, primarily due to the complex nature of the scheme itself. Here is how we rank the AFC North's tight ends: Stats: 42 receptions, 512 yards, two touchdowns. John Harbaugh returns for his 14 th season as head honcho of these Ravens, while Greg Roman returns for his third season calling plays offensively. But when given a chance, Goedert is an outstanding pass-catching weapon. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Thats likely because the Bucs were trying to reduce his wear and tear. His alignment versatility (62% of his snaps were in the slot or out wide) and ability to find open space should lead to plenty of opportunities. One year after being my biggest tight end fade, Kyle Pitts is now one of the best fantasy football tight end targets in 2022. It appears likely Emerson will find his way into the starting lineup this season after the team traded slot corner Troy Hill. His most efficient season came in 2019 with the Ravens where he recorded a career-high receiving grade of 77.3, as well as career marks in aDOT (9.8), passer rating when targeted (127.3), and yards per route run (1.65). 2 hole thanks to the emergence of Freiermuth, who looked like the next great young tight end as a rookie in 2021. Behind him is rising third-year player Harrison Bryant. Steelers work to keep playoff hopes, Mike Tomlin's streak alive. The start of training camp is now just days away for teams across the NFL, with preseason and the regular season not far down the line. Assigned the franchise tag in March, Schultz may be wise to hold off on a long-term agreement until after what should be a promising 2022 campaign. 14) Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers: Team needs, draft targets, salary cap, and prospects to watch. Depth: Zach Gentry, Kevin Rader, Connor Heyward. Woods is a 6-7 253-pound tight end who projects as a red zone threat in the NFL. The Steelers selected Pat Freiermuth with the number 55 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft on the heels of him being named the KwalickClark Tight End of the Year in 2020. I also expect Diontae Johnson to continue to be featured as the primary pass-catcher in Matt Canadas offense. 32) Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots, Jalen Carters Arrest Dominated the Discussion at the NFL Combine, for Better or Worse, Biggest Takeaways From The NFLPA Report Card: Vikings, Dolphins, and Raiders Shine, NFL Scouting Combine News and Rumors: The Unspoken Truth About the Ravens and Lamar Jackson, NFL Post-June 1 Designation: What, Why, and How, Best Head Coaches in the NFL 2023: Andy Reid, Bill Belichick, and John Harbaugh Battle Atop Rankings. How would you rank the AFC North starting tight ends? If he returns, Gronk will be a specialized weapon for Brady with a chance to earn his fifth Super Bowl ring. In 2021, he ranked first among tight ends in yards per route run and yards after the catch per reception (min. worth roughly $7.5 million more than the TE tag. But . Now fully healthy, the 29-year-old is set up for a rebound campaign in 2022. He may never develop into a downfield threat in the mold of Andrews. On the other side of the ball, the Browns chose to make Njoku the fifth-highest paid tight end in the league from a yearly perspective. Skinny: On Tuesday I made the case that Miller deserves to be in the top 10, but he finished at No. 31) Harrison Bryant, Cleveland Browns If anything, expect those values to see a slight uptick considering the improvements to the offensive line. The Kansas City Chiefs (six), Los Angeles Chargers (six), Baltimore Ravens (five), Cleveland Browns (five), Dallas Cowboys (five), San Francisco 49ers (five) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (five) were the other teams to have at least five Pro Bowlers. Tight end Charlie Kolar (fourth round) is a reliable pass-catcher with minimal YAC ability. Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told reporters Wednesday that the club is weighing the options for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ahead of the fifth-year option deadline and isn't ruling out an extension this offseason. Heck, its even possible hes at No. 2 tight end. All three will immediately step into a new-look offensive line built around former first and second-round picks Jonah Williams (left guard) and Jackson Carman (left tackle). 2022 AFC North. This, coupled with the fact that the team has not significantly addressed the wide receiver position, should provide plenty of opportunities in 2022 for Andrews. March 13, 2022 8:39 am MT. All contract information, as applicable, was sourced from Over the Cap.. Across the league, youd be hard-pressed to find a deeper, more talented tight end room than the Ravens. Consider him a weekly upside receiver at cost. Sample is a solid blocker, one that can handle the No. Hurst is a good enough pass-catcher and blocker to be an adequate replacement for Uzomah in the Bengals offense. The front office trio of Kevin Stefanski (head coach), Alex Van Pelt (offensive coordinator), and Joe Woods (defensive coordinator) return for their third year together in Cleveland. The Ravens drafted two tight ends (Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta) last year to eventually replace Heap once he slows down. The Browns ranked sixth in the league in situation-neutral rush rate in 2021 at 46%, just behind the Colts, 49ers, Titans, Saints, and Eagles. Hurst had a down year in 2021 in just 13 games with the Atlanta Falcons, hauling in 26 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns one year after hauling in more than 50 passes and six touchdowns in a career resurgence. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley lofts corner-pocket TD toss to wide-open Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase for AFC. 17) C.J. Much of Freiermuths production was short-yardage but the Steelers downfield passing attack was limited as a whole. 28) Jared Cook, Free Agent Pittsburgh started their draft with the 20th overall selection of quarterback Kenny Pickett in the first round, who should compete with Mitchell Trubisky for the starting role to begin the year. Wide receiver George Pickens came off the board next at pick 52 in the second round, followed by defensive end DeMarvin Leal in the third (84th overall), wide receiver Calvin Austin III in the fourth (138th overall), tight end/fullback hybrid Connor Heyward in the sixth (208th overall), linebacker Mark Robinson in the seventh (225th overall), and quarterback Chris Oladokun in the seventh (241st overall). That list included Moreau, who really improved as a receiver last year. As such, these rankings will attempt to be as objective as possible and provide a guide for where Browns players are currently among their peers in the division. All four teams (the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers) have general managers, front offices, and personnel departments that have proven more than capable of evaluating, acquiring, and retaining talent in recent years. University of Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, one of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, is the subject of arrest warrants in Athens, Georgia, on reckless driving and racing charges as a result of an ongoing investigation into a fatal car crash on Jan. 15, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department said on Wednesday. 18) David Njoku, Cleveland Browns Interested in following the two positions at the NFL Scouting Combine? Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is the lone change amongst the big three but has experience coaching a 3-4 base defense from the seven years he spent with the organization prior to a short . For our rankings, we will utilize prior performance via advanced metrics and data (with an emphasis placed on the most recent season), as a benchmark. Published 6/13/2022. Losing Uzomah to the Jets will really hurt this position group overall in Cincinnati. We will be breaking down every division and giving you our predictions on how things will play out! Trade acquisition Marquise Brown will take over a significant role in the offense, but Ertz will be Kyler Murrays primary target over the middle of the field. Taylor returns for his fourth season in Cincinnati and brings back defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan. Despite a good season from Cole Kmet, the offense received nothing behind him. When asked about his team's success with the play, GM Howie Roseman said, "All I know is everything we're doing is legal and works.". 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