Who are the next tight ends that could reset the market?
Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs started the offseason as the highest-paid tight end in the NFL, earning $17.1 million annually. However, recently, both Trey McBride from the Arizona Cardinals and George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers have surpassed this figure with their new contracts. McBride secured a notable four-year, $76 million extension in April, while Kittle followed suit with a slightly higher contract of $76.4 million, making him the new leader in tight end earnings.
McBride expressed enthusiasm for the ongoing competition among tight ends to secure better payouts. “I think it was great that I had the title at one point and that was obviously a huge milestone for me and everything just to be the highest paid at my position at the time…” he stated, adding his desire for the trend to continue.
Current highest-paid TEs:
| Player | Average per year (AAV) |
|---|---|
| George Kittle, 49ers | $19.1M |
| Trey McBride, Cardinals | $19M |
| Travis Kelce, Chiefs | $17.1M |
| T.J. Hockenson, Vikings | $16.5M |
| Mark Andrews, Ravens | $14M |
In his third NFL season, McBride caught 111 passes for 1,146 yards and two touchdowns, ranking among the top tight ends in NFL history for receptions and receiving yards. As for the emerging stars, keep an eye on Sam LaPorta from the Detroit Lions who has shown potential to exceed Kittle’s record as he approaches his first contract extension eligibility after a breakout performance.
Furthermore, Brock Bowers from the Las Vegas Raiders also holds promise, having shattered the record for rookie receptions in a season. With age on their side, both LaPorta and Bowers are contenders looking to capitalize on the tight end contract trends evolving in the NFL.
