Travis Kelce inks five-year, $46 million extension with Chiefs
Fake Gronk just got paid even better than Real Gronk.
According to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network on Friday, the Kansas City Chiefs have signed tight end Travis Kelce to a five-year, $46 million extension. The deal comes with $20.5 million guaranteed and makes Kelce the second-highest paid tight end in the league in terms of average annual value behind only Jimmy Graham of the Seattle Seahawks.
#KCChiefs TE Travis Kelce signed a 5-year extension worth $46M, source said. $20.5M in guarantees. The second-highest paid TE in the NFL.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 29, 2016
Kelce, 26, caught 72 passes for 875 yards and five touchdowns in 2015, appearing in all 16 games for the Chiefs.
The season seems to be ripe for tight end extensions as Zach Ertz signed a lucrative one with the Eagles earlier this week. But Kelce has earned it as his dynamic playmaking and size/physicality in the middle of the field have helped him emerge as a key component of the Chiefs’ offense.
While he may never be a high-volume target with Alex Smith throwing him the ball, Kelce is one of the top young tight ends in the NFL today, already drawing comparisons to Rob Gronkowski (albeit some in jest). His vast array of on-field antics may draw most of the headlines, but the Pro Bowler’s talent is for real and this nice payday is a testament to that much.
Image Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
H/T Rotoworld
