Phenom 23-year-old tight end Rob Gronkowski signed a contract extension with the New England Patriots on Friday making him the highest paid tight end in the NFL. Gronkowski’s extension is worth $55.23 million over six years, including $18.17 million guaranteed.
Gronkowski was already under contract through 2013, and the additional six years are added onto the end of the current deal. San Francisco’s Vernon Davis will make $7.1 million in average salary, and Gronk’s average of over $9 million would make him the highest paid tight end in the league.
Gronkowski was scheduled to earn a base salary of $540,000 in 2012 and $575,000 in 2013. He certainly earned the extension, as he caught 90 balls last season for 1,327 yards and a tight-end-record 17 touchdowns. He created huge matchup problems for defenses with his size and speed.
The move is curious coming from a notoriously tight Patriots team that isn’t known for extending contracts early.
In particular, All Pro wide receiver Wes Welker has been struggling with Patriots management for two years now. He played out the last year of his contract last season, earning about $2 million despite outperforming receivers like Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, who signed deals in excess of $100 million.
Johnson’s new contract earns him $132 million over 8 years, averaging over $16 million per season. Welker received a one-year franchise tag, with a respectable $9.5 million salary, but the lack of a long term deal leaves him vulnerable in case of injury.
It’s good to see the Patriots treating Gronkowski better, but makes their treatment of Welker even more confusing.
