Tight ends are more similar to wide receivers in today’s NFL than offensive linemen in previous eras. Their versatility and popularity, on and off the field, explain the increase in their salaries over the years.
Travis Kelce may be the most recognizable tight end in the NFL, but he’s no longer the highest-paid.
That honor currently belongs to George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers after he signed a new four-year extension on April 29, 2025 that pays him $19.1 million annually. The full deal is worth $76.4 million over four years with $40 million guaranteed.
Trey McBride of the Cardinals is a close second, earning $19 million annually with Arizona. McBride signed a then-record extension of his own earlier in April, worth $76 million over four years, taking in $43 million guaranteed.
Travis Kelce is third after he signed a two-year, $34.25 million contract extension with the Chiefs in 2024. Kelce earns $17.13 million annually, supplementing the lucrative contract he signed with Amazon last summer.
Fourth is T.J. Hockenson of the Vikings, who earns $16.5 million annually. The 27-year-old signed a four-year, $66 million contract extension in 2023, including $29.29 million guaranteed.
Rounding out the top five is Mark Andrews of the Ravens, earning $14 million per year to catch passes from his fellow first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Lamar Jackson. Andrews is entering the final year of a four-year, $56 million contract extension that he signed in 2021 which covers the 2022-2025 seasons.
Three of the top 10 highest-paid tight ends play in the AFC North — Jackson, David Njoku of the Cleveland Browns, and Pat Freiermuth of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Top 25 Highest-Paid NFL Tight Ends
Here is the list of the top 25 highest-paid NFL tight ends by average annual value. The list was compiled using data from Spotrac.
- Updated: May 28th, 2025
- Will be updated again: April 30th, 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | Total Compensation |
| 1 | George Kittle | San Francisco 49ers | $19.1 million |
| 2 | Trey McBride | Arizona Cardinals | $19 million |
| 3 | Travis Kelce | Kansas City Chiefs | $17.13 million |
| 4 | T.J. Hockenson | Minnesota Vikings | $16.5 million |
| 5 | Mark Andrews | Baltimore Ravens | $14 million |
| 6 | David Njoku | Cleveland Browns | $13.7 million |
| 7 | Cole Kmet | Chicago Bears | $12.5 million |
| 8 | Pat Freiermuth | Pittsburgh Steelers | $12.1 million |
| 9 | Dalton Schultz | Houston Texans | $12 million |
| 10 | Evan Engram | Denver Broncos | $11.5 million |
| 11 | Noah Fant | Seattle Seahawks | $10.5 million |
| 12 | Juwan Johnson | New Orleans Saints | $10.3 million |
| T-13 | Dallas Goedert | Philadelphia Eagles | $10 million |
| T-13 | Taysom Hill | New Orleans Saints | $10 million |
| 15 | Dawson Knox | Buffalo Bills | $9.8 million |
| 16 | Hunter Henry | New England Patriots | $9 million |
| T-17 | Tyler Higbee | Los Angeles Rams | $8.5 million |
| T-17 | Mike Gesicki | Cincinnati Bengals | $8.5 million |
| 19 | Kyle Pitts | Atlanta Falcons | $8.23 million |
| 20 | Colby Parkinson | Los Angeles Rams | $7.5 million |
| T-21 | John Bates | Washington Commanders | $7 million |
| T-21 | Josh Oliver | Minnesota Vikings | $7 million |
| 23 | Colston Loveland | Chicago Bears | $6.7 million |
| 24 | Zach Ertz | Washington Commanders | $6.3 million |
| 25 | Noah Gray | Kansas City Chiefs | $6 million |
