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Nashville, Tenn. And Looking around in the Vanderbilt -Meeting Room at Tight End University on Tuesday, Trey McBride was one of the younger players in the group of 80 tight ends.
But with only three years of service for Arizona Cardinals since he was drafted in the second round out of Colorado State, McBrides’ influence on his team and the tight end position has been in -depth.
This season, Cardinals paid him for his contributions and bred a four -year extension of $ 76 million, making him the highest paid player in his position throughout the league.
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Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) talks to quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during organized team practice at Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe on June 3, 2025. (IMagn)
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers star, who co-founded TEU with Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen, would soon break this number with his own $ 76.4 million expansion. But McBride has quickly earned the right to be in the elite-tight-end conversation throughout the league.
Kittle would agree as he used several McBride heights during his meeting time with the tight ends that attended the fifth annual work summit in Nashville to explain the gold standard to play the position.
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“I think it’s crazy just to be in the same conversation and being recognized by some of these guys that I’ve grown up and modeled my game after too,” McBride told Pakinomist Digital Wednesday before Teu Golf Outing at Hermitage Golf Course. “It’s so surreal to get respect and get that praise from these guys. It’s a huge honor.”
McBride was actually on a golf course when he found out that his extension had been agreed, and although it was short-lived on top of the tight end wages, he couldn’t be happier with the respect that the position is coming on the market now. In fact, he will see his comrades continue to strive for the larger contracts.

Trey McBride talks to the media after Arizona Cardinals made him the highest paid tight end in the NFL during a news conference at Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe on April 4, 2025. (IMagn)
“In the end, we try to raise the tight final position, cultivate it as much as possible,” he said. “I’m glad George got more and I hope someone jumps George and everyone can just continue to make more and more money. So it’s a huge position that continues to grow and I’m glad I’m able to raise the bar a little.”
McBride would not be in the position he is now if it wasn’t to build a connection with Quarterback Kyler Murray, who clearly considers him his security blanket in Cardinals’ violation.
Last season, McBride built his second year by drawing in 111 of his 147 goals from Murray in 1,146 yards with two touchdowns over 16 games. And some of these catches were in double or even triple coverage.
“It’s a huge honor just to prove to him that I can go and play for him, try to do as many plays as I can for him,” McBride said. “Most of all, just want that confidence with him to throw me the ball, whether there is one, two, three, four guys on me. He will give me a chance to win.

Trey McBride talks to the media after Arizona Cardinals made him the highest paid tight end in the NFL during a news conference at Arizona Cardinals training facility in Tempe on April 4, 2025. (IMagn)
“It’s a huge relief to me and him too, so love to play with him and excited to make that connection grow and continue to get better with coolers.”
So even though he is still one of the younger players at TEU, McBride is an example of how to succeed in the tight final position and the economic side of his career is already talking for himself.



