Julian Edelman’s story is a phenomenal one, as despite being a Quarterback at Kent State, Patriots Head Coach, Bill Belichik saw him as a possible receiver/returner, and as often was the case, he was right.  Edelman was never a Pro Bowl or All-Pro Selection, but he became a regular target of Tom Brady, and would have three 1,000-Yard campaigns, accumulating 6,822 Yards with 36 Touchdowns.  Combined with his Return and Rushing Yards, Edelman had a total of 9,869 All-Purpose Yards.

What makes Edelman a fringe Hall of Fame candidate is his post-season play.  Edelman won three Super Bowls (XLIX, LI and LIII), all of which, he was the leading receiver for his team.  In Super Bowl LIII, Edelman was the Super Bowl MVP, and had the catch of the game in their come-from-behind win over Atlanta in Super Bowl LI.  Edelman is second only to Jerry Rice in post-season Receptions with 118.

A Third Round Pick from Florida, Jordan Reed was on the cusp of being in the top group of NFL Tight Ends.  Reed played for the Washington Redskins from 2013 to 2019, and he made the Pro Bowl in 2016, though his 2015 season was better.  That year, he had career-highs in Receiving Yards (952) and Touchdowns (11).

Reed suffered a concussion in the third preseason game in 2019, and he was unable to play that year.  He came back for one year with San Francisco, where he played in ten Games, but served as a backup to George Kittle.  Reed retired at the end of the year, leaving football with 3,602 Yards and 28 Touchdowns.

Drafted in the 3rd Round out of Tennessee in 2003, Witten would see significant playing time in his rookie year but in 2004 he would rise to Pro Bowl status with a 980 Yard season. This would be the first of many seasons where the Dallas Cowboy would be considered an elite Tight End.

From 2005 to 2010 he would be named to six more Pro Bowls, which would also include two First Team All Pro Selections. Four more Pro Bowls would follow (2012-14 & 2017). Four of his seasons would see Witten exceed over 90 Receptions and 1,000 Yards, incredible numbers for a Tight End.

Witten first retired after the 2017 season with 11 Pro Bowls, and went into the broadcast booth for ESPN for their Monday Night Football package.  He unretired, coming back in 2019, and joined the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 before retiring for good.

Witten retired as the all-time Cowboys leader in Receptions (1,215) and Receiving Yards (12,977) and with 13,046 Yards and 74 Touchdowns in total, behind only Tony Gonzalez among Tight Ends.

Greg Olsen played his college football at the University of Miami where he would become one of the top Tight Ends in the 2007 Draft, taken 31^st overall by the Chicago Bears.  Olsen did well, peaking with 612 Yards in 2009, but he was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a Third Round pick before the 2011 season.

With the Panthers, Olsen continued his work catching passes and blocking potential tacklers.  Already good at both disciplines, Olsen took it to another level, recording three consecutive 1,000 Yard seasons, all of which earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl.  

Injuries took their toll on Olsen, and his production dipped.  He played with Carolina until 2019, and had one final season with the Seattle Seahawks.

Olsen left professional football with 8,683 Yards and 60 Touchdowns.