Well, you’re not going to see a single Carolina Panthers tight end on this list. Sorry, but that might have something to do paltry production the position has seen over the past handful of years.
And hey, maybe new head coach Dave Canales and his “tight end-friendly” offense will end up churning out a guy who’s worth paying . . . eventually. But in the meantime, here are the top 32 tight ends in the NFL ranked by average annual salary:
Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) scores a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
2. T.J. Hockenson (Minnesota Vikings): $16,500,000
Nov 19, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) reacts after making a catch against the Denver Broncos in the first half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
3. George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers): $15,000,000
January 20, 2024; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) scores a touchdown against Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage (26) during the second quarter in a 2024 NFC divisional round game at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) scores a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a reception during the first half of a 2024 NFC wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
5. Mark Andrews (Baltimore Ravens): $14,000,000
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple (20) tackles Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) in the second quarter during an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
Jacksonville Jaguars Evan Engram (17) attempts to power through Pittsburgh Steelers James Pierre (42) while sprinting downfield during the first half at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on October 29, 2023.
7. David Njoku (Cleveland Browns): $13,687,500
Dec 28, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) runs with the ball after a catch while tackled by New York Jets safety Tony Adams (bottom) during the first half at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
8. Cole Kmet (Chicago Bears): $12,500,000
Dec 24, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (85) catches a 29-yard pass to set up first and goal in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
9. Dalton Schultz (Houston Texans): $12,000,000
Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (86) runs with the ball after a reception during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
10. Noah Fant (Seattle Seahawks): $10,500,000
Nov 19, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) catches a pass during pre-game drills before an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
11. Taysom Hill (New Orleans Saints): $10,000,000
Nov 5, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) rushes with the ball against the Chicago Bears during the second half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
12. Dawson Knox (Buffalo Bills): $9,833,333
Sep 24, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) jogs to the sidelines against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
13. Hunter Henry (New England Patriots): $9,000,000
Aug 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) warms up before a game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
14. Tyler Higbee (Los Angeles Rams): $8,500,000
Sep 10, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) carries the ball after making a catch over Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) during the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
15. Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons): $8,227,624
Dec 24, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) catches a touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
16. Colby Parkinson (Los Angeles Rams): $7,500,000
May 21, 2024, Thousand Oaks, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson (86) wears a Guardian helmet cap during organized team activities at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
17. Josh Oliver (Minnesota Vikings): $7,000,000
Sep 14, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (84) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
18. Tyler Conklin (New York Jets): $6,750,000
Dec 10, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin (83) makes a catch in front of Houston Texans linebacker Christian Harris (48) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
19. Juwan Johnson (New Orleans Saints): $6,005,000
Nov 26, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (83) reacts after a first down against the Atlanta Falcons in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
20. Gerald Everett (Chicago Bears): $6,000,000
Jun 5, 2024; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Gerald Everett (14) looks on during the team’s minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
21. Mo Alie-Cox (Indianapolis Colts): $5,850,000
Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox (81) brings in a pass for a touchdown in front of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson (55) on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
22. Will Dissly (Los Angeles Chargers): $4,666,666
Oct 23, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Will Dissly (89) runs the ball after a catch against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
23. Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders): $4,534,696
HENDERSON, NEVADA – MAY 29: Tight end Brock Bowers #89 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs through a drill during an OTA offseason workout at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on May 29, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
24. Jonnu Smith (Miami Dolphins): $4,200,000
Jun 5, 2024; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith (9) speaks to reporters during mandatory minicamp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
25. Foster Moreau (New Orleans Saints): $4,078,000
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 18: Foster Moreau #87 of the New Orleans Saints completes a reception during the first half of a game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 18, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
t-26. Charlie Woerner (Atlanta Falcons): $4,000,000
Oct 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Charlie Woerner (89) gestures during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
t-26. Brock Wright (Detroit Lions): $4,000,000
Jan 21, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) reacts after a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half in a 2024 NFC divisional round game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
28. Durham Smythe (Miami Dolphins): $3,875,000
Oct 29, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins tight end Durham Smythe (81) catches a pass against the New England Patriots during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
29. Adam Trautman (Denver Broncos): $3,750,000
Dec 10, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Adam Trautman (82) celebrates his touchdown scored against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
30. Drew Sample (Cincinnati Bengals): $3,500,000
Dec 31, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample (89) catches a pass in the first quarter during a Week 17 NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports
31. Dalton Kincaid (Buffalo Bills): $3,356,760
Nov 13, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) catches a pass for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
32. Harrison Bryant (Las Vegas Raiders): $3,250,000
HENDERSON, NEVADA – MAY 29: Tight ends coach Luke Steckel of the Las Vegas Raiders and tight ends Brock Bowers #89 and Harrison Bryant #84 run through a drill during an OTA offseason workout at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on May 29, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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