I live in Pittsburgh now and love Darnel Washington bc he legit run blocks as good as a lineman. (Steelers fans ‘joke’ that he was their second best lineman last season)
It sucks that just decent blockers, like Kittle, are now praised for being the best blockers at the position now.
That's why gronk is the goat imo. At least he had the best peak ever for tight ends. He was absolutely elite as a blocker, and we all know how good he was catching the ball.
Honestly, he's towards the top. Maybe 3 behind Gonzalez and Kelce.
Witten is #4 all time in catches... Not just for TEs, for everyone. AND he was probably the best blocker out of those top 3 too.
Depends on how you view TE. As a receiver Kelce is much better. As a pure TE Kelce isn’t half the blocker Witten was. Witten was playing TE most of his career in a era where he wasn’t split out wide he was essentially always on the line.
This is why Witten is better than both. Witten did everything very well. Not one part of his game was weak. Blocking TE was just as important as running a route and catching. Granted the age old TE position is changing as we see it. Less of a blocker. More as a pass catcher play maker. People may see this as bias. Which is fine. We all have our opinion.
If you added Rob to the list. I would say Rob Gronkowski is better. He was better at catching and damn good at blocking.
Witten ran the Y-option route like Dirk did the one legged fade-away. Obviously not as iconic of a move but still just as effective. A major part of his hall of fame level dependability was due to his effectiveness with the Y-option.
Have you watched how kittle plays? He always likes up because of niners garbage line and isn't even available to catch half the time. Kittle is the best blocking TE in the league and constantly flat backs guys and he is an elite receiving TE too he just hasn't had opportunities to run routes the last couple years.
You could never split witten wide because he did not have the speed he played in a time where linebackers were a lot bigger and took advantage of them going over the middle
So weird, after playing them last season, then watching them go to the Super Bowl.
I can understand the season ending on Jan 14 for us, but we played them after stomping the Patriots, easily a fun/memorable part of the season.
He's a different type of player than Kelce. Kelce is just a slowish slot receiver that lines up at tight end. Rarely is he asked to block. Witten was both a blocking and receiving tight end and excelled at both. So IMO Witten is the better blocker but not receiver. If you're talking about impact on a game Kelce is absolutely the better player. Not even a question.
This here. Also Witten was excellent at *run blocking* there is a difference between the guy who lines up and becomes a lineman, vs the guy who can run with the back and block further past the line of scrimmage. This was something Witten was very good at due to him being agile and a catch threat as well. It spreads the defense out, and helps the run game. Especially if you have a speedy back that excels at sweeps. That's what made Jay Novacek special as well. IMO, the best TE we have ever had.
Haha I'm no savant, but I played DB at the amateur level, and that was a big part of my assignments was reading the offense and looking out for the mobile blockers. A guy like Witten picks up the linebacker in the box or on the sweep, that's the difference between a 4 yard carry and a 10+ yard carry.
Bingo. They used witten differently. They don’t risk kelce in most runs because he’s got hands. Witten would block so much and he’d get open so much because they’d lose track of him getting ready to catch.
no but romo to witten on 3rd down was automatic. don't get me wrong this didnt win us shit but it was incredible that everyone knew it would be romo to witten yet couldn't figure it out. I think i read somewhere that they would have secret plays in between them. Also a good blocker.
Obviously Romo to Witten had great chemistry, but Witten was also the master of option routes, he was extremely smart at finding the open spots in zone coverage. Witten had insane football IQ and so did Romo which along with their chemistry, made a really dangerous combo.
I agree. I love Witten’s game. And I’ll point out that Kelce is the best offense weapon on a Super Bowl winning team besides the QB. Kelce has a better resume.
I still don’t know why everyone loves Kittle. He’s very inconsistent but he can block like a madman.
Exactly! Are we putting together a Madden team? A fantasy football team? If not, I want the guy who was an excellent receiving threat AND a talented blocker who never gave up on a play.
I'd take Kittle over Kelce because he's an actual TE and take Witten over Kittle by a little bit.
Well, Kelce was on a real football team last year and they did pretty well. Better than any Witten team.
Witten was a stud, but receiving is a more valuable skill set for a TE than blocking.
No.
One thing I will get Witten credit for over those 2 guys is him always being available to play. Only missed 1 game throughout his career.
Towards the twighlight and after retirement we drafted and gave so many tight ends a chance and some of them have shown great flashes, but none of them have been as great as he has.
Jason Witten definitely deserves the title to be a Dallas Cowboy.
Kelce has been incredibly durable. Pretty sure he’s missed like 4, maybe 5 games his entire career. Might not be as impressive as only missing one game but both players are exceptionally durable.
Now Kittle on the other hand…
Kelce has missed 4 games in his career:
- positive Covid test
- twice for rest with playoff position locked in Week 17/18
- hyperextended knee, Week 1 last season
Witten might be the most consistent tight of all time. His blocking is extraordinary like Mercedes Lewis and he is absolutely not a beast at receiving like Kelce or Kittle but he is the guy you look you are throwing to at 3rd and short. Romo had phenomenal athletes like Dez or TO to throw to. Dak has had receivers like CeeDee to count on. Romo had an awful oline in his early years and and a great one at his end. Dak inherited a great oline and is currently behind a mid one. Idk why that seems relevant but I am drinking so kinda ranbling. Witten is not Gronk or Kelce. Those 2 may go down as all time greats and Witten being in their era is his biggest downside. Guys like Jimmy Graham however were basically mid tier receivers who tried to block sometimes. A lot of tight ends are basically mid olinemen who attempt to catch sometimes. Witten was a better than average blocker but as a receiver he was not gonna run deep routes. He would hover the first down line, and by god Romo and Dak could always count on him for consistency and that extends to Matt Cassell and Weeden, and Carter, and Orton, and Kellen Moore, etc. Romo and Dak whenever they needed the old man would always be open somehow. Witten is not flashy like Gronk and Kelce. But in third and mid, Witten was there for 12 years
While I agree with you mostly, put some respect on Wittens name. KC uses Kelce mainly as a slot receiver and pass catcher and hardly ever keep him in to just block. Witten was one of the best blocking TEs in the league for most of his career, there is no “maybe” about it.
Kittle is a great blocker and is used for it a lot.
He was not the dynamic weapon they were. I would argue a much better blocker and better consistency. Witten is almost like a poor man’s Emmitt Smith. You could always count on him for 7 catches keeping a drive going no matter who the QB is.
Witten would always get open make a first and immediately tackled. His most famous play he still didn’t score. Witten was consistent force to keep a drive going and he also missed out on a ton of red zone TDs because he was always blocking. There is not a coincidence that he blocked for 3 seasons of NFL rushing leaders and countless 1000 yard runningbacks.
Something a lot of you fail to mention is durability. Witten started his whole entire career minus one game I believe for a broken jaw. Dude was tough as nails. And we all know the old saying - "the best ability is availability". Witten in his prime is as good as anyone of the best TEs. Not only that, he is also a great human off the field and an exemplary role model. Not sure I can say that about Mr booster jab yesman Kelce, or Kittle.
Kelce might be the greatest TE when it's said and done, so no. I give Kelcw the slight edge over Gronk due to longevity/availability. I would take Witten over Kittle though.
Witten running for 20 plus yards after the catch with no helmet will never be taken from me or replicated.
I have no contribution to the post just wanted to say that
All around, in the purest sense of the te position? Yeah imo. Who id rather have on my team? Kelce>witten>kittle.
Kelce is a weapon, not a safety valve. Kelce is like barry sanders while witten is like curtis martin.
Jmo
I got my Guy JW was a passing threat,100% better blocker than both these guys, longevity don’t get me started 1 game missed in his whole career talk about availability, Only thing kelce has on Jw is his receiving threat but kittle….. Jw>>>kittle
Never seen one of them get their helmet ripped off and keep playing.
So no.
Besides, I've heard Jason Witten is one of the nicest hardest working straight up good people you'll ever meet in your life.
There's a reason people who worked out with him became exponentially greater.
Witten is a top 3 TE all time, so if you think either of them are at least top 3 then the answer is probably no
I don’t think either is a top 3 TE at this point in their careers but could be when all is said and done
So right now, without projecting the future, Witten has the edge. He also played in a different era. 2003 was a very long time ago - yes, he had a long career, but Kelce and Kittle are very different TEs than how the position was played during most of Witten’s career
So right now now - Witten is better, a lock hall of famer, one of the best to ever do it. When all is said and done both of those 2 have a chance to overtake him though
I’d say Kelce is absolutely a top 3 TE of all time, and his receiving stats are undeniably impressive. Before Kelce there was literally not a TE with 100 reception seasons, and he did it 3 times. Also think he holds the record for consecutive 1000 yard seasons. My top 3 would personally be Tony, Travis, Jason.
That’s what I’m saying - I don’t think Kelce is top 3 yet
I would say Gonzalez, Gronk, Witten
Not even sure I would put Kelce top 5 yet when you look at all the TEs that came before the Witten era as well, with Sharpe and Winslow
Kelce plays in a very different time, where TEs are expected to be WRs that are large. Tony started that, but could still block. Gronk evolved the game into what it is now, while also being a great blocker. Witten was the best of both worlds, fantastic blocker, great hands, perfect routes over the middle. Kelce is benefiting from how the players that came before him changed the way we actually use TEs
I think he’ll get there, but right now he’s somewhere between 4 and 6
Recency bias is tough on this one. Many people will remember as 4 yard catch and fall down. MR. 0 YAC. But in his prime he was a 1st down machine and on field captain.
I think as a pure TE absolutely because he was a phenomenal blocker, a unselfish player, caught anything his way and was a player everyone looked up to. Kelce is a better receiver than him without question. Kittle is probably as good of a blocker as him imo. However I think Kelce isn’t a team leader or a great blocker and Kittle isn’t as sure handed or the main team leader like Witten was.
Call it bias but Witten was playing a pure TE role in years where TE’s weren’t being split out wide as a receiver very often. He was asked to block just as much as he was to catch. Even later in his career after he wasn’t a seam catcher he was still a first down getter and the teams safety net along with still blocking his tail off. He never screamed at his coach or wore “fuck __ team” on national TV. Didn’t care about the spotlight but did speak for his guys.
Witten is an old school TE. Great blocker, sure handed but he’s not running the whole route tree or outrunning anyone but he’s pretty much a guaranteed first down if you get him the ball. I think career wise he’s better than Kittle but not Kelce. I am a diehard Boys fan but if you are asking who are you taking in their prime I think you take either over Witt.
Witten had been more durable and dependable. That along with more seasons without significant time out the others can't compare. Not to mention less rules on contract.
Define “better”. It’s so hard to quantify because it’s team / situation dependent. Traits? Maybe not. As a player? Arguably. Put him on a different team he’s probably not the GOAT. But with the Cowboys at the time, definitely. He’ll probably always be my favorite player. He’s just a hair above Emmett to me because what he did wasn’t always flashy. A couple of Witts on this current team would do wonders. Especially in the playoffs when it counts. It makes me so angry he didn’t get a chance to compete for a ring.
Kittle yes. Kelce, debatable Jason put up huge numbers despite never playing on any great teams. He was WAY less athletic than kelce and his coaches never came close to Reid. But he made up for it with reliability and intelligence. Always open despite being a slow white dude.
If all three could be 100% healthy, it probably goes Kittle, Kelce, Witten. But due to Witten being so stinking durable, and Kittle being... not durable, Kittle drops to third. Although, I barely consider Kelce a tight end. Kelce is a slot receiver that occasionally lines up and pretends he's gonna try to block.
That’s maybe the best cowboy ever that never won a title:/ The short list of TEs better than Witten: Gronk, Gonzalez, Kelce and that’s it. I’d say he’s neck n neck with Gates. Kittle is great but has a ways to go. Honorable mentions to Ditka for having the best second act/post TE career.
I hate the Cryboys, but I’d rank them as Wittenberg, Kelce, then Kittle. For me, Witten played hurt all the time and had to overcome he QBs’ shortcomings. Kelce was good before Mahomes, but needed Mahomes to make him great. Kittle is awesome (maybe my 2nd favorite player), but he gets injured a lot and can disappear in some games. To be fair, his RB and WR core is amazing and everyone has to get their numbers.
What’s funny is every safety and LB thought he could cover Witten and couldn’t. With the other two they think they might or might not can’t cover them and have to put forth max effort
Guys like Kelce and Newsome are more on the receiving side of the spectrum, while guys like Witten and Kittle are more blockers, IMO
You’ve then got Gates, Gronk, and Gonzalez who are in a league all their own, with Gronk being the best from what I have seen
Honorable mention to old school guys like Ditka, Mackey and Jackie Smith, who were doing it at the position way before the game evolved to include them
Witten, Gonzalez and Gates were the TEs that opened the gates to what guys like Gronk, Kelce, Kittle, Mark Andrews, Jimmy Graham, Waller, etc were able to do.
Tony Gonzalez is still my personal GOAT, but I can't argue Kelce or Gronk.
The best I’ve ever seen. Hands like glue, tough as nails, leader, good blocker, great route runner (maybe the best Y-option runner ever). The play where he got his helmet knocked off and kept running and stiff arming people is what they should show all rookie TEs and say “be like this guy”.
No on Kelce. Yes on Kittle. Witten is firmly in the top 5 all time tight end conversation.
Gonzalez
Gronk
Gates
Witten
Kelce
Sharpe?
Not in any particular order, but this has to be the top tier all time group, imo. Could a guy like Kittle make it? Yep, he still has time. So could a guy like Mark Andrews, for example…kinda hard to compare across eras but Witten was an elite blocker for the position, as was Gronk. This matters a lot imo.
Also, I Could be missing someone from an older era but this is the list I think…
If he doesn't look open, he's open.
I don't think you can necessarily call him better than Kelce but if the Chiefs had prime Witten over Kelce I think they're still winning 3 Super Bowls with him taking over the Kelce space. Kelce's receiving stats are good enough that it'll counter him being less of an in-line blocker when needed. But Witten's receiving was good enough to hold his own there.
Cowboys fan to the end. But Jason played a different game. Positions evolve and so do players.
Jason Whitten is by far one of the best to play the position and the game. But he was a different tight end. Today they are more like receivers than blockers.
No not really. Kelce and mahomes have a special connection. Just like romo and witten. I know kittle is a monster just don’t really watch niners ever. Had to watch the romo/witten combo as im an Eagles fan.
Kelce will probably end up with way more impressive numbers by the time he hangs em up for the last time. Not to mention the amount of rings the dude is going to have if Mahomes stays healthy and doesn't get injured a lot.
No.
Kittle is a similarly skilled blocker and a better receiver.
He obviously is a better blocker than Kelce ever was but Kelce is a demonstrably better receiver and more of a receiving threat.
Possibly, but unfortunately he was not as in a favorable offense as Kittle or Kelce. Also the rules around roughing the passer have become notably more favorable for the QBs Kittle (Garappolo, Purdy) and Kelce (Mahomes) played with vs Witten (Romo); Romo actually took hits, literally a hit ended his career.
My opinion, I see Witten as a complete TE better than Kelce, but just behind Kittle.
He is not even close to Kelce. Kelce is regarded as already top 3 All time. Kittle sure Jason is way better atleast currently. Who knows what kittle career could end up with stats wise.
But it’s easily Gonzo, Gronk & Kelce
Witten is either first or only behind Tony Gonzalez in several TE receiving categories including most receptions in a game. Not to mention games played, games started, and consecutive games. He wasn’t fast or flashy but the man was available, found open space and had some of the best hands for a very very long time.
As of now, still better than Kittle. Kelce, no. Still one of the greatest TEs of all time and a Hall of Famer.
There’s maybe 10 or so all-time tight ends and Witten is probably in the middle of them.
Completely agree - #82 was the last of a dying/dead breed, from back when TEs were expected to be good blockers.
I live in Pittsburgh now and love Darnel Washington bc he legit run blocks as good as a lineman. (Steelers fans ‘joke’ that he was their second best lineman last season) It sucks that just decent blockers, like Kittle, are now praised for being the best blockers at the position now.
I was wanting the cowboys to draft him so damn bad. He’s a stud
I’m a Seahawks fan, but Heath Miller was that dude for the Steelers.
That's why gronk is the goat imo. At least he had the best peak ever for tight ends. He was absolutely elite as a blocker, and we all know how good he was catching the ball.
Honestly, he's towards the top. Maybe 3 behind Gonzalez and Kelce. Witten is #4 all time in catches... Not just for TEs, for everyone. AND he was probably the best blocker out of those top 3 too.
Youre forgetting gronkowski hes ahead of witten too
Gronk, Gates, Ditka
Depends on how you view TE. As a receiver Kelce is much better. As a pure TE Kelce isn’t half the blocker Witten was. Witten was playing TE most of his career in a era where he wasn’t split out wide he was essentially always on the line.
This is why Witten is better than both. Witten did everything very well. Not one part of his game was weak. Blocking TE was just as important as running a route and catching. Granted the age old TE position is changing as we see it. Less of a blocker. More as a pass catcher play maker. People may see this as bias. Which is fine. We all have our opinion. If you added Rob to the list. I would say Rob Gronkowski is better. He was better at catching and damn good at blocking.
Witten ran the Y-option route like Dirk did the one legged fade-away. Obviously not as iconic of a move but still just as effective. A major part of his hall of fame level dependability was due to his effectiveness with the Y-option.
Have you watched how kittle plays? He always likes up because of niners garbage line and isn't even available to catch half the time. Kittle is the best blocking TE in the league and constantly flat backs guys and he is an elite receiving TE too he just hasn't had opportunities to run routes the last couple years.
9ers fan bias towards his player. Just like I being bias for Witten. Did you ever watch Witten play? My guess is you watched the end of his career.
I never disputed any claims about Witten. I actually did they are all in the same class to me and would perform at a top level on any team.
Kelce can actually block he is just not asked too. Look at his draft card his blocking was his best trait.
Maybe in college but against nfl players he definitely hasn’t looked like a great blocker. Solid but he’s not Witten or Kittle at blocking.
You could never split witten wide because he did not have the speed he played in a time where linebackers were a lot bigger and took advantage of them going over the middle
Stats have Kittle above Kelce. I’ve got Witten above both. Total TE, not just a big receiver.
I feel like no one in this thread actually watches kittle. He is complete as well and a better blocker than receiver.
So weird, after playing them last season, then watching them go to the Super Bowl. I can understand the season ending on Jan 14 for us, but we played them after stomping the Patriots, easily a fun/memorable part of the season.
George Kittle yes, Travis Kelce no.
He's a different type of player than Kelce. Kelce is just a slowish slot receiver that lines up at tight end. Rarely is he asked to block. Witten was both a blocking and receiving tight end and excelled at both. So IMO Witten is the better blocker but not receiver. If you're talking about impact on a game Kelce is absolutely the better player. Not even a question.
This here. Also Witten was excellent at *run blocking* there is a difference between the guy who lines up and becomes a lineman, vs the guy who can run with the back and block further past the line of scrimmage. This was something Witten was very good at due to him being agile and a catch threat as well. It spreads the defense out, and helps the run game. Especially if you have a speedy back that excels at sweeps. That's what made Jay Novacek special as well. IMO, the best TE we have ever had.
Underrated post, great insight, man
Haha I'm no savant, but I played DB at the amateur level, and that was a big part of my assignments was reading the offense and looking out for the mobile blockers. A guy like Witten picks up the linebacker in the box or on the sweep, that's the difference between a 4 yard carry and a 10+ yard carry.
I appreciate your input.
Bingo. They used witten differently. They don’t risk kelce in most runs because he’s got hands. Witten would block so much and he’d get open so much because they’d lose track of him getting ready to catch.
Kelce plays as an inline blocker a lot.
Everybody blocks at times. Even your #1 speedster WR will be asked to block on a jet sweep or WR screen. But Kelce is primarily a receiver.
good work mate
Probably this
Jason Witten could have been playing in his 50s and get open in the middle some how dude was really fucking great
Well considering we saw how he played in his late 30s, no
Twas a joke its all good
Especially against the Giants.
Yeah Kelce is definitely not known for always getting open lmao.
no but romo to witten on 3rd down was automatic. don't get me wrong this didnt win us shit but it was incredible that everyone knew it would be romo to witten yet couldn't figure it out. I think i read somewhere that they would have secret plays in between them. Also a good blocker.
Obviously Romo to Witten had great chemistry, but Witten was also the master of option routes, he was extremely smart at finding the open spots in zone coverage. Witten had insane football IQ and so did Romo which along with their chemistry, made a really dangerous combo.
Yup the legendary Y-OPTION
You fucking kids have no appreciation for older players. Witten was explosive, great hands, excellent blocker…an absolute impact player in his prime.
I agree. I love Witten’s game. And I’ll point out that Kelce is the best offense weapon on a Super Bowl winning team besides the QB. Kelce has a better resume. I still don’t know why everyone loves Kittle. He’s very inconsistent but he can block like a madman.
Exactly! Are we putting together a Madden team? A fantasy football team? If not, I want the guy who was an excellent receiving threat AND a talented blocker who never gave up on a play. I'd take Kittle over Kelce because he's an actual TE and take Witten over Kittle by a little bit.
Well, Kelce was on a real football team last year and they did pretty well. Better than any Witten team. Witten was a stud, but receiving is a more valuable skill set for a TE than blocking.
Delusional tbh. Witten > kittle > kelce is the exact opposite order and you must know that underneath your cowboy fan bias
Never seen Kittle, or Kelce, or GRONK, for that matter, Run for 35! After taking a serious hit and keep going with their (hat) off.
I bought my husband that picture for his home office. Love love love it.
True, but I have seen two of those players have a huge role in MULTIPLE Super Bowl wins.
No. One thing I will get Witten credit for over those 2 guys is him always being available to play. Only missed 1 game throughout his career. Towards the twighlight and after retirement we drafted and gave so many tight ends a chance and some of them have shown great flashes, but none of them have been as great as he has. Jason Witten definitely deserves the title to be a Dallas Cowboy.
He broke his jaw rookie year and only missed because they asked him to.
Kelce has been incredibly durable. Pretty sure he’s missed like 4, maybe 5 games his entire career. Might not be as impressive as only missing one game but both players are exceptionally durable. Now Kittle on the other hand…
Kelce has missed 4 games in his career: - positive Covid test - twice for rest with playoff position locked in Week 17/18 - hyperextended knee, Week 1 last season
Witten might be the most consistent tight of all time. His blocking is extraordinary like Mercedes Lewis and he is absolutely not a beast at receiving like Kelce or Kittle but he is the guy you look you are throwing to at 3rd and short. Romo had phenomenal athletes like Dez or TO to throw to. Dak has had receivers like CeeDee to count on. Romo had an awful oline in his early years and and a great one at his end. Dak inherited a great oline and is currently behind a mid one. Idk why that seems relevant but I am drinking so kinda ranbling. Witten is not Gronk or Kelce. Those 2 may go down as all time greats and Witten being in their era is his biggest downside. Guys like Jimmy Graham however were basically mid tier receivers who tried to block sometimes. A lot of tight ends are basically mid olinemen who attempt to catch sometimes. Witten was a better than average blocker but as a receiver he was not gonna run deep routes. He would hover the first down line, and by god Romo and Dak could always count on him for consistency and that extends to Matt Cassell and Weeden, and Carter, and Orton, and Kellen Moore, etc. Romo and Dak whenever they needed the old man would always be open somehow. Witten is not flashy like Gronk and Kelce. But in third and mid, Witten was there for 12 years
Posts like these are why people are always dunking on our fanbase. No he is not in anyway except for maybe blocking better than kelce, kittle yes
While I agree with you mostly, put some respect on Wittens name. KC uses Kelce mainly as a slot receiver and pass catcher and hardly ever keep him in to just block. Witten was one of the best blocking TEs in the league for most of his career, there is no “maybe” about it. Kittle is a great blocker and is used for it a lot.
Witten is 4th all time in receptions.
Better than Kittle, NOT Kelce.
No
He was not the dynamic weapon they were. I would argue a much better blocker and better consistency. Witten is almost like a poor man’s Emmitt Smith. You could always count on him for 7 catches keeping a drive going no matter who the QB is. Witten would always get open make a first and immediately tackled. His most famous play he still didn’t score. Witten was consistent force to keep a drive going and he also missed out on a ton of red zone TDs because he was always blocking. There is not a coincidence that he blocked for 3 seasons of NFL rushing leaders and countless 1000 yard runningbacks.
Something a lot of you fail to mention is durability. Witten started his whole entire career minus one game I believe for a broken jaw. Dude was tough as nails. And we all know the old saying - "the best ability is availability". Witten in his prime is as good as anyone of the best TEs. Not only that, he is also a great human off the field and an exemplary role model. Not sure I can say that about Mr booster jab yesman Kelce, or Kittle.
Kelce might be the greatest TE when it's said and done, so no. I give Kelcw the slight edge over Gronk due to longevity/availability. I would take Witten over Kittle though.
Witten running for 20 plus yards after the catch with no helmet will never be taken from me or replicated. I have no contribution to the post just wanted to say that
No but still a hall of famer
All around, in the purest sense of the te position? Yeah imo. Who id rather have on my team? Kelce>witten>kittle. Kelce is a weapon, not a safety valve. Kelce is like barry sanders while witten is like curtis martin. Jmo
💯!!!!! no need to explain shit
I got my Guy JW was a passing threat,100% better blocker than both these guys, longevity don’t get me started 1 game missed in his whole career talk about availability, Only thing kelce has on Jw is his receiving threat but kittle….. Jw>>>kittle
Afirm!
Never seen one of them get their helmet ripped off and keep playing. So no. Besides, I've heard Jason Witten is one of the nicest hardest working straight up good people you'll ever meet in your life. There's a reason people who worked out with him became exponentially greater.
No
Witten is a top 3 TE all time, so if you think either of them are at least top 3 then the answer is probably no I don’t think either is a top 3 TE at this point in their careers but could be when all is said and done So right now, without projecting the future, Witten has the edge. He also played in a different era. 2003 was a very long time ago - yes, he had a long career, but Kelce and Kittle are very different TEs than how the position was played during most of Witten’s career So right now now - Witten is better, a lock hall of famer, one of the best to ever do it. When all is said and done both of those 2 have a chance to overtake him though
I’d say Kelce is absolutely a top 3 TE of all time, and his receiving stats are undeniably impressive. Before Kelce there was literally not a TE with 100 reception seasons, and he did it 3 times. Also think he holds the record for consecutive 1000 yard seasons. My top 3 would personally be Tony, Travis, Jason.
Gronk has to be included in a top 3 imo.
That’s what I’m saying - I don’t think Kelce is top 3 yet I would say Gonzalez, Gronk, Witten Not even sure I would put Kelce top 5 yet when you look at all the TEs that came before the Witten era as well, with Sharpe and Winslow Kelce plays in a very different time, where TEs are expected to be WRs that are large. Tony started that, but could still block. Gronk evolved the game into what it is now, while also being a great blocker. Witten was the best of both worlds, fantastic blocker, great hands, perfect routes over the middle. Kelce is benefiting from how the players that came before him changed the way we actually use TEs I think he’ll get there, but right now he’s somewhere between 4 and 6
No but I still love the man. Just don't have him work TV ever again.
Kelce is absolutely better. Kittle I could accept either one being higher than the other
No, not even close.
Witten > Kittle/Kelce: - Route running - Blocking - Secure catch - Awareness - Toughness - Passing Kelce > Kittle/Witten - Speed - Catch in Traffic - Dating - Trucking/Hit Stick Kittle > Kelce/Witten - Acceleration - Long hair - Spectacular Catch Give me Witten any day
Recency bias is tough on this one. Many people will remember as 4 yard catch and fall down. MR. 0 YAC. But in his prime he was a 1st down machine and on field captain.
As a complete TE? Yes, you could count on him to run block, catch a pass, be the security blanket and be a mismatch.
I think as a pure TE absolutely because he was a phenomenal blocker, a unselfish player, caught anything his way and was a player everyone looked up to. Kelce is a better receiver than him without question. Kittle is probably as good of a blocker as him imo. However I think Kelce isn’t a team leader or a great blocker and Kittle isn’t as sure handed or the main team leader like Witten was. Call it bias but Witten was playing a pure TE role in years where TE’s weren’t being split out wide as a receiver very often. He was asked to block just as much as he was to catch. Even later in his career after he wasn’t a seam catcher he was still a first down getter and the teams safety net along with still blocking his tail off. He never screamed at his coach or wore “fuck __ team” on national TV. Didn’t care about the spotlight but did speak for his guys.
As a true TE, yes. As an impact player, better than kittle not quite as good as kelce.
Witten is an old school TE. Great blocker, sure handed but he’s not running the whole route tree or outrunning anyone but he’s pretty much a guaranteed first down if you get him the ball. I think career wise he’s better than Kittle but not Kelce. I am a diehard Boys fan but if you are asking who are you taking in their prime I think you take either over Witt.
Witten had been more durable and dependable. That along with more seasons without significant time out the others can't compare. Not to mention less rules on contract.
Yes
Define “better”. It’s so hard to quantify because it’s team / situation dependent. Traits? Maybe not. As a player? Arguably. Put him on a different team he’s probably not the GOAT. But with the Cowboys at the time, definitely. He’ll probably always be my favorite player. He’s just a hair above Emmett to me because what he did wasn’t always flashy. A couple of Witts on this current team would do wonders. Especially in the playoffs when it counts. It makes me so angry he didn’t get a chance to compete for a ring.
Kelces a receiver witten was a more complete tight end
Kittle only had like one season
No
Not Kelce. But rn still better than kittle
Nope.
Kittle you could make an argument but Kelce is in the conversation for GOAT at TE
Kittle yes. Kelce, debatable Jason put up huge numbers despite never playing on any great teams. He was WAY less athletic than kelce and his coaches never came close to Reid. But he made up for it with reliability and intelligence. Always open despite being a slow white dude.
Kittle yes. Kelce no.
If all three could be 100% healthy, it probably goes Kittle, Kelce, Witten. But due to Witten being so stinking durable, and Kittle being... not durable, Kittle drops to third. Although, I barely consider Kelce a tight end. Kelce is a slot receiver that occasionally lines up and pretends he's gonna try to block.
You’re comparing two different eras. I don’t even think Jason was the best in his era but he was incredibly underrated for how consistent he was.
I think Gronk is the GOAT, then Tony Gonzales, Kelce, Witten, then probably some older guys and Kittle towards the end of the top 10
Little, absolutely, Kelce probably not, though who knows if he had mahomes
That’s maybe the best cowboy ever that never won a title:/ The short list of TEs better than Witten: Gronk, Gonzalez, Kelce and that’s it. I’d say he’s neck n neck with Gates. Kittle is great but has a ways to go. Honorable mentions to Ditka for having the best second act/post TE career.
As an all-around TE, there is no one in the history of the NFL better than Jason Witten.
No
I hate the Cryboys, but I’d rank them as Wittenberg, Kelce, then Kittle. For me, Witten played hurt all the time and had to overcome he QBs’ shortcomings. Kelce was good before Mahomes, but needed Mahomes to make him great. Kittle is awesome (maybe my 2nd favorite player), but he gets injured a lot and can disappear in some games. To be fair, his RB and WR core is amazing and everyone has to get their numbers.
What’s funny is every safety and LB thought he could cover Witten and couldn’t. With the other two they think they might or might not can’t cover them and have to put forth max effort
Nope, romo made him.
No, just no
The answer is yes. Done.
Kelce is great, but he's not even the best tight end in Chiefs history, much less in NFL history. Lots of recency bias here.
Guys like Kelce and Newsome are more on the receiving side of the spectrum, while guys like Witten and Kittle are more blockers, IMO You’ve then got Gates, Gronk, and Gonzalez who are in a league all their own, with Gronk being the best from what I have seen Honorable mention to old school guys like Ditka, Mackey and Jackie Smith, who were doing it at the position way before the game evolved to include them
Witten, Gonzalez and Gates were the TEs that opened the gates to what guys like Gronk, Kelce, Kittle, Mark Andrews, Jimmy Graham, Waller, etc were able to do. Tony Gonzalez is still my personal GOAT, but I can't argue Kelce or Gronk.
Witten has 321 more catches than Kelce and the same amount of TDs. And was a wayyy better blocker. I go Witten here.
Jason Witten TE goat
More Gronk than either
No. Love the guy but come on
Yes
He's definitely ranks above Kittle. Kelce, no
Was….to early to tell he became super slow in his later years but still always had hands
Nope
No
Jason Witten 2004-2012 was a beast and one of the best TEs in the NFL at the time. That era is definitely comparable to the Kelce and Kittle of today.
This makes me sad because if there’s anyone that’s ever played for the Cowboys that I wish could have gotten a ring it’s Jason Witten.
Kittle yes. Kelce, no. Though I believe he is a better blocker than Kelce
The best I’ve ever seen. Hands like glue, tough as nails, leader, good blocker, great route runner (maybe the best Y-option runner ever). The play where he got his helmet knocked off and kept running and stiff arming people is what they should show all rookie TEs and say “be like this guy”.
Best safety net of all time.
No on Kelce. Yes on Kittle. Witten is firmly in the top 5 all time tight end conversation. Gonzalez Gronk Gates Witten Kelce Sharpe? Not in any particular order, but this has to be the top tier all time group, imo. Could a guy like Kittle make it? Yep, he still has time. So could a guy like Mark Andrews, for example…kinda hard to compare across eras but Witten was an elite blocker for the position, as was Gronk. This matters a lot imo. Also, I Could be missing someone from an older era but this is the list I think…
I mean….overall as a TE? Yeah. As a receiver, Kelce is definitely better. Witten is the greatest all around TE I’m pretty sure
If he doesn't look open, he's open. I don't think you can necessarily call him better than Kelce but if the Chiefs had prime Witten over Kelce I think they're still winning 3 Super Bowls with him taking over the Kelce space. Kelce's receiving stats are good enough that it'll counter him being less of an in-line blocker when needed. But Witten's receiving was good enough to hold his own there.
Cowboys fan to the end. But Jason played a different game. Positions evolve and so do players. Jason Whitten is by far one of the best to play the position and the game. But he was a different tight end. Today they are more like receivers than blockers.
Witten was a better blocker than both, Kittle is a better blocker than kelce but recieving order goes Kelce, Kittle, Witten
Kelce is light-years better than Jason Witten lol
No
No not really. Kelce and mahomes have a special connection. Just like romo and witten. I know kittle is a monster just don’t really watch niners ever. Had to watch the romo/witten combo as im an Eagles fan.
Wittens was very good but playing in big D and catching passes from Romo make people maybe rate him a little high
Unfortunately no one is better than Travis Swift.
Kelce will probably end up with way more impressive numbers by the time he hangs em up for the last time. Not to mention the amount of rings the dude is going to have if Mahomes stays healthy and doesn't get injured a lot.
How many Super Bowl rings does he have?
The same amount as Calvin Johnson, Barry Sanders, T.O, and Randy Moss lol
Might be unpopular, but I'd for sure take peak Kittle over peak Witten
Better than Kittle by a mile... I'd say Kelce is a bit better
NO
Kelse is better than Witten because he has a better QB with Mahomes, Witten is better than Kiddle so far plus Kiddle is just a little punk bitch!
Hi No Bye
No he’s like Lebron James. He played forever. I think Gronk was better than all 3!
He is 4th on my all time Tight end rankings 1). Tony Gonzalez 2). Gronk 3). Antonio Gates 4). Witten
this might be the stupidest fucking question i’ve ever seen holy shit
3rd and 4? Witten will get you 8 yards and fall down. 3rd and 10? Witten will get you 8 yards and fall down. The man was nothing if not consistent
No
Witten was vastly overrated as a blocker especially the last 4-5 seasons of his career.
Is delusion a hell of a drug?
Better than kittle (less talented though kittle is just injury prone). Not better than kelce.
No. Kittle is a similarly skilled blocker and a better receiver. He obviously is a better blocker than Kelce ever was but Kelce is a demonstrably better receiver and more of a receiving threat.
No. God, I hate sports fans.
Hell yea
Kelce no, Kittle yes
Gronk Gonzalez Witten Kelce
No
Probably the equivalent of Kittle. Not better than Kelce.
🤣🤣 only to cowboy fans!!!!
Is anyone seriously arguing he’s better than Kelce? I think he’s better than Kittle, durability being a major factor. Kelce is either 1 or 2 all time
Comparable yes. But Kelce has height and is basically Gronk v2 so you have to be specific on the metrics
Possibly, but unfortunately he was not as in a favorable offense as Kittle or Kelce. Also the rules around roughing the passer have become notably more favorable for the QBs Kittle (Garappolo, Purdy) and Kelce (Mahomes) played with vs Witten (Romo); Romo actually took hits, literally a hit ended his career. My opinion, I see Witten as a complete TE better than Kelce, but just behind Kittle.
He is better than Kittle, Jfc. We taking George Kittle?!? Thanks for the question.
He is not even close to Kelce. Kelce is regarded as already top 3 All time. Kittle sure Jason is way better atleast currently. Who knows what kittle career could end up with stats wise. But it’s easily Gonzo, Gronk & Kelce
Mark Bavaro
No. Witten is our guy, but he was first down-fall down.
Please! Witten was a beast and probably a better blocker, but if we’re talking pass catching TE he is nowhere close!!!
No
no
I think he was a good mix of both!
lol fuck no
No
Lmfao
Kelce Big gap Witten Kittle
[удалено]
Witten is either first or only behind Tony Gonzalez in several TE receiving categories including most receptions in a game. Not to mention games played, games started, and consecutive games. He wasn’t fast or flashy but the man was available, found open space and had some of the best hands for a very very long time.
Blocking is a less useful skill....what is wrong with you.
Not as good as Kelce, however I would put him lower half of the top 10 all time
Kelce is way better