Ranking the AFC West by tight ends

We continue to work through the division's skill position players, ranking each team accordingly. Now we look at how they stack up at tight end.

1. Chargers - Antonio Gates, Ladarius Green

Even as Gates appears to be slowing down, he's still a major threat. Last season at age 34 he had over 800 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns which was the second highest total of his career. Unfortunately for the Chargers, they will be without him for the first four games next season as he will be suspended for PED use. Ladarius Green is a fine tight end in his own rite and should pick up the slack nicely until Gates returns. Then together they offer a formidable one-two punch for the final 12 games of the season. Even with the four games Gates will be missing, it still doesn't knock these two out of the top spot.

2.  Chiefs - Travis Kelce, James O'Shaughnessy/Demetrius Harris

Kelce is probably the best single tight end in the division right now. After that there's a competition for the number two tight end job between rookie fifth round pick James O'Shaughnessy, and third year tight end Demetrius Harris who has caught a total of 3 passes in his career. The depth isn't there, but with Kelce there, they'll do just fine.

3. Raiders - Clive Walford, Mychal Rivera

I really like Walford. I think he was a steal in the third round and with all the makings of a stud tight end in this league. But he is still just a rookie and will have to prove it. Rivera has proven he can hold his own, albeit not as a primary tight end target due in large part to his blocking deficiences. But yet again it's a case of the AFC West having a lot of firepower at the position that has them sitting third.

4. Broncos - Owen Daniels, Virgil Green

Julius Thomas left as a free agent so the Broncos went out and picked up Owen Daniels to replace him. Daniels is a two-time Pro Bowler, but he's also going to turn 33 this season and is now on his third team in three seasons. Green has shown flashes of potential but with a combined 23 catches and one touchdown in four seasons, we just don't know.

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