2024 NFL Draft - Veteran Tight Ends Who Could be Replaced on Draft Night

Craig Rondinone looks at four veteran tight ends who could lose their role if their NFL team drafts a rookie tight end in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Out with the old, in with the new -- even at the tight end position, where some tight ends can hang around for decades as long as they can block and catch the occasional pass thrown at them inside the red zone.

While the 2024 NFL Draft class is not loaded with a plethora of top-tier tight ends, there are some college stars who will come into the NFL and take starting spots away from longtime veterans who have been the starting tight ends on their teams the past couple years.

Here is a look at four veteran tight ends who could be replaced during the NFL Draft, most likely within the first three rounds.

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Tyler Conklin, New York Jets

The fact that Conklin was able to tie his career high in receptions (61) and set a new personal best with 623 receiving yards last season with the terrifying trio of Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian, and Tim Boyle throwing wobblers to him is a credit to his workmanlike play. He has carved out a niche as a steady safety valve option in the Jets' below-average offense since signing with them.

But due to his lack of playmaking ability (zero TDs in 2023, seven TDs in six seasons) and explosiveness (no catches over 40 yards in 98 career contests), Conklin is replaceable in an offense that needs firepower, especially with Aaron Rodgers returning to run it.

Georgia standout Brock Bowers is a logical choice for the Jets, whether they stand pat and he falls in their lap at the 10^th spot because the teams ahead of them draft quarterbacks and receivers, or because they trade up a spot or two since they are desperate to get another playmaker. Bowers could be the ying to Garrett Wilson’s yang in the passing attack. That would relegate Conklin to being a multimillion-dollar role player.

Here is Brock Bowers taking a handoff and hitting 21.5mph. Other players who’s FASTEST game-speed of the szn was 21.5?

George Pickens, Calvin Ridley, Jayden Reed, Ja’Marr Chase, Kenneth Walker.

Reminder, Bowers is a TIGHT END

🦄 pic.twitter.com/ReKOiFbVcf

— Frank J. Dyevoich⚖️🏈 (@Fantasy_Giant) April 23, 2024

Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks

When Seattle traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos for a package of players and picks a couple years ago, the thought was Fant would come to the land of coffee and grunge music and become the top-flight tight end everyone figured he would be when he was drafted in the first round in 2019.

Yet, Fant was part of a tight end trio the past couple seasons where Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson cut into his playing time and targets, which effectively lowered his fantasy value to the point where he was not rostered in most leagues. Fant finished with a career-low 32 receptions for 414 yards and zero touchdowns in 2023. His fantasy future was looking brighter, however, when both Dissly and Parkinson signed with new teams this offseason.

The problem is Seattle will undoubtedly draft a tight end this year now that there are openings, and the Seahawks might take one in the early rounds who could overtake Fant on the depth chart. Texas stalwart Ja'Tavion Sanders can stretch the field and has better pass-catching ability than any tight end on the board other than Bowers. If Seattle drafts Sanders, Fant’s days as the team’s top tight end would be numbered.

Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Otton has been a solid, serviceable tight end during his first two professional seasons. He has been a distant third on the target totem pole behind superstar receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, though, and has shown no big-play ability (9.5 career YPC) or a propensity for finding the end zone (six TDs in 33 career contests).

Otton appears to be more of a No. 2 TE than a true No. 1, unless he shows sprinter speed in his third year that he has not flashed yet. Tampa Bay should be in the market for a tight end with a WR-like skill set. Otton would still have a role as an underneath route runner who specializes in eight-yard catches, but adding another piece to the Tampa tight end room would ruin what little fantasy value he has left.

Ohio State’s Cade Stover is athletic and can do everything on the football field. He projects to be a third- or fourth-round pick this week who has the skills to be a starter in the NFL. At worst, he can do everything Otton can do about as well as Otton can do them. At best, Stover becomes the No. 1 tight end named Cade on the team and Otton’s snap count and target total gets drastically reduced.

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

Johnson was primarily a touchdown-dependent tight end back in 2021 when the former wide receiver burst onto the fantasy scene and used his big body to box out defensive backs when he was thrown to in the end zone. He has scored 15 touchdowns over the past three seasons despite not being on the field as often as most starting tight ends due to the tight end teammates he shared time with.

New Orleans has an interesting situation since multi-dimensional Taysom Hill has been lining up as a tight end the past two seasons even though he also lines up as quarterback, running back, receiver, and pretty much every other position other than punter. The Saints had veterans Foster Moreau and Jimmy Graham on the roster last season as well, so they definitely need to get younger at the position.

The Saints could spend a higher-round pick on Kansas State standout Ben Sinnott, who led the Wildcats in receiving yards and TD catches in 2023, and has the skill set of a wide receiver. Sinnott would add a cheaper, fresher body to their tight end pool.

One player rising up the boards of late is Kansas State Tight End Ben Sinnott.

Here are the 2nd TE off the Board odds (per BetOnline):

Ben Sinnott: +160
Ja’Tavion Sanders: +175
Theo Johnson: +900
Cade Stover: +900
Jared Wiley: +1000 pic.twitter.com/dydjrpgGqi

— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) April 18, 2024

Considering Johnson was already battling for turf time and Derek Carr spirals before this week’s draft, the addition of another tight end with upside and a low salary-cap number will definitely cause Johnson’s fantasy worth to tumble.

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