The 2019 NFL season represents the complete changing of the guard at tight end. Two future Hall of Famers, Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Gates, have left the game, and another, Jason Witten, is back for brief respite.

Now the best at the position is represented by young rising stars, some established pass-catchers and a couple of late-career bloomers. These are the 10 tight ends who stand out above the rest from the end of last season and going into the next one, according to Sporting News' NFL team.

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1. George Kittle, 49ers

At 6-4, 250 pounds, Kittle unleashed his inner Gronk in his second season, quickly proving to be a 2017 fifth-round draft steal. He set the tight end record for receiving yards in a season with 1,377, and he did it by averaging a ridiculous 15.6 yards per catch. He also smashed as a run blocker and can do better than 88 catches and five TDs with a full season of Jimmy Garoppolo.

2. Travis Kelce, Chiefs

Kelce takes over as the best No. 87 with Gronk retiring, and he carries on the tradition of Tony Gonzalez in Kansas City. Kelce improved his numbers again last season, hitting career highs of 103 catches for 1,336 yards and 10 TDs with Patrick Mahomes. He becomes a more important target for Mahomes in 2019 with Tyreek HIll unlikely to play and backup tight end Demetrius Harris gone. Kelce also was a solid pass blocker when not running routes.

3. Zach Ertz, Eagles

Ertz serves as the ultimate wide receiver hybrid, and he raised his game last season as a No. 1 target with 116 catches for 1,163 yards and 10 TDs, all career highs. He falls a little behind Kittle and Kelce for his relative blocking deficiency.

4. O.J. Howard, Buccaneers

Howard needed only 10 games to post 34 catches for 565 yards and five TDs in his second season. He was even better at stretching the field than Kittle was, averaging 16.6 yards per catch for a second straight season. New Bucs coach Bruce Arians does not typically deploy tight ends in the passing game, but he will make use of Howard's downfield domination. If Howard delivers and comes back durable from the knee and ankle injuries that cut short his 2018 season, he will challenge Kittle for the top spot in 2020.

5. Evan Engram, Giants

Engram got picked in the first round in 2017 behind Howard because of his receiving skills, but he has rounded into a solid overall blocker over two seasons. A hamstring injury kept him from matching his rookie production, but he rises back up the target priority for Eli Manning and/or Daniel Jones as the Co-No. 2 option with Golden Tate behind Sterling Shepard.

6. Hunter Henry, Chargers

It's been a year since a torn ACL derailed what was destined to be a special third season for Henry. He will have a high catch rate again for Phlip Rivers and return to being a red zone force to complement Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. Henry (6-5, 225 pounds) also can throw down a Gronk-like blocking hammer.

7. Chris Herndon, Jets

Herndon (6-4, 253 pounds) flashed some Gronk-like ability with big catches for Sam Darnold last season. He will see his production go up as a key target in what will be a more effective offense overall with Adam Gase. Herndon will need to significantly improve his run blocking — now in front of Le'Veon Bell — if he plans to move up this list next year.

8. Jared Cook, Saints

Cook (6-5, 254 pounds) is coming off his first Pro Bowl in his 10th season. As the Raiders' go-to guy, he caught 68 passes for 896 yards and six TDs. He offers little as a blocker, but he stepped into a great situation to keep grooving as a "move" receiver for Drew Brees.

9. T.J. Hockenson, Lions

Hockenson has not played a down in the NFL, but that doesn't keep us from ranking him one spot below the rookie's No. 8 overall draft selection. At 6-5, 251 pounds (and also from Iowa), Hockenson is pretty much a physical clone of Kittle, with much of the same awesome receiving and blocking upside. Hockenson will get plenty of opportunities to produce in both capacities right away for Detroit.

10. Eric Ebron, Colts

It came down to Ebron and teammate Jack Doyle for the last spot, with recent usage and durability becoming the tiebreakers. Ebron had issues with drops and didn't help the Colts much in the way of blocking, but his 66 catches for 750 yards and 13 TDs were a vital aspect of Andrew Luck rebounding and thriving in the first year of Frank Reich and Nick Sirianni's offense. The 2014 first-rounder was finally used the right way by the right team, and it showed.