We’ve seen the landscape of the highest-paid tight ends in the NFL develop significantly over the past couple of years. Heading into 2024, there are 12 tight ends with annual salaries of at least $10 million.
Who is the highest-paid tight end in the NFL, and which TEs make up the remainder of the top 10?
The Highest-Paid Tight Ends in the NFL
Note: We’re using average annual salary (AAV) to determine these rankings, with all salary figures provided by Over The Cap.
10) Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans | AAV: $12 million
Dalton Schultz landed a new contract this offseason when he signed a three-year, $36 million deal to stay with the Houston Texans. The deal includes $23.5 million guaranteed and salary cap hits of $14 million in both 2025 and 2026.
Schultz is scheduled to hit free agency in 2027.
9) Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears | AAV: $12.5 million
Cole Kmet signed a four-year, $50 million extension with the Chicago Bears last July. The deal includes $32.8 million guaranteed for injury, with $22.9 million fully guaranteed.
Kmet is scheduled to hit free agency in 2028.
8) David Njoku, Cleveland Browns | AAV: $13.7 million
David Njoku signed a four-year, $54.75 million extension with the Cleveland Browns in 2022. The deal includes $28 million in total guarantees, with $17 million fully guaranteed at signing. The Browns restructured Njoku’s contract last August.
Njoku is scheduled to hit free agency in 2026.
7) Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars | AAV: $13.75 million
The Jacksonville Jaguars initially assigned Evan Engram the franchise tag last offseason, but the two sides eventually worked out a new contract. Engram agreed to a three-year, $41.25 million extension that includes $24 million guaranteed.
Engram is scheduled to hit free agency in 2026.
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6) Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens | AAV: $14 million
One of the NFL’s top tight ends, Mark Andrews signed a four-year, $56 million extension with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021. The deal, which kicked in for the 2022 season, includes $37.58 in total guarantees. Injuries have been an issue for Andrews, whose cap number will be $16.9 million in 2024 and 2025.
Andrews is scheduled to hit free agency in 2026.
5) Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles | AAV: $14.25 million
Dallas Goedert signed a four-year, $57 million contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021. The deal includes $35.172 million in total guarantees and will boost Goedert’s cap number to $11.8 million in 2025.
Goedert is scheduled to hit free agency in 2026.
4) George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers | AAV: $15 million
In 2020, the San Francisco 49ers signed George Kittle to a five-year, $75 million extension that made him one of the highest-paid tight ends of all time. The deal includes $40 million guaranteed and will cause Kittle’s cap number to rise to $22 million in 2025. A restructuring seems inevitable.
Kittle is scheduled to hit free agency in 2026.
3) T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings | AAV: $16.5 million
T.J. Hockenson signed a four-year, $66 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings last August. The contract included a whopping $42.5 million guaranteed, with $29.3 million guaranteed at signing. Hockenson enjoyed a career-best campaign in 2023 before tearing his ACL late in the season. This is the first year of his new deal.
Hockenson is scheduled to hit free agency in 2028.
2) Darren Waller, New York Giants | AAV: $17 million
This contract has aged terribly. The Las Vegas Raiders signed Darren Waller to a three-year, $51 million contract ($22 million guaranteed) in Sept. 2022 before trading him to the New York Giants the following offseason. He was active for 12 games in 2023 as he battled multiple injuries.
The injury-prone Waller is scheduled to hit free agency in 2027, though recent retirement speculation makes it fair to wonder whether he’ll still be in the league by then.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Tight End Rankings
1) Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs | AAV: $17.125 million
In April, Travis Kelce agreed to a contract extension that raised his 2024 salary by $4 million and converted most of his 2025 salary to a roster bonus. The NFL’s best tight end will cost the Kansas City Chiefs $19.5 million against the cap next season and $19.8 million in 2025.
Kelce is scheduled to hit free agency in 2026, though many expect him to retire within the next two years.