Cardinals Sign Trey McBride to $76M Extension \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Tight end Trey McBride signed a four-year, $76 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals. The deal includes $43 million guaranteed and makes him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history. McBride posted career-best numbers in 2024 and earned his first Pro Bowl nod.
Trey McBride Contract Extension Quick Looks
- Cardinals lock in star tight end Trey McBride through 2029
- Four-year deal reportedly worth $76 million, $43M guaranteed
- Becomes NFL’s highest-paid tight end by annual value
- Coming off a 111-catch, 1,146-yard Pro Bowl season
- Holds NFL record for most TE catches in first 3 seasons
- Arizona building strong offensive core with McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr.
- QB Kyler Murray praised McBride’s contract on social media
- Cardinals making major offseason moves after missing playoffs
Deep Look
The Arizona Cardinals have made a bold and potentially transformative move by securing star tight end Trey McBride with a four-year, $76 million contract extension that will keep him in the desert through the 2029 NFL season. In a move that solidifies McBride as one of the franchise’s foundational players, the deal not only rewards his on-field excellence but also positions him as the highest-paid tight end in NFL history.
The contract, which includes $43 million in guaranteed money, represents a significant investment in one of the league’s brightest young offensive talents. It also sends a strong signal that the Cardinals are serious about reshaping their identity and building a dynamic, youthful core around quarterback Kyler Murray.
McBride, just 25 years old, has become a standout success story since being drafted in the second round (55th overall) out of Colorado State in 2022. He entered the league with solid expectations, but his growth has far exceeded projections. After a quiet rookie season adjusting to the pro game, McBride exploded in 2024, posting 111 receptions for 1,146 yards—numbers that ranked second among all NFL tight ends in both categories. That performance earned him his first Pro Bowl selection and national recognition as one of the league’s premier pass-catching threats at his position.
Even more remarkably, McBride has now rewritten the NFL record books. With 221 receptions across his first three seasons, he holds the record for most catches by a tight end in that span, surpassing George Kittle’s previous record of 216. For a franchise still finding its footing after multiple seasons of playoff absence, McBride has emerged not just as a statistical leader but as a tone-setter on and off the field.
With his combination of elite hands, precise route-running, and toughness after the catch, McBride has quickly become Kyler Murray’s most reliable target. The chemistry between the two has been a bright spot for a Cardinals offense that has faced injuries, coaching changes, and inconsistent play over the past few years. Upon news of the extension, Murray took to social media to share his excitement, posting on X (formerly Twitter):
“Maaaaan! So happy for my dawg, worth every penny! More work to be done but a great day.”
McBride’s new deal comes during a critical offseason for Arizona, which is attempting to turn the page after a third straight season without a playoff appearance. The team finished 8-9 in 2024, showing flashes of promise but ultimately falling short of postseason aspirations. In response, the front office has launched an aggressive roster revamp aimed at competing immediately while developing young talent.
That rebuild has included a major emphasis on defense, with free agent acquisitions like defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, edge rusher Josh Sweat, and veteran Calais Campbell expected to provide leadership and production. On offense, the arrival of rookie phenom wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. gives the Cardinals a potentially elite duo alongside McBride—one that could be among the most feared in the NFC if both live up to their immense potential.
Beyond the gridiron, McBride’s leadership and community involvement have also earned recognition. In 2024, he was named the Cardinals’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, one of the league’s most prestigious honors. The nomination acknowledged his efforts in promoting youth athletics, supporting underprivileged families, and engaging in numerous charitable initiatives in both Arizona and his home state of Colorado.
For Arizona, extending McBride also addresses a historical gap at the tight end position. While the franchise has seen greats at quarterback, wide receiver, and cornerback, elite tight end play has rarely been a hallmark of Cardinals football. With McBride, the organization finally has a homegrown talent who can redefine that legacy.
From a strategic standpoint, McBride’s extension makes sense in today’s evolving NFL. As more teams shift toward dynamic, hybrid offensive schemes, the value of a tight end who can block, stretch the field, and operate as a primary receiver is higher than ever. Players like Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Mark Andrews have already redefined the role—and McBride appears well on his way to joining that elite tier long-term.
There’s also a financial logic to the timing. By signing McBride now, the Cardinals potentially avoid a bidding war down the line and gain cost certainty at a premium position. With the salary cap projected to rise in coming seasons, locking in a cornerstone player like McBride at current market value could prove to be a shrewd financial move.
Still, the big question remains: can this revamped Arizona squad finally return to playoff relevance?
With McBride locked up, Harrison Jr. entering the fold, and Murray motivated to bounce back after a tumultuous couple of years, the Cardinals appear to be trending in the right direction. The team has also shown a commitment to building depth and balancing star power with veteran leadership—a combination that, if executed correctly, could finally lift the franchise out of mediocrity and into legitimate contention.
Trey McBride’s record-setting contract is more than just a reward for past performance—it’s a bet on the future. And if his trajectory continues, that bet could pay off in a big way for the Cardinals and their fans.
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