Greg Olsen made $69.198 million in his 14-year NFL career, but a $6.5 million base salary in 2018 is the most he ever received in a single season.
In a recent appearance on Pardon My Take, Olsen said tight ends are not paid enough compared to left tackles and receivers. Olsen’s point is: Tight ends block like left tackles and run routes and catch passes like receivers. Yet, left tackles and receivers are paid more on average.
“We have to do the same s--- that a $15 million left tackle has to do and run the same routes against the same guy that a $15 million wide receiver has to run routes against, and they’re going to pay us $7 million,” Olsen said.
Twenty left tackles average more than $7 million per season led by Trent Williams’ $23.01 million average with the 49ers, and 32 receivers average more than $7 million per season led by DeAndre Hopkins’ $27.25 million average with the Cardinals, per overthecap.com. Only 12 tight ends average more than $7 million per season led by George Kittle’s $15 million annual average with the 49ers.
Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts signed his rookie deal Tuesday. In the fourth overall draft slot, he received $32.9 million fully guaranteed over four years, with a signing bonus just over $21 million. It made him the seventh-highest paid player at his position before he ever plays a down.