Chiefs’ Kelce, Niners’ Kittle land lucrative new contracts
Two of the league’s top tight ends, Kansas City’s Travis Kelce and San Francisco’s George Kittle, agreed to long-term contract extensions.
Kelce, 30, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-pro, landed a four-year, $57.25 million deal that ties him to the Chiefs through 2025. Just less than $25 million is guaranteed, ESPN reported.
Kittle, 26, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and reigning All-pro, received a five-year, $75 million pact, including an $18 million signing bonus, that is the richest contract for an NFL tight end.
Kelce has more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of the past four seasons, a first for a tight end. In 2019, he led all tight ends in regular-season catches (97) and yards receiving (1,229). He had 19 catches for 207 yards and four touchdowns in three postseason games.
Kittle, a fifth-round draft pick in 2017 and the ninth tight end chosen that year, has been the most productive tight end in league history through his first three seasons with 197 catches for 2,664 yards and is equally skilled as a blocker.
■ Seahawks: Tight end Will Dissly practiced Wednesday for the first time since sustaining a torn Achilles tendon in October. Also, rookie cornerback Kemah Siverand was waived this week after being caught on video trying to sneak a woman into the team’s hotel, NFL Network reported. The 23-yearold Oklahoma State product had signed for $2,000 after going undrafted.
■ Patriots: Free-agent running back Lamar Miller, who agreed to a one-year deal Monday, signed and was placed on the physically unable to perform list. The 29-year-old hasn’t played since sustaining a torn ACL and MCL last August with Houston, with whom he made the Pro Bowl in 2018. He spent four seasons with the Texans after four with Miami and has run for 5,864 yards.
■ Cowboys: Free-agent defensive end Everson Griffen agreed to a oneyear deal worth up to $6 million. The 32-year-old spent all of his first 10
NFL seasons with Minnesota, with whom he had 74½ sacks. He didn’t become a starter until 2014 and then averaged nearly 11 sacks per year over four seasons.
■ Television: Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders is leaving NFL Network after 14 years as an on-air analyst after the sides couldn’t agree on a contract, and the 53-year-old said he will join Barstool Sports and host a “21st and Prime” podcast.
■ Falcons: The team is considering limiting running back Todd Gurley’s workload in training camp after the 26-year-old walked with a limp during the early phases of the team’s acclimation period, ESPN reported.
■ Bills: Left offensive tackle Dion Dawkins signed a four-year, $60 million extension through 2024. The 26-year-old Temple product has made 43 starts since being drafted in the second round in 2017.
■ Jaguars: Free-agent defensive tackle Josh Mauro agreed to a contract with undisclosed terms. The 29-year-old appeared in 13 games and 27 percent of defensive snaps for the Raiders in 2019.
■ Packers: Free-agent wide receiver Malik Turner agreed to a contract with undisclosed terms. The 24-yearold had 15 caches for 245 yards and a touchdown with Seattle in 2019.
■ Colts: Four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, 30, sidelined for 10 days with a hamstring issue, was activated from the active/nonfootball injury list.
■ Ravens: Free-agent running back Kenjon Barner, 31, signed a contract with undisclosed terms, joining his fifth team in seven NFL seasons.
■ Bengals: Wide receiver John Ross left camp to care for his son after he tested positive for COVID-19.