While it was readily apparent that the new three-year contract that Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end Travis Kelce signed March 23 was largely window dressing, the cost of those drapes is now coming to light.
The maximum value of Kelce's deal is $57.7 million, a figure that − if fully realized − would allow the 36-year-old 14-time Pro Bowler to surpass fellow Tight End University co-founder George Kittle ($19.1 million average annual value) of the San Francisco 49ers as the highest-paid man at the position in terms of AAV.
Don't bet on it.
While we knew Kelce's contract was heavily backloaded given he was guaranteed to make $12 million (with another $3 million available in incentives) in 2026, we now know how unlikely it is that Kelce returns in 2027 − at least based on the deal's current structure.
According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Kelce has a roster bonus of $40 million − $40 million − for the 2028 season. Not only that, the Chiefs have to pay it on June 8, 2027 − meaning his pact truly is effective for just this season, barring a near-complete overhaul of it some time next year ... when he's equally unlikely to play on a $1+ million salary as he is to collect that outrageous bonus.
