Last NFL season, at the trade deadline, the Minnesota Vikings traded for T.J. Hockenson. The move was highly respected as Hockenson has a reputation as one of the league's most complete tight ends. The former Detroit Lion is a good route runner and pass catcher, but he also excels as a blocker, a rarity for today's tight ends. The Vikings reconfirmed their love for their new tight end when, on Aug. 31, they inked Hockenson to a contract extension.
Hockenson's new deal is record-setting. He signed a four-year, $68.5 million dollar extension to stick in Minnesota. That puts Hockenson's average annual value at $17.125 million, the highest of anybody at his position in the league. The guaranteed money on the tight end's deal is also the most in NFL history at $42.5 million guaranteed.
While Hockenson's new contract will reset the tight end market, his contract doesn't kick in until next season, meaning the tight end is not one of the highest-paid tight ends in 2023. Hockenson will make only $9.392 million this season, which ranks 12th in the NFL. Here are the 10 highest-paid NFL tight ends in the 2023 season.
10. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots: $10.5 million
Hunter Henry was one of two free-agent tight ends (along with Jonnu Smith) to sign a big money deal in the 2021 offseason with the New England Patriots. Neither signing has panned out as well as the Patriots had hoped, but Henry has remained a solid piece on the team.
Henry's deal was a three-year, $37.5 million contract. Last season, Henry had 509 yards and two touchdowns. The season prior, he had nine touchdowns, so the team is hopeful he can return to his 2021 self with a better and healthier year from quarterback Mac Jones.
9. Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals: $10.85 million
Zach Ertz has made a long and successful career for himself as a tight end. Drafted in 2013 by the Philadelphia Eagles, Ertz is now the ninth highest-paid tight end in the NFL as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. Ertz is nearing the end of his career, and second-year player Trey McBride is ready for more touches. But the veteran still has a good amount left in the tank.
8. Darren Waller, New York Giants: $11.875 million
The newly acquired New York Giant, Darren Waller, is one of the most talented tight ends in the league. His problem has been staying healthy. His inability to stay on the field forced the Las Vegas Raiders to trade Waller for a measly compensatory third-round draft pick. Still, when Waller is on the field, few players can match his physical traits. He is a dynamic weapon in the passing game.
T-6. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs, $12.25 million
Most people consider Travis Kelce to be the best tight end in the NFL, and some have even gone as far as to label him the best tight end in the history of the game. Yet, he only ranks sixth for highest-paid tight ends in 2023.
Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes form one of the best pairings in NFL history. Kelce is exceptional at getting open, and with the ball in his hands, he is a beast in the open field. The tight end holds numerous NFL records, including receiving yards in a season by a tight end (1,416), consecutive seasons with over 1,000 yards as a tight end (7), and seasons with over 100 catches as a tight end (3).
Kelce will continue to terrorize the NFL, and it helps that he has the league's best quarterback throwing passes to him. He is the league's most underpaid tight end.
T-6. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers: $12.25 million
George Kittle has the biggest contract for all tight ends in the history of the sport in terms of total value. His five-year deal has a total value of $75 million. Kittle is viewed by most as the second most talented tight end in the league. He is exceptional as a pass catcher, and his blocking abilities allow him to thrive in coach Kyle Shanahan's offense.
Kittle has 5,254 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns in his career. Eleven of those touchdowns came last season, a career-high for Kittle during a season in which he proved his injury concerns were not valid.
5. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns: $12.5 million
A former first-round pick, David Njoku looked like a draft bust in his first couple of seasons in the league. However, he has really come into his own lately and was therefore rewarded with a four-year, $56.75 million dollar deal in 2022. Njoku had his best season in 2022, going for 58 receptions, 628 yards, and 4 touchdowns.
4. Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills: $12.545 million
The Buffalo Bills have one of the highest-powered offenses in the NFL, and Dawson Knox is a big part of it. Knox was another tight end who signed a big deal in 2022. His deal is worth $53.6 million over four years. While quarterback Josh Allen may like to take shots deep down the field, he has become very reliant on Knox being open in the middle of the field.
3. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears: $12.993 million
Cole Kmet has been one of the few weapons for Chicago Bears quarterbacks in recent seasons. With the team acquiring more pass-catching talent like D.J. Moore and Chase Claypool for quarterback Justin Fields within the last year, defenses will have less of a focus on Kmet.
The tight end had 50 catches and 544 receiving yards last season, but he will have to improve on those numbers to justify the four-year, $50 million dollar contract extension he was given this offseason.
2. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles: $14.25 million
The Philadelphia Eagles offense became one of the most lethal units in the NFL last season. Jalen Hurts became one of the faces of the NFL, making Dallas Goedert an even more important piece to the team. Goedert is Hurts' security blanket, a guy who is always open when Hurts scrambles around and needs a bailout.
A second-round pick in 2018, Goedert spent a few seasons as the second tight end on Philadelphia's depth chart behind Zach Ertz. When he supplanted Ertz as the starter, his patience was awarded with a four-year, $57 million dollar extension in 2021. The Eagles lost in the Super Bowl last year, but if they get back this year, Goedert will likely have been a big reason why.
1. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars: $15 million
Evan Engram was an average tight end for years with the New York Giants. Last season, his first with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he broke out, becoming an important weapon for the young Trevor Lawrence. After setting career highs in receptions (73) and yards (766), the Jaguars had to find a way to bring back Engram.
He was placed with a franchise tag before the two sides agreed upon a new three-year, $41.25 million dollar deal. Engram finds himself atop this list because his contract is front-loaded.
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