NFL Network’s David Carr isn’t giving Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker any respect.
NFL analysts continue to be down on Tennessee Titans tight end, Delanie Walker, and NFL Network’s David Carr is just the latest.
Carr shared his rankings of the top-10 tight ends in the NFL for 2019 on NFL.com, and lo and behold the veteran Walker was not on the list.
Here’s how Carr ranked the position’s top-10 players in his own eyes.
- George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
- Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
- Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
- Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts
- Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings
- Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers
- Vance McDonald, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jared Cook, New Orleans Saints
- David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
- Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders
Last week, we shared with you how Pro Football Focus ranked Walker as the No. 10 tight end and how that wasn’t good enough. As you can imagine, we’re even less pleased with this list.
One through three are perfectly fine, but how Darren Waller—a player who has proved absolutely nothing in the NFL since he was drafted in 2015—makes this list is beyond me. From spots four through 10, there isn’t a single tight end who is as proven and consistent as Walker.
In fact, it’s not even close.
Say what you want about Walker coming off a serious injury in 2018, turning 35, and having the most talented group of pass-catchers around him in any year of his Titans tenure, even a down year for him is better than most tight ends in the league.
From 2014 through 2017, Walker totaled 800 yards or more and averaged five touchdowns in each season. The No. 10 in tight end in terms of receiving yards from last season was the Chicago Bears’ Trey Burton with 569.
That’s a good season for the position for sure, but that’s a down year for Walker. So, even if Walker has what would be considered a down year based on his past production, he’s still a top-10 tight end.
It seems sometimes these analysts are so busy looking for hot takes to look smarter than everyone else that they forget the facts. The fact is Walker has been a top-tier tight end throughout his time in Tennessee and should get credit as such until we see different.