Madden 16 Player Ratings: Top 5 Tight Ends Revealed

Versatility is key when it comes to becoming a dominant athlete in any sport, but none more so than in the NFL. Of all the positions that line up on the gridiron, no position is more versatile than the tight end. With the responsibilities of blocking on the line as well as being a reliable target for the quarterback, the tight end is one of the unsung heroes in the game. 

Madden 16 announced its top five tight ends Friday, via EA Sports, for its upcoming release at the end of August:

Rank	Player	Team	Overall Rating	Notable Stat Ratings
1	Rob Gronkowski	New England Patriots	99	94 Spectacular Catch, 98 Catch in Traffic, 95 Release, 94 Catching
2	Jimmy Graham	Seattle Seahawks	95	92 Catching, 90 Spectacular Catch, 88 Catch in Traffic, 92 Jump
3	Jason Witten	Dallas Cowboys	93	95 Catching, 92 Catch in Traffic, 88 Route Running
4	Greg Olsen	Carolina Panthers	92	89 Catching, 89 Jumping, 88 Spectacular Catch
5	Travis Kelce	Kansas City Chiefs	91	89 Catching, 89 Jumping, 88 Spectacular Catch, 87 Catch in Traffic

While there's little to disagree with in Madden's first four tight ends listed, there might be some head-scratching at seeing that No. 5 is the Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce. 

In his first full season in 2014, Kelce was ranked sixth in the NFL with 862 yards receiving, trailing the first four tight ends on Madden's list as well as Chicago's Martellus Bennett and Tennessee's Delanie Walker. He also fumbled the ball four times, tied with the New York Giants' Larry Donnell for most among tight ends. 

But Kelce has a wonderful set of hands when it comes to catching the ball with speed that many members of the opposing secondary have trouble catching up to, especially when he gets to the open field. He has the ability to get past the defense and is one tough customer to bring down. 

Expect Kelce to have a big season in the Chiefs offense as he continues to build a relationship with quarterback Alex Smith. He was Smith's favorite target last season, leading the team with 67 receptions. 

While there will be questions surrounding Kelce, there should be none around the top-rated tight end, Rob Gronkowski. After coming back from gruesome arm, ACL and MCL injuries, the Patriots big man led all tight ends last season with 1,124 yards and was downright unstoppable. 

His contributions helped the Patriots win their fourth Super Bowl of the 2000s, as he has revolutionized the position with his combination of size and speed.

So when you're looking for that added versatility while selecting a team after you fire up Madden 16, take into consideration these five targets. Nothing says a complete victory like smashmouth football with a player who can catch a fade route while also flattening a linebacker. 

Stats courtesy of NFL.com