Jimmy Graham’s per-16 stats from 2011-2014: 90/1116/12

Travis Kelce’s per-16 stats from 2017-2020: 100/1295/9

Who was the better receiving TE at their respective best?
Todd Christensen’s per-16 stats from 1983-1986: 87/1098/8

Travis Kelce’s per-16 stats from 2017-2020: 100/1295/9

Christensen played on a run-first team quarterbacked by Jim Plunkett and Marc Wilson and twice led the NFL in receptions.

Who was the better receiving TE?
Shannon Sharpe’s per-16 stats from 1993-1998: 79/1002/7

Travis Kelce’s per-16 stats from 2015-2020: 93/1195/7

Sharpe would go on to dominate in Baltimore and on the Griese/Plummer Broncos before retiring as the all-time career leader among TEs.

Who was the better receiving TE?
Antonio Gates’ per-16 stats from 2004-2010: 78/1018/10

Travis Kelce’s per-16 stats from 2014-2020: 89/1146/7

Gates topped 8TDs every year, culminating in 10TDs in 10 games in 2010 to become the first TE in history with three 10+ TD seasons

Who was the better receiving TE?
Kellen Winslow Sr’s per-16 stats from 1980-1984: 94/1230/9

Travis Kelce’s per-16 stats from 2016-2020: 97/1260/8

Belichick says every modern receiving TE is a direct descendent of Winslow, who led the league in receptions twice.

Who was the better receiving TE?
Mike Ditka’s per-16 stats from 1961-1964: 71/1049/9

Travis Kelce’s per-16 stats from 2017-2020: 100/1295/9

Mike Ditka didn’t invent the position, but he put it on the map. Had the best rookie season ever with 56/1076/12. In 14 games. In 1961.

Who was the better receiving TE?
Tony Gonzalez's per-16 stats from 1999-2008: 83/1008/7

Travis Kelce's per-16 stats from 2011-2020: 88/1136/7

Except the big difference is Gonzalez played all ten of those years and Kelce only played seven.

Who was the better receiving TE?
Pete Retzlaff's per-16 stats from 1963-1965: 70/1176/9

Travis Kelce's per-16 stats from 2018-2020: 104/1355/9

Those were Retzlaff's first three seasons at TE. He was 32-34. No TE since has come within 20ypg of his average at those ages.

Who was the better receiving TE?
Rob Gronkowski's per-16 stats from 2011-2017: 80/1234/12

Travis Kelce's per-16 stats from 2014-2020: 89/1146/7

Gronk don't need no context. Y'all saw him.

Who was the better receiving TE?
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