{"id":88740,"date":"2025-05-29T19:29:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T19:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/88740\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T19:29:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T19:29:11","slug":"cardinals-trey-mcbride-on-reign-as-nfls-highest-paid-te","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/88740\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardinals’ Trey McBride on reign as NFL\u2019s highest-paid TE"},"content":{"rendered":"

\ufeff\ufeff<\/p>\n

The Arizona Cardinals rewarded Trey McBride\u2019s outstanding season by making him the league\u2019s highest-paid tight end, a title McBride held for a little more than three weeks.<\/p>\n

Last month, Trey McBride inked a four-year extension worth $76 million with $43 million guaranteed, making him the NFL\u2019s highest-paid tight end at the time<\/a>. His top spot was taken by the 49ers\u2019 George Kittle, whose extension was marginally more \u2014 $100,000 more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was great that I had the title at one point and that was obviously a huge milestone for me and everything just to be the highest paid at my position at the time, and I thought that was really cool,\u201d McBride said Wednesday when he joined Arizona Sports\u2019 Burns & Gambo. \u201cObviously, George is much deserving of that and I\u2019m very excited for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, I would love for someone to jump him and everyone just keep jumping each other and the tight ends make a ton of money. So that\u2019s what I\u2019m pulling for but obviously very excited for George.\u201d<\/p>\n

McBride told\u00a0Arizona Sports\u2019 Burns & Gambo<\/a> that having the title was special, and that Kittle is more than deserving to hold the reins but hopes that the tight end market continues to grow.
That seems to be the direction the tight end market is moving, as McBride\u2019s extension at the time was $10 million more in total value than Vikings\u2019 T.J Hockenson\u2019s four-year $66 million dollar contract that was signed in 2023. Although McBride is now making substantially more money, his mindset is unmoved. McBride said that the contract is just another reminder to keep proving himself and that he\u2019s hungrier than ever.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously gives me some security, but honestly, I feel like the same person,\u201d McBride said. \u201cI have to prove myself again. I feel like everything I did last year doesn\u2019t really matter, and I got to kind of prove myself again, and do it all over again \u2026 I feel like there\u2019s still a lot to prove.\u201d<\/p>\n

McBride had a huge jump in performance last year, catching 111 passes for 1,146 yards and three total touchdowns.<\/p>\n

He attributed his recent progression to his better understanding of the game after years one and two.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, the game slows down tremendously,\u201d McBride said. \u201cI think that\u2019s the biggest part about it is understanding the game, how fast it goes and really knowing what your role is and how to get open, how to do whatever you need to do and that jump is real. \u2026 You know what you need to do, how to you know be a pro and what to expect going into every game and now it\u2019s not a secret of what everybody\u2019s going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

That progression and growth have been evident for McBride as his numbers have steadily improved year to year and earned him Pro Bowl honors this past season.<\/p>\n

Looking toward the upcoming season with the Cardinals, McBride says the biggest keys to success are consistency and staying healthy, and that the Cardinals have all the tools needed to transform into a playoff contender.<\/p>\n

Besides McBride, offensive weapons such as James Conner, Trey Benson, Michael Wilson and second-year player Marvin Harrison Jr. are giving Cardinals fans plenty of reasons to be excited for the 2025 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you know, most importantly, just consistency, obviously keeping our guys healthy,\u201d McBride said. \u201cI think our team is very strong. We have everything we need to do to be successful, and I think we just stay on the right track, stay healthy and our team can be really, really good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t
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