GLENDALE – ESPN’s ranking of the NFL’s top tight ends sparked one of the more interesting offseason debates as Trey McBride landed second on the list behind Brock Bowers, despite a statistical profile that many fans and analysts believe makes a strong case for the top spot.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!ESPN ranks Trey McBride second best TE in NFL:
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The reaction is understandable. McBride’s 126 receptions, 1,239 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns represent the type of production usually associated with the league’s most dominant receiving weapons, regardless of position. Bowers, meanwhile, finished with 64 catches, 680 yards, and just seven touchdowns. On raw production, McBride’s advantage is substantial. He was a central part of Arizona’s passing attack, consistently creating separation, moving the chains and producing after the catch. Those numbers naturally invite the question: if rankings are based on performance, why is he not first?
Dec 7, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) reacts after a catch against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The answer is likely more nuanced than a simple comparison of stat lines. ESPN’s rankings often reflect a blend of production, talent evaluation, scheme fit and projected impact. Bowers is widely viewed as one of the league’s most dynamic young tight ends, and his ranking may reflect how evaluators project his ceiling as much as what he has already accomplished.
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona tight end McBride (85) on the field during warm ups prior to a game against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Still, McBride’s placement at No. 2 is not a slight. ESPN noted that he made a “serious case” for the top spot, and nearly all votes except for two placed him inside the top three. That level of respect suggests the debate is less about whether McBride belongs among the elite and more about how voters prioritize proven production versus long-term projection. For Cardinals fans, the takeaway is clear as McBride has already established himself as one of the NFL’s premier tight ends. Whether he is ranked first or second is very debatable, but his production has placed him firmly in the national conversation.
Arizona tight end McBride (85) is introduced before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 25, 2025. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
