The Arizona Cardinals are going through another rough season in the NFC West and will have plenty of roster weaknesses to address by the end of 2025. One position, however, that head coach Jonathan Gannon’s team doesn’t have to worry with for the foreseeable future is at tight end.
Trey McBride is on pace to make his first All-Pro team, leading the entire NFL in receptions and all tight ends in receiving yards. The 26-year-old is set to have a decorated career, and he was recently asked about who else at his position is currently on his level. McBride put together a surprising list of his five best tight ends in the league, snubbing a legendary divisional foe.
Trey McBride Snubbed George Kittle When Naming His Five Best Tight Ends
Four years into his NFL career, and the Cardinals’ star tight end is set to hit 1,000 yards for the second time and already has a career-high eight touchdown receptions twelve weeks into the season. As McBride has thrived, his team has already locked up its fourth straight losing season.
As the Cardinals have struggled once again, the San Francisco 49ers are shockingly 9-4 despite all the injuries to their roster.
One of those players who was hit with a health setback was George Kittle, but when the six-time Pro Bowler has been on the field, he’s been elite.
The top 10 highest-graded players on the 49ers offense this season according to PFF (minimum 300 snaps)
1. Trent Williams: 85.9
2. George Kittle: 85.7
3. Colton McKivitz: 80.5
4. Mac Jones: 77.1
5. Christian McCaffrey: 75.6
6. Jake Brendel: 71.7
7. Jake Tonges: 70.2
8. Ricky…— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) December 1, 2025
Nevertheless, McBride was recently asked to name his five best tight ends in the league, and the Cardinals’ star snubbed Kittle, choosing a few up-and-comers alongside a future first ballot Hall of Famer.
According to the PFSN’s impact metric, Kittle is ranked 9th for his showing so far this season with a grade B.
#Cardinals Pro Bowl TE Trey McBride’s top-5 tight ends in the NFL:
• Travis Kelce
• Sam LaPorta
• Tucker Kraft
• Brock Bowers
• Tyler Warren https://t.co/YhJ2VkkDs6 pic.twitter.com/VlTv6jTC6t— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 3, 2025
Even in his twelfth NFL season, Travis Kelce has still been a phenomenal pass-catching tight end in 2025. The 36-year-old has caught 59 passes for 719 yards, five touchdowns, and should make him an eleventh career Pro Bowl.
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The other four players, however, are pretty new to the party when it comes to being considered elite at their position. Particularly, Tyler Warren, since he’s only a rookie. It’s hard right now, however, to put Tucker Kraft and Sam LaPorta over a player like Kittle, who is still elite at tight end as both a receiver and blocker.
These four tight ends are certainly the future of the position alongside McBride, but the six-time All-Pro for the 49ers still deserves a spot in anyone’s top five.
