NFL
Top 10 Highest-Paid NFL Tight Ends: Trey McBride’s Contract Vaults To The Top
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Trey McBride has signed a contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals, making him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history.
Trey McBride’s Massive Contract Extension
Arizona Cardinals are making Pro-Bowl TE Trey McBride the highest-paid tight end in NFL history with a four-year, $76 million extension, per agents @MSWENSON78 @CJLaBoy @dhendrickson41 of @wassermannfl.
The deal includes $43 million guaranteed and a $19 million average per year,… pic.twitter.com/Gil0BQKxhq
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2025
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, McBride and the Cardinals have agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension worth $76 million. The new deal includes $43 million guaranteed.
With an average of $19 million per year, McBride becomes the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
McBride, 25, is a former second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. McBride was entering the final year of his rookie deal before the Cardinals locked him through the 2029 season.
McBride has quickly become one of the game’s best pass-catching tight ends.
McBride is coming off a season where he set career highs in catches (111) and yards (1,146) to go along with a pair of touchdowns.
McBride’s numbers through three seasons: 221 receptions, 2,236 yards, and six touchdowns.
Top 10 Highest-Paid NFL Tight Ends
| Player | Team | Average Per Year |
| Trey McBride | Arizona Cardinals | $19 million |
| Travis Kelce | Kansas City Chiefs | $17.125 million |
| T.J. Hockenson | Minnesota Vikings | $16.5 million |
| George Kittle | San Francisco 49ers | $15 million |
| Dallas Goedert | Philadelphia Eagles | $14.25 million |
| Mark Andrews | Baltimore Ravens | $14 million |
| David Njoku | Cleveland Browns | $13.687 million |
| Cole Kmet | Chicago Bears | $12.5 million |
| Pat Freiermuth | Pittsburgh Steelers | $12.1 million |
| Dalton Schultz | Houston Texans | $12 million |
McBride’s $19 million per year surpasses Kansas City’s Travis Kelce, who earns $17.125 million per year.
The rest of the top five includes San Francisco’s George Kittle (16.5 million per year), Philadelphia’s Dallas Goedert ($15 million per year), and Baltimore’s Mark Andrews ($14 million per year).
As with most contracts, the market will increase with the next crop of tight ends. If Las Vegas’ Brock Bowers continues on his trajectory, he will become the first tight end to make $20 million per year.
