George Kittle just reset the market for NFL tight ends, and not everyone is staying quiet about it. After signing a four-year, $76.4 million extension with the 49ers-including $40 million guaranteed-Kittle now leads the league in tight end salaries. With an average annual value of $19.1 million, the All-Pro leapfrogged the rest of the pack, includingKansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, who now finds himself third on the list.
Pat McAfee wasn’t exactly thrilled about that.
On his show this week, the former NFL punter and media personality argued that Kelce is “seemingly underpaid” following Kittle’s new deal. “We didn’t talk about Kittle all last year, yet he led in everything,”McAfee said. “And now Travis is making less? That’s wild.”
Kelce signed a two-year, $34.25 million extension just before the 2024 season-briefly making him the highest-paid TE in football. But things change fast in the NFL. Kelce’s production has slipped in the past two seasons, and his deal now trails Kittle’s and Trey McBride’s in average salary.
Kittle’s rise, Kelce’s dip, and the value of star power
There’s no doubt that Kittle earned his payday. He led tight ends in yards per game in 2024, racking up over 1,100 yards and 8 touchdowns. He’s topped 14 yards per catch in two straight seasons. Meanwhile, Kelce-once the standard-bearer at the position-hasn’t cracked 1,000 yards or averaged more than 8.5 yards per catch since 2023.
But Kelce’s value isn’t all in the stat sheet. His chemistry with Patrick Mahomes is unmatched, and his postseason performances continue to speak for themselves. He’s a future Hall of Famer, a face of the franchise, and still the focal point of opposing defenses.
“Nobody draws more attention on third down than Kelce,” said NFL Network’s James Palmer.“Even with the drop in raw numbers, defenses still build game plans around him.”
That might be why McAfee is so fired up.
“Travis Kelce took less money before. He wanted to keep the team together, win rings,” McAfee said. “But at some point, the team’s gotta take care of its legends.”
With George Kittle’s new deal on the books and Brock Purdy reportedly next in line for a mega-extension in San Francisco, all eyes are now on Kansas City. Will the Chiefs respond and restructure Kelce’s deal-or has the torch quietly been passed?
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