Player
Jordan Akins
TE
Dual-sport athletes who pivot to the NFL after years in pro baseball are genuinely rare, and Akins sustained the career long enough to matter.
3rd-round 2018 by HOU. Former MLB minor-leaguer who became a 7-year NFL TE.
MilestoneCareer regular-season totals
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 2018-2024 |
| Receptions | 206 |
| Receiving Yards | 2,277 |
| Receiving TDs | 10 |
| Y/R | 11.1 |
Why it matters. Dual-sport athletes who pivot to the NFL after years in pro baseball are genuinely rare, and Akins sustained the career long enough to matter.
4 of his 7 seasons cleared 390 receiving yards. The reliable-TE production curve.
TrendAkins productive seasons
| Year | Tm | Rec | Yds | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | HOU | 36 | 418 | 2 |
| 2020 | HOU | 37 | 403 | 1 |
| 2022 | HOU | 37 | 495 | 5 |
| 2024 | CLE | 40 | 390 | 2 |
Receiving yards by year
| Season | Yards |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 225 |
| 2019 | 418 |
| 2020 | 403 |
| 2022 | 495 |
| 2024 | 390 |
Why it matters. A TE hitting 390+ yards four different seasons spanning seven years demonstrates reliable value, not a one-year wonder.
HOU was his career home (5 years). Then 2 productive years in CLE.
SplitAkins career splits
| Stop | Years | Rec | Yds | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOU | 2018-2022 | 151 | 1,755 | 8 |
| CLE | 2023-2024 | 55 | 522 | 2 |
Why it matters. The HOU-to-CLE trajectory shows a TE who found a new role on a new team and delivered in Year 2 there despite being 32.
He played minor-league baseball for 4 years before going to UCF for football.
RareAkins pre-NFL path
| Phase | Detail |
|---|---|
| MLB minors | 2010-2013 (Rangers) |
| College | UCF 2014-2017 |
| NFL Draft | 2018 R3 #98 (HOU) |
Why it matters. Late bloomers who spend years in pro baseball before reaching the NFL are exceptionally rare. Akins is one of the few who made the path work at the highest level.
Akins was HOU's #1 TE by targets in 2019, 2020, and 2022 — the lead tight end on 3 different rosters.
ComparisonAkins as lead HOU TE (targets)
| Year | Akins Tgt | Next-Best TE | Their Tgt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 55 | Darren Fells | 48 |
| 2020 | 49 | Darren Fells | 28 |
| 2022 | 54 | Brevin Jordan | 28 |
Why it matters. The "secondary TE" label understates his role: Akins was the featured tight end multiple years in Houston, earning his target share in a competitive room.
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