Why Does the Hobby Hate Tight Ends?
Let’s be real for a second, walking up to a card show vendor and asking to see their best tight end cards is a great way to get a confused look. It’s like going to a steakhouse and ordering the salad. You just don’t do it. For decades, the tight end position has been the forgotten child of the sports card world. They don’t have the glamour of a quarterback, the explosive plays of a wide receiver, or the raw power of a running back. They are the utility players, the Swiss Army knives of the offense, asked to do the dirty work in the trenches and then, maybe, catch a few passes.
The market reflects this. Most tight end cards are, to put it mildly, not a great investment. They are the cards you pull from a pack and sigh, wondering if they’re even worth the penny sleeve. The position just doesn’t produce the kind of stats or highlight-reel moments that capture a collector’s imagination. A tight end might have a great game with 8 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown, and that’s a fantastic day in the real world. In the hobby world? It barely moves the needle. The market wants 300-yard passing games and three-touchdown performances. It wants sizzle, and tight ends are usually all steak.
But here’s the twist. Things are changing. The NFL is evolving, and the tight end position is evolving with it. We’re seeing a new breed of athletic freaks who are essentially massive wide receivers, creating mismatches all over the field. And while the hobby has been slow to catch on, there are pockets of the market where certain tight ends are not just holding their own, but thriving. You just have to know where to look.
The Obvious Kings: Kelce and Gronk
You can’t talk about valuable tight end cards without mentioning the two titans who redefined the position: Travis Kelce and Rob Gronkowski. These guys aren’t just great tight ends; they are pop culture icons. They transcended the sport.
Gronk was a force of nature, a one-man wrecking crew who was as dominant a blocker as he was a receiver. His rookie cards, especially his 2010 Topps Chrome and National Treasures, are bona fide blue-chip assets. They command prices that rival many top-tier wide receivers from his era. Why? Because he was more than a player; he was a personality. The “Gronk Spike” became a brand. He won four Super Bowls and created a legend that will last for generations.
And then there’s Travis Kelce. What more can you say? He’s on the Mount Rushmore of tight ends, a player who has consistently produced at an elite level for a decade. He’s Patrick Mahomes’ security blanket and a two-time Super Bowl champion. His card market was already strong, but his off-field relationship with Taylor Swift launched it into a different stratosphere. Suddenly, people who had never watched a football game in their lives were buying Travis Kelce cards. It’s a bizarre phenomenon, but it’s a perfect example of how a player’s narrative can impact their hobby value. His 2013 rookie cards are now staples for any serious modern football card investor.
The Modern Tight Ends I’m Actually Watching
Okay, so investing in Kelce and Gronk is a no-brainer. But their cards are expensive. What about the next generation? Who are the young tight ends that have the potential to build a strong hobby following? It’s a small list, but there are a few guys who have caught my eye.
Sam LaPorta: The Real Deal
Sam LaPorta’s rookie season was, in a word, historic. He didn’t just break the rookie record for receptions by a tight end; he shattered it. He became an instant focal point for a dynamic Detroit Lions offense, a reliable target who seemed to get better every single week. He’s tough, he’s athletic, and he has fantastic hands.
What makes LaPorta so compelling from a hobby perspective is his situation. He’s tied to a young, exciting team with a franchise quarterback in Jared Goff. The Lions are a media darling, and LaPorta is one of their biggest stars. He plays with a fire and a passion that fans love, and that translates to collector interest. His 2023 Prizm and Donruss Optic rookie cards are already seeing significant demand. He’s the clear TE1 from his draft class and has the potential to be the next big thing at the position.
Kyle Pitts: The Ultimate Gamble
Oh, Kyle Pitts. No player is more frustrating or more tantalizing. He was drafted 4th overall in 2021, the highest a tight end has ever been selected. He was billed as a “unicorn,” a physical specimen with the size of a tight end and the speed and route-running of an elite wide receiver. And in his rookie year, he delivered, topping 1,000 receiving yards.
Then, the wheels fell off. A combination of injuries and abysmal quarterback play turned him into a fantasy and hobby afterthought. His card prices plummeted. But now? Now there’s hope. With Kirk Cousins in Atlanta, Pitts finally has a competent quarterback who can get him the ball. The talent is still there. The “unicorn” potential hasn’t vanished. Buying Kyle Pitts cards right now is a high-risk, high-reward play. If he connects with Cousins and lives up to his draft status, his cards could explode. If he doesn’t, well, they’re not that expensive to begin with. It’s a gamble I’m willing to take. For more on players who could benefit from a new QB, check out my post on the best wide receiver cards to invest in, where I discuss similar situations.
A Final Thought on the Tight End Market
The tight end market is still a niche corner of the sports card world. It’s not for everyone. But for savvy collectors who are willing to look past the box score, there are opportunities to be found. The position is evolving, and the hobby is slowly starting to recognize the value of these elite athletes. By targeting the right players—the transcendent talents, the young studs in perfect situations, and the high-upside gambles—you can build a collection that is both unique and potentially very profitable. It’s a tough market to crack, but the rewards can be surprisingly sweet.
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