NY Jets fans don't understand just how good Tyler Conklin has been

It can be easy to overlook talented players who are part of a bad offense, and the NY Jets know that all too well. It's the reason that Breece Hall was snubbed of any accolades following his stellar 2023 season. It's the reason Garrett Wilson is still seen as a tier or two below the best wide receivers in football.

And it's the reason Jets tight end Tyler Conklin continues to get overlooked, both by Jets fans and the general NFL media. Conklin has quietly been one of the better tight ends in football over the last two years.

The Jets originally signed Conklin to a three-year, $20.25 million contract ahead of the 2022 season. He was one of two supposed starting-caliber tight ends the Jets signed that offseason alongside C.J. Uzomah, as the team hoped to end their decade-long search for a competent tight end.

While Uzomah didn't work out, Conklin has exceeded expectations in New York. No, he's not Travis Kelce. He's not Mark Andrews. But he's quietly been one of the most important cogs in the Jets' offense, and most fans don't realize just how good he has been.

Tyler Conklin is one of the better tight ends in the entire NFL

Conklin ranks seventh among all NFL tight ends in receptions (119) and 10th in receiving yards (1,173) since 2022. That's despite playing in a putrid offense with the worst quarterback play in the league.

Those aren't just empty numbers, either. The underlying analytics indicate that Conklin probably should have been even more productive.

Among tight ends with at least 45 targets last season, Conklin's 1.6 percent drop rate ranked second-best behind only Cole Kmet of the Chicago Bears. Conklin dropped just one pass in 2023.

He's also been one of the best tight ends in the NFL in contested catch situations. Conklin's 66.7 percent contested catch rate ranked third last season behind only Sam LaPorta and Trey McBride.

This isn't anything new for Conklin, either. His 69.2 percent contested catch rate in 2022 led all NFL tight ends. He's been the best tight end in contested catch situations since joining the Jets.

The biggest thing holding Conklin back to this point has been subpar quarterback play. His numbers are impressive and the analytics show he should've been even more productive. His breakout has already arrived — most fans just don't realize it yet.

In fact, Conklin already ranks eighth all-time among Jets tight ends in receiving yards after just two seasons. He's likely to move to seventh place after the 2024 season and could even make a run at the top six with a big year.

Now, just because Conklin should have competent quarterback play this season doesn't necessarily mean his numbers will explode. He was already the third-most targeted player on the Jets in 2023 and the second-most in 2022. He likely won't get more targets in a more crowded Jets offense.

But it's probably time to start putting respect on Conklin's name. He's already a top-10 tight end in Jets history and is, by seemingly every metric, a top-10 tight end in the current NFL.

If the Jets offense shows signs of competency in 2024, the narrative will quickly catch up to his production.

This article is part of the "Summer Spotlight" series on The Jet Press, dedicated to highlighting individual players on the Jets roster throughout the summer. Stay tuned for more features as we provide in-depth profiles and insights on various Jets players before the season kicks off.

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