Christian Fauria has reignited the debate over Travis Kelce’s place among the NFL’s greatest tight ends by questioning his blocking willingness (Getty Images)
Through eight weeks of the 2026 season, he had recorded 29 catches for 410 yards and two touchdowns. His 3.9-yard average separation at the catch point also ranked among the league’s best, according to Next Gen Stats. He held an 85.9 grade in PFN’s NFL TE Impact Score, placing fourth.
Kelce’s numbers, meanwhile, show why he remains a major part of this discussion.
Because … he’s soft, “Now, Kelce gets a lot of flak.
“Tony Gonzalez never gets enough credit for being a capable blocker,” Fauria said. That’s no disrespect,” Fauria said. “He said you needed to be a willing blocker. They’re not moving or setting the edge, but they’re not blowing up running plays,” Fauria said. “Gronk could do everything all those other guys can do,” Fauria said.
Travis Kelce ’s standing among the NFL’s greatest tight ends has come under fresh scrutiny after former New England Patriots player Christian Fauria questioned one important part of his game. Fauria, a two-time Super Bowl champion, believes Rob Gronkowski deserves the top spot, with Tony Gonzalez second. His criticism of Kelce focused on blocking, an area where he feels the Kansas City Chiefs star does not show enough willingness. However, Fauria also admitted that the skill may not be as important to the position as some believe. “Now, he didn’t destroy people, but he was pretty damn good for a guy that caught as many passes as he did. So, I think Tony’s my number two. He’s just, he’s soft, right? He then clarified his criticism: “Doesn’t mean he couldn’t beat you up in a fight, but when it comes to blocking, I just don’t think he has a willingness to do it. But I also don’t know if it matters as much. And that’s what Travis Kelce is. That’s what Shannon Sharpe is. They’re willing blockers. It doesn’t mean they’re great at it. Fauria had little hesitation when explaining why Gronkowski topped his list. The former Patriots star could contribute in almost every aspect of the tight end position, making him a more complete player in Fauria’s assessment. “He could find the void. He could finesse you in zone. He could run deep. He can run seams. He can run shallows. He can run crossers.”