The tight end position has evolved from an added protection player to a versatile chess piece for offensive coordinators.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce told Front Office Sports last September that his position and the running back position have become more versatile by being lined up at multiple spots on the field.
As such, the position has seen its salaries go on an upward swing.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce tops the list of the highest-paid NFL tight ends. At $17.13 million per year, Kelce leads a star-studded top five, including Darren Waller, T.J. Hockenson, George Kittle, and Dallas Goedert.
Waller and Hockenson trail Kelce at $17 million and $16.5 million, respectively. In 2022, Waller signed a three-year, $51 million contract extension with the Raiders before being traded to the Giants. Hockenson signed a four-year, $66 million contract extension with the Vikings this past offseason.
Kittle comes in at No. 4, making $15 million. Kittle signed a five-year, $75 million extension with the 49ers in 2020. Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert caps off the top five, trailing just behind Kittle at $14.25 million. Goedert signed a four-year, $57 million extension with the Eagles in ’21.
Top 25 Paid 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 16, 2024
- Will be updated again: May 30, 2024
| Rank | Player | Team | Compensation |
| 1 | Travis Kelce | Kansas City Chiefs | $17.13 million |
| 2 | Darren Waller | New York Giants | $17 million |
| 3 | T.J. Hockenson | Minnesota Vikings | $16.5 million |
| 4 | George Kittle | San Francisco 49ers | $15 million |
| 5 | Dallas Goedert | Philadelphia Eagles | $14.25 million |
| 6 | Mark Andrews | Baltimore Ravens | $14 million |
| 7 | Evan Engram | Jacksonville Jaguars | $13.75 million |
| 8 | David Njoku | Cleveland Browns | $13.7 million |
| 9 | Cole Kmet | Chicago Bears | $12.5 million |
| 10 | Dalton Schultz | Houston Texans | $12 million |
| 11 | Noah Fant | Seattle Seahawks | $10.5 million |
| 12 | Taysom Hill | New Orleans Saints | $10 million |
| 13 | Dawson Knox | Buffalo Bills | $9.8 million |
| 14 | Hunter Henry | New England Patriots | $9 million |
| 15 | Tyler Higbee | Los Angeles Rams | $8.5 million |
| 16 | Kyle Pitts | Atlanta Falcons | $8.2 million |
| 17 | Colby Parkinson | Los Angeles Rams | $7.5 million |
| 18 | Josh Oliver | Minnesota Vikings | $7 million |
| 19 | Tyler Conklin | New York Jets | $6.75 million |
| T-20 | Gerald Everett | Chicago Bears | $6 million |
| T-20 | Juwan Johnson | New Orleans Saints | $6 million |
| 22 | Mo Alie-Cox | Indianapolis Colts | $5.85 million |
| 23 | Will Dissly | Los Angeles Chargers | $4.7 million |
| 24 | Brock Bowers | Las Vegas Raiders | $4.5 million |
| 25 | Jonnu Smith | Miami Dolphins | $4.2 million |
