Hours before the start of the 2024 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs and tight end Noah Gray agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $18 million. The deal includes a $10.1 million signing bonus. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
Gray, entering his fourth season, caught 28 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns as Travis Kelce’s backup last season. He started 10 games for Kansas City as the offense featured two tight end teams, playing 592 total offensive snaps. (Gray played an additional 219 snaps on special teams.)
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach told reporters last week that the plan is to play Gray less often on special teams and give him a bigger role in the offense.
“It would be good to take some of those things away from Noah,” Veach said. by the Kansas City Star“I think Noah continues to improve, and he’s a guy we want to put forward (in the offense) a little bit more.”
The Chiefs’ 2021 fifth-round pick (162nd overall) out of Duke was entering the final year of his rookie contract at a salary of $3.1 million. In three seasons, Gray had 63 receptions for 640 yards and four touchdowns.
With Kelce signed for another season through 2025 and nearing the end of his likely Hall of Fame career, it appears that signing Gray to a contract extension also prepares the team for his post-Kelce future at tight end. If Kelce plays out his contract, Gray will be signed for the next two seasons.
Gray is the second player from Kansas City’s 2021 draft to agree to an extension. Two weeks ago, center Creed Humphrey agreed to a four-year, $72 million extension, making him the highest-paid player at his position in the NFL.