Four tight ends are four tight ends. Right?
Wrong.
The No. 1 tight end is the man, the starter who can act as a vertical threat while also serving as an offensive line extension. The backup is most likely the next best receiving guy of the group. At least one of the four must bring a maniacal blocking attribute to the table—especially for an Adam Gase team that doesn’t carry a fullback.
The intricacies of the 53-man NFL depth chart travel far beyond standard positions. Tight ends are just the tip of the iceberg.
Concerning the New York Jets, this depth chart specificity holds true.