Last season 49ers tight end George Kittle broke Rob Gronkowski’s single season record for receiving yards by a tight end, and soon Kittle will be eligible for an extension, so let’s take a look at the top tight end contracts, and try to project what Kittle may end up being paid.
According to OverTheCap.com, the following players are the highest paid tight ends.
First up is Green Bay Packers Jimmy Graham, who signed a 3yr/$30 million deal in 2018, which averages $10 million a year, which also included $11 million fully guaranteed, along with a $5 million roster bonus he received in 2019.
Below is a breakdown via OTC.
| Year | Age | Base Salary | Prorated Bonus | Roster Bonus | Per Game Roster Bonus | Cap Number | |
| 2018 | 32 | $1,450,000 | $3,666,666 | $0 | $300,000 | $5,916,666 | |
| 2019 📝 | 33 | $3,450,000 | $3,666,666 | $5,000,000 | $300,000 | $12,666,666 | |
| 2020 | 34 | $7,450,000 | $3,666,668 | $0 | $300,000 | $11,666,668 | |
| Total | $12,350,000 | $11,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $900,000 | $30,250,000 |
Next up is Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce, who signed a 5yr/$46.8 million extension in 2016, which averages $9,368,400 a year, which included $20 million guaranteed, of which $10.517 million was fully guaranteed, which consisted of his 2016 base salary of $675,000, and a $9.842 million signing bonus.
Below is a breakdowns via OTC.
| Year | Age | Base Salary | Prorated Bonus | Roster Bonus | Per Game Roster Bonus | Cap Number | |
| 2016 | 27 | $675,000 | $2,144,226 | $104,000 | $0 | $2,948,226 | |
| 2017 | 28 | $2,700,000 | $1,968,400 | $0 | $500,000 | $5,418,400 | |
| 2018 | 29 | $6,800,000 | $1,968,400 | $0 | $1,000,000 | $9,955,900 | |
| 2019 | 30 | $7,500,000 | $1,968,400 | $0 | $1,000,000 | $10,718,400 | |
| 2020 | 31 | $7,250,000 | $1,968,400 | $0 | $1,000,000 | $10,468,400 | |
| 2021 | 32 | $7,750,000 | $1,968,400 | $0 | $1,000,000 | $9,000,000 | |
| Total | $32,675,000 | $11,986,226 | $104,000 | $4,500,000 | $48,509,326 |
Next is Washington’s Jordan Reed, who signed a 5yr/$46.75 million extension in 2016, which averages $9.35 million a year, which included $22 million guaranteed, of which $14 million was fully guaranteed, which included a $9 million signing bonus.
Below is a breakdown via OTC.
| Year | Age | Base Salary | Prorated Bonus | Per Game Roster Bonus | Cap Number | |
| 2016 | 26 | $1,250,000 | $1,937,278 | $250,000 | $3,406,028 | |
| 2017 | 27 | $3,750,000 | $1,800,000 | $250,000 | $5,737,500 | |
| 2018 | 28 | $8,250,000 | $1,800,000 | $250,000 | $10,206,250 | |
| 2019 | 29 | $7,671,000 | $1,800,000 | $250,000 | $9,674,125 | |
| 2020 | 30 | $8,250,000 | $1,800,000 | $250,000 | $10,300,000 | |
| 2021 | 31 | $8,750,000 | $0 | $250,000 | $9,000,000 | |
| Total | $37,921,000 | $9,137,278 | $1,500,000 | $48,323,903 |
Next we have Minnesota Vikings Kyle Rudolph who signed a 5yr/$36.5 million deal, which averages $9.025 million a year, which included $16.025 million in guarantees, $9 million of which was fully guaranteed, it included a $7.25 million signing bonus.
Below is a breakdown via OTC.
| Year | Age | Base Salary | Prorated Bonus | Per Game Roster Bonus | Workout Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cap Number |
| 2019 | 30 | $1,750,000 | $1,450,000 | $250,000 | $100,000 | $1,750,000 | $3,550,000 |
| 2020 | 31 | $7,025,000 | $1,450,000 | $250,000 | $100,000 | $0 | $9,450,000 |
| 2021 | 32 | $7,650,000 | $1,450,000 | $250,000 | $100,000 | $0 | $9,450,000 |
| 2022 | 33 | $8,450,000 | $1,450,000 | $250,000 | $100,000 | $0 | $10,250,000 |
| 2023 | 34 | $9,850,000 | $1,450,000 | $250,000 | $100,000 | $0 | $11,650,000 |
| Total | $34,725,000 | $7,250,000 | $1,250,000 | $500,000 | $1,750,000 | $44,350,000 |
Next we have Carolina Panthers Greg Olsen, who signed a 3yr/$17.1 million deal, which averages $8.55 million a year, which included $12.115 million fully guaranteed, which consisted of a $11.1 million signing bonus, and his 2018 base salary, which was $1.015 million.
Below is a breakdown via OTC.
| Year | Age | Base Salary | Prorated Bonus | Per Game Roster Bonus | Cap Number | |
| 2018 | 33 | $1,015,000 | $6,700,000 | $0 | $7,950,000 | |
| 2019 | 34 | $1,900,000 | $3,700,000 | $1,000,000 | $6,662,500 | |
| 2020 | 35 | $6,600,000 | $3,700,000 | $1,000,000 | $11,800,000 | |
| Total | $9,515,000 | $14,100,000 | $2,000,000 | $26,412,500 |
Finally we have Philadelphia Eagles Zach Ertz, who signed a 5yr/$42.5 million deal, which averages $8.5 million a year, which included $13,318,527 fully guaranteed, which included a $8 million signing bonus.
Below is a breakdown via OTC.
| Year | Age | Base Salary | Prorated Bonus | Cap Number | |
| 2016 | 26 | $1,138,527 | $2,173,036 | $3,311,563 | |
| 2017 | 27 | $775,000 | $2,245,000 | $3,020,000 | |
| 2018 | 28 | $790,000 | $4,047,500 | $4,937,500 | |
| 2019 | 29 | $805,000 | $5,486,500 | $6,291,500 | |
| 2020 | 30 | $6,410,000 | $5,821,500 | $12,231,500 | |
| 2021 | 31 | $8,250,000 | $4,221,500 | $12,471,500 | |
| 2022 | 32 | $0 | $1,774,000 | $1,774,000 | |
| 2023 | 33 | $0 | $1,774,000 | $1,774,000 | |
| Total | $18,168,527 | $27,543,036 | $45,811,563 |
I believe Kittle’s market value will end up being the highest paid tight end, which means eclipsing Jimmy Graham’s $10 million APY. I also see Kittle ending up with yearly per game roster bonuses, likely in the $500,000 to $750,000 a year, and yearly $50,000 to $100,000 workout bonuses.
As far as guaranteed money, I see Kittle commanding somewhere in the Jordan Reed area, which was $22 million, and $14 million fully guaranteed. I can fully see Kittle beating Reed’s guaranteed money.
As usual, the 49ers would guarantee Kittle’s first years base salary, while giving him injury guaranteed base salaries, or partial injury guaranteed further down the road.
I also see Kittle ending up with a guaranteed roster bonus, and a smaller signing bonus in the $4 million to $5 million range, depending on the length of his deal.
This type of deal would of course make Kittle the highest paid tight end. Now obviously, this is assuming Kittle keeps up the production that the 49ers, and 49er fans expect him to do.
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