NFC South All-Decade Team of 2000s: Which tight ends make the cut?

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NFC South All-Decade Team of 2000s: Which tight ends make the cut?

John Sigler, Saints Wire · Saints Wire

Sat, Jul 4, 2026 ·

3 min read

Methodology

One key stat we're relying on is Approximate Value from Pro Football Reference , which PFR defines as "an attempt to put a single number on the seasonal value of a player at any position from any year." In practice, that means giving higher numbers to player who start more games, play more snaps, and do more to help their team win by racking up yards, scoring touchdowns, creating turnovers and sacking quarterbacks, and so on. We're also assigning point values to being named a first-team All-Pro (ten points), second-team All-Pro (five points), and Pro Bowler (three points). And then we're adding those numbers together. Remember, these are all-decade teams for the NFC South, which didn't exist until 2002, and only contributions on the four teams in the division factor into our formula. So Drew Brees earning a Pro Bowl nod with the San Diego Chargers in 2005 doesn't help him, for example.

First team: Alge Crumpler

Sep 25, 2006; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end (83) Alge Crumpler attempts to elude New Orleans Saints cornerback (22) Fred Thomas during the 2nd quarter at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The Monday Night Football game was the first event in the Louisiana Superdome a year after it was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina and used as a shelter from the storm by tens of thousands of people. Mandatory Credit: Photo By John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2006 John David Mercer

Team: Atlanta Falcons (2002 to 2007)

AV: 40

Honors: Pro Bowler (4)

Score: 52

Crumpler was the unquestioned leader at tight end in the NFC South throughout the 2000s, totaling 316 catches for 4,212 yards and 35 touchdowns (which, truth be told, started a year before the division was founded). He was chosen for four consecutive Pro Bowls from 2003 to 2006 while handling a rare volume of targets at tight end; the ball went his way 118 times in 2005 and 103 times in 2006. He was a highly respected player in his day, and for good reason.

Second team: Alex Smith

November 18, 2007; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end (81) Alex Smith catches a touchdown despite the efforts of Atlanta Falcons safety (36) Lawyer Milloy in the third quarter at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers defeated the Falcons 31 to 7. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine USA TODAY Sports

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2005 to 2008)

AV: 11

Honors: N/A

Score: 11

Smith tied with Shockey in approximate value, and neither of them made it to the Pro Bowl while on an NFC South team, so it came down to production. And Smith won that battle decisively. He appeared in three times as many games (74) and caught more passes (132) for more yards (1,277) and touchdowns (11 of them) than Shockey, but that's mostly because he had more opportunities. That's not to undermine his achievements. Smith was an effective and consistent starter on those mid-2000s Bucs teams.

Honorable mention: Jeremy Shockey

Feb 7, 2010; Miami, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey (88) makes a diving catch during the second quarter of Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Team: New Orleans Saints (2008 to 2009)

AV: 11

Honors: N/A

Score: 11

Shockey may have not met expectations after the Saints acquired him in a high-profile trade, but he was still a playmaker who arrived at the perfect time. Each of his catches in Super Bowl XLIV were pivotal to the team's historic win, including his crucial touchdown grab against tight coverage from the Indianapolis Colts defense. He was only with the Saints for two years in the 2000s but still averaged 3.9 receptions and 42.1 yards per game. It's a fact that the Saints wouldn't have won that Super Bowl without him.

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