The 2020 tight end class lacks top end talent, but there were 5 players taken on day 2 which bodes well for future production. These will be my final off-season rankings now that we know landing spots and draft capital. For more background information, please check out my initial TE article for details on the players’ profiles and more of the process used to rank the position. 

The List!

NOTE: There are no tiers for this list, as everyone is going to be a slow burn for fantasy relevance

TE1 – Adam Trautman

My pre-draft TE2 gets a bump after being selected to arguably the best situation of any TE. Trautman will compete against 34 year old Jared Cook and career backup Josh Hill. The Saints can save money against the cap by cutting both players before the 2021 season. It is difficult to predict what the Saints’ offense will look like in the post-Brees era, but Trautman brings an excellent receiving resume to the bayou. Additionally, New Orleans traded half their draft to move up and acquire the former Dayton star.

TE2 – Cole Kmet

An athletic freak who lands in another decent spot is Kmet who destroyed the combine (88th percentile burst score), and was the first TE selected in the draft. His college production and offensive context is very concerning for early NFL success, but I have to respect the draft capital. To start his carer, he’ll sit behind Jimmy Graham who is signed through 2021.

TE3 – Brycen Hopkins

Hopkins falls due to a day 3 selection, however the landing spot is sneaky soft. The Rams have 2 buzzworthy tight ends, however Gerald Everett is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and the team has an out prior to 2021 in Tyler Higbee’s contract. This is a team strapped for cash after many high dollar paydays and could look to get cheap at the TE position. Despite the draft day fall, I still like Hopkins’ profile and would stash him on a TE needy dynasty roster.

TE4 – Devin Asiasi

I’ll be honest I didn’t know who this was prior to the Patriots selecting him in the 3rd round. He was second on UCLA in receiving in 2019, registering a breakout season as a junior. Asiasi is big and fast, clocking a 4.7 forty at 273 pounds, so there is some exciting potential here. Like Kmet, he did virtually nothing before his breakout year, totaling just 6 catches prior to 2019. The Patriots’ offense is a shell of what we used to know, but they haven’t had a real tight end in a few years, so opportunity abounds. 

TE5 – Dalton Keene

The last time the Patriots double tapped TE in the draft they chose Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. That worked out pretty well on the field. Keene’s best season at Virginia Tech was 28-341-3, so it’s a bit of a mystery as to if he can take a leap at the next level. His athletic testing was impressive, registering >70th percentile for his speed, agility, and burst scores. Like Asiasi, we have to appreciate the void he walks into.

TE6 – Colby Parkinson

Parkinson was a little discussed TE heading into the draft but was selected in the 4th round. I liked his profile, and apparently the Seahawks saw something as well. The former top ranked high school TE falls in behind Greg Olsen and Jacob Hollister who are on one year deals. Will Dissly and Parkinson will likely battle for TE supremacy in Seattle as early as 2021. His good age-adjusted college production combined with a 6’7″ frame make him one to watch in deep dynasty formats. 

TE7 – Josiah Degaura 

As we arrive at the third previously unranked TE, I admit I was humbled by my ability to project this position in the NFL draft. Granted, for fantasy I am only concerned with half of what the position fulfills at the NFL level, which could explain a lot. Suffice to say, I don’t know much about Degaura except that he’s undersized for a TE at 6’2″ and doesn’t exhibit elite athleticism. Like the Patriots’ duo, Degaura does land on a depth chart with very few proven options so he has a chance to see the field early.

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