George Kittle rated as the best tight end in the NFL by Madden
By Justin Fried
George Kittle was recently rated as the best tight end in the NFL by Madden 21.
George Kittle is someone who needs no introduction to San Francisco 49ers and NFL fans alike. The superstar tight end is well-known as one of the best overall players in the league and is arguably the best at his position.
And that latter sentiment was seemingly supported by EA Sports’ recent ratings reveal for the upcoming Madden 21 video game.
Kittle was given a 98 overall rating — just one point shy of players like Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Donald — which ranked him as the highest-rated tight end in the game.
Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce — realistically Kittle’s only competition for the top spot — was ranked one overall point lower at a 97 while the returning Rob Gronkowski came in third with a 95 overall.
George Kittle’s place on the top of the tight end mountain shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
A fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Kittle quickly emerged as a playmaker in his rookie season hauling in 43 catches for 515 yards despite starting only seven games.
And in 2018, he officially broke out amassing 88 receptions for nearly 1,400 yards while being named to his first Pro Bowl. He followed that up with an equally impressive 2019 campaign that saw him return to the Pro Bowl and be named first-team All-Pro.
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Kittle once again stacked the stat sheet last season, but it’s really his so-called hidden production that makes him so valuable.
Aside from being an exceptional receiving threat, Kittle is an absolutely dominant blocker and is as much of a part of the 49ers’ running game as the team’s running backs. Kittle effectively serves as a sixth offensive lineman on running plays and as an additional wide receiver in the passing game.
He’s the complete package as a tight end and Madden correctly rates him as such.
The former Iowa star will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2020 and is certainly overdue for a raise. Questions have arisen this offseason regarding when the team might give him his well-deserved extension.
And while it seems unlikely that he’s extended before the season starts, he appears committed to playing alongside his teammates this year as the 49ers hope to return to the Super Bowl.
Next. Nick Bosa is not a top-10 pass-rusher in the NFL according to Madden. dark
George Kittle is the best tight end in the NFL, and thankfully Madden seems to agree.