NFL's top 2 tight ends cash in: Chiefs lock up Travis Kelce after 49ers extend George Kittle

Earlier on Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers signed All-Pro tight end George Kittle to a five-year, $75 million extension with $40 million guaranteed, the richest deal ever by far for a player at his position. We wrote then that either Kittle or Kansas City's Travis Kelce is the NFL's best tight end and that "Kelce probably will look for a renegotiation in the wake of Kittle's deal." That already has happened with the Chiefs reportedly locking up Kelce on a four-year deal through 2025. Needless to say, it's coincidence (or is it?) both deals were released/leaked Thursday as these types of negotiations take weeks.

Kelce is getting $57.25 million over those four years with $28 million in guarantees. Why didn't it top Kittle's contract? Because it's Kittle's first new deal after his vastly underpaid rookie contract, and he's just 26. This will be Kelce's third overall contract as in January 2016 he was given a five-year, $46 million extension, and he's going to be 31 in October.

Kittle is probably the better all-around player because he's a stellar blocker and Kelce, well, he's basically a receiver in a tight end's body. He has had more than 1,000 yards receiving each of the past four years, a first for an NFL tight end. Last year, he led all tight ends in receptions (97) and receiving yards (1,229).

Over the past four seasons, Kelce has the fifth-most receptions and receiving yards among all NFL players. He is +3300 on the William Hill moneyline odds to lead the league in receiving yards this year. Tight ends just don't do that, though.

Kelce also helped lead the Chiefs' Super Bowl rally over Kittle's 49ers in February by catching a 1-yard TD pass from Patrick Mahomes with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter as Kansas City cut San Francisco's lead to 20-17 on the way to winning 31-20.

Winning a Super Bowl can be expensive, that's for sure. In addition to Kelce's deal this offseason, the Chiefs signed defensive tackle Chris Jones to a four-year deal worth $85 million and Mahomes to that record-breaking $500 million extension. Somehow, the team did this despite at one point having less than $1 million in cap space.

Kansas City now on offense has Mahomes, Mecole Hardman, Tyreek Hill, Kelce and Clyde Edwards-Helaire all under contract together for at least the next three seasons. Good luck rest of NFL! The Chiefs remain +550 Super Bowl 55 favorites at William Hill.

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