The New York Jets’ need for a tight end is well-documented; it’s why Penn State’s Tyler Warren has become one of their most popular mock draft selections.
However, it can be argued that the most underrated need on the Jets’ roster is the No. 2 tight end.
The Jets need two quality tight ends to effectively run the offense of new coordinator Tanner Engstrand. Assuming his scheme is anything close to the one he was a part of in Detroit, the Jets’ No. 2 tight end will be significantly more important than most No. 2 tight ends in the NFL.
In 2024, Detroit ran 12 personnel (1 RB/2 TE/2 WR) at the third-highest rate in the NFL (32.3% of offensive plays). They were particularly run-heavy on those plays, as they finished second in the NFL with 12.1 rush attempts per game with 12 personnel on the field. Not only that, but when they ran the ball out of 12 personnel, they loved to run toward the tight ends. Detroit ran to the strong side of the formation on 52.9% of their rush attempts out of 12 personnel, ranking fifth-highest.
To summarize, the Lions:
- Frequently used multiple tight ends
- Frequently ran the ball when using multiple tight ends
- Frequently ran toward the strong side when using multiple tight ends
Thus, it is particularly important that the Jets have two tight ends who excel in the blocking department.
Of course, receiving skills are vital for the starter, but it is equally imperative for him to be a positive blocker. As for the No. 2 tight end, receiving skills can take a back seat. The Jets just need a second guy who can pave the road, as they will be frequently running the ball to his side with extra defenders in the area.
Blocking at the tight end position was a major issue for the Jets’ offense in 2024. Among 85 qualified tight ends, Jeremy Ruckert ranked 84th in Pro Football Focus’ run-blocking grade (39.6), while Tyler Conklin ranked 76th (42.9). This is one of the main reasons why the Jets struggled to run the ball effectively despite having their most stable and talented offensive line in many years. With no in-house solutions, the Jets must look for outside additions who can help in this area.
Since blocking tight ends do not cost a premium on the open market, they provide the Jets with an opportunity to find value in free agency. These players will make a larger impact in the Jets’ scheme than they would for the average NFL team, but the Jets can land them for the price determined by the league at large – thus giving Darren Mougey excellent bang for his buck.
Here are three particular free agents Mougey should target to fill the Jets’ No. 2 tight end role.
Chris Manhertz, Giants
Despite securing only three touchdowns and 29 receptions in his career, Chris Manhertz has logged 137 games and 64 starts across nine NFL seasons, amassing 3,053 offensive snaps. That is the tell-tale sign of a tight end who is well-respected by coaches for his blocking skills.
In 2024, Manhertz earned a 63.8 run-blocking grade at Pro Football Focus, which ranked 20th out of 85 qualified tight ends. It was the sixth time in the past seven seasons he finished with a grade of 62.0 or better; his yearly average over that span was 64.8. For reference, the 2024 league average for tight ends was 56.7.
Manhertz is also a reliable pass protector, allowing a career pressure rate of 4.7%, which is well below the 2024 positional average (8.3%). He gave up just three pressures on 80 pass-blocking snaps (3.8% pressure rate) for the Giants in 2024. That was the fourth-most pass-blocking snaps among tight ends, indicating his coaching staff’s trust in his pass-blocking skills. This is a regularity for Manhertz, who has averaged 77 pass-blocking snaps per season since 2019.
Set to turn 33 years old in April, Manhertz certainly won’t break the bank; his last deal was a one-year, $1.377 million pact with the Giants. Yet, he retains a strong track record as a blocker with no signs of slowing down.
You won’t get an ounce of receiving ability from Manhertz (his single-season career highs are 71 receiving yards and one touchdown), but if the Jets are purely interested in blocking skills for their TE2 role, Manhertz is a great target. Or, if the Jets want to give this position group the utmost attention, Manhertz will likely be cheap enough to slide in as the Jets’ TE3 while they find someone else to fit between him and the starter.
Austin Hooper, Patriots
Compared to Manhertz, Austin Hooper is not nearly as accomplished of a blocker, but he would provide much better receiving skills. Still, he projects as a plus blocker, thus making him a nice two-way option if the Jets are open to sacrificing some blocking talent for a more balanced skill set in the TE2 role.
In 2024, his first season with New England, Hooper posted a 65.9 run-blocking grade, ranking 10th out of 85 qualifiers. It was a major bounce-back after he posted grades of 50.6 and 46.7 in 2023 (Raiders) and 2022 (Titans).
Overall, Hooper has the track record of a slightly above-average blocker throughout his career. Across nine seasons, his yearly average run-blocking grade is 59.6, about three points above the 2024 positional average.
In terms of pass protection, Hooper rates similarly, allowing a solid 6.7% pressure rate in his career. He was not asked to do it very often in 2024, though; Hooper gave up one pressure on 22 pass-blocking snaps. He averages 43.2 pass-blocking snaps per season for his career.
Hooper was a high-end TE1 earlier in his career with the Falcons, once earning back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances from 2018-19. Those days are long behind the now-30-year-old, but Hooper still caught 45 passes for 476 yards and three touchdowns for the Pats in 2024. It was a noticeable resurgence after he posted just 25 catches for 234 yards and no touchdowns for the Raiders in 2023. His hands have remained consistent, though; over the past three seasons, Hooper only has two drops (1.8% drop rate).
Hooper could still suffice as a low-end TE1 for some teams, but the Jets will probably set their sights higher, given the importance of the position in their offense. Nonetheless, he’d be a high-quality TE2. That will likely push his cost a few million dollars above Manhertz’s – Hooper netted $3.125 million on a one-year deal in 2024, and he will make a case to earn more in 2025 after a much-improved season.
However, given Hooper’s two-way reliability, the price could be worthwhile for the Jets if they land a dynamic TE1. A one-two punch of Tyler Warren and Austin Hooper would be music to Engstrand’s ears as he attempts to bring Detroit’s style of football to MetLife Stadium.
Mo Alie-Cox, Colts
We highlighted Mo Alie-Cox in a previous article that identified some of the best scheme fits for the Jets in free agency.
Alie-Cox provides a middle-ground option between Manhertz and Hooper. His blocking pedigree is not quite as impressive as Manhertz’s, but he is more capable of chipping in as a receiver. His consistency as a receiver does not rival Hooper’s, but he is certainly a better blocker.
In 2024, Alie-Cox ranked 18th out of 85 qualified tight ends with a 64.2 run-blocking grade. His yearly average across seven seasons is 62.9, nearly two points shy of Manhertz’s over the same span (64.7) but nearly five points ahead of Hooper’s (58.1).
Alie-Cox is not relied upon to pass-block as often as Manhertz, averaging 37.7 pass-blocking snaps per season, but his efficiency is similar. Across 264 career pass-blocking snaps, Alie-Cox has yielded just 13 pressures, an impressive pressure rate of 4.9% – marginally behind Manhertz’s career rate (4.7%). Alie-Cox was elite in this category in 2024, allowing zero pressures on a career-high 69 pass-blocking snaps – the most pass-blocking snaps without allowing any pressures among tight ends.
As a receiver, you can count on Alie-Cox to provide an efficient chunk of production on a low volume. Across the past five seasons (2020-24), Alie-Cox generated a yearly average of 20 receptions for 241 yards and 2.6 touchdowns on just 31 targets. He is coming off his quietest season in a while, though, catching 12-of-22 targets for 147 yards and one touchdown.
Alie-Cox’s hands are subpar. He has a 7.3% career drop rate, a 47.1% career contested-catch rate, and three fumbles on just 114 receptions (2.6% fumble rate).
However, Alie-Cox is an excellent field stretcher, owning a career ADOT of 8.9 (eclipsing 10.0 in each of the past two seasons). As a result, he is averaging 12.6 yards per reception in his career, ranking seventh-highest among tight ends with 100+ receptions since 2018. He’s not your ideal security blanket underneath, but he can be counted on for a handful of big gains each year.
It would be surprising if Alie-Cox cost significantly more than Manhertz. With Alie-Cox set to turn 32 years old in September after his quietest receiving season in five years, it seems reasonable to estimate that his price will settle around $2 million. That is the number earned by fellow blocking tight end Johnny Mundt in 2024 after posting a similar 17/172/1 receiving stat line in 2023.
If the Jets want a good blocker who can also provide a couple of touchdowns and the occasional downfield chunk, Alie-Cox is their man. Manhertz is the way to go if they’re solely focused on blocking, while Hooper is the way to go if they want a consistent pass-catcher with adequate blocking ability. Or, if the Jets really want to establish an offensive identity and end their long-standing lack of depth at tight end, they could target two of these players.
