Kellen Winslow's Insane Contract Should Mean More Money for Antonio Gates

Kellen Winslow signed a six-year extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently. When we first discussed the signing, the contract numbers hadn't been released. Now they have. And they're sort of insane.

Winslow is getting $36.1 million(!) over the six years, with an astounding $20.1 million of that guaranteed, and apparently, up to $42.1 million available through incentives. That's a whole lot of cash, folks, and it will make him -- at least temporarily -- the highest-paid tight end in NFL history.

I use temporarily because the word on the street is that before Winslow can really even enjoy being the most expensive tight end in the league, the San Diego Chargers are going to lob even bigger money at Antonio Gates.

The Union-Tribune reports that both Gates, in the next to last year of his current deal, and quarterback Philip Rivers are "targets of the San Diego brass" over the coming months when it comes to extensions. Now, Gates is generally considered the number one tight end in all of football, at least from a strictly passing game-oriented approach.

Because of that, you can almost guarantee that he will want a contract that is bigger than Winslow's in terms of guaranteed money and overall salary. However, Gates turns 29 years old soon, so the Chargers won't be looking at him in the exact same manner as Winslow.

More likely, the contract will be back-loaded and include the big guaranteed number that Gates wants, in order to help them maximize their ability to sign Rivers, who the UT believes will need around $100 million for seven or eight years.

It's a lot of money to spend on a tight end, but considering that Gates serves the same purpose as a wide receiver, except with a higher value given the relative depth of his position, coupled with his production over the past years, it also seems like a worthwhile expense.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-08-2009 @ 4:46PM

jeremiah said...

i think Winslow should get more money the Gates. Gates plays on a good who most of the time gets the ball when teams blitz bc he is the hot route or teams bite on play action bc of LT. plus Rivers doesnt have rocket arm to fire the ball into a tight spot or down field when faced with the blitz, so he just looks to Gates. Winslow can make any team better do to the fact you can motion him out, be one on one with a linebacker and he can just burn him bc he is so fast for a big guy. many times he lines up at WR bc he is just that good. Gates is the classic portotype tight end but Winslow is the new age WR/TE hybred, who in my opinion is more valuable to teams that struggle with moving the ball. the Bucs have a good RB/TE combo now but got rid of Galloway and Garcia, which leads me to beleave they are looking to build up there D again in the draft and stick to the running game this year. seeing how they dont have a QB anymore it makes sence to get rid of Galloway so whoever comes in(which i doubt anyone) wont have any temptation to go down field. there going to stick to the running game and dump it to Winslow bc people have a hard time guarding him. you dont need a star QB to understand that game plan lol.

4-08-2009 @ 5:24PM

PacoGerte said...

Totally disagree with Jeremiah. There is not a single thing on the field that Winslow does better than Gates, except maybe irritate his teammates and coaches. And if you question Rivers' arm strength, just go back and look at the New England, Denver, and Oakland games.

4-08-2009 @ 6:37PM

Adam said...

It's big contract, but not anything obscene by NFL standards. I know Chris Cooley got a $30 million contract last year. Witten got $29 million. Shockey had got $31 million a few years ago. I don't question $36 million to a tight end, I just question that amount for Kellen Winslow. He's good, but probably not in the top 10 tight ends in the league and doesn't deserve to be paid as one. And it's risky to give injury prone guys and loud-mouths like Winslow that much.

4-08-2009 @ 8:32PM

becarefulangel said...

Gates definitely deserves a big contract - he has earned it through his performance on the field and his conduct off the field. Winslow... I'm not so sure.

4-08-2009 @ 10:44PM

STEELERS said...

Jeremiah, what are you smoking? You have to be a Miami grad or looking thru Winslow colored glasses. Gates is by far the better of the two....no matter why and when they throw to him. 'The chosen one', I mean Jr., I mean Winslow is nothing but TO in disguise on a crotch rocket. He'll be bitchin' and moanin' before the first half of the season since they have no one to throw to him.

4-09-2009 @ 11:13AM

claytor said...

Uh, little confused here...Kellen's NOT even in the top 10? Can you name ten tight ends to begin with?

Sure, hes a jerk, sure hes from Miami, but uh, hes three years YOUNGER than Gates, and when given the chance, puts up numbers very similar to Antonio...WITHOUT a Phillip Rivers all pro qb to throw to him regularly.

The two seasons he had after overcoming his injury woes? He avg'd 85 catches, 900+ yards, and 4 td's.
Last years typical Cleveland Staph-O-Rama issues, plus the complete failing of the team itself is hardly fair to squarely place on Winslows shoulders.

Those are hardly scoff worthy digits. Very comparable to the "elite" tight ends.

4-10-2009 @ 3:12AM

astall35 said...

Actually one of those years he did have a Pro Bowl QB throwing the ball to him. Derek Anderson made the Pro Bowl 2 years ago smart guy.

4-09-2009 @ 1:25PM

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4-10-2009 @ 6:25AM

Wow, astall, that's brilliant, one whole season, whoo hoo! Answer me this, then, "smart guy"...did Kellen aid Derek? Or you think it was the other way around, hm? How many times did Braylon and Kellen make Derek look good that year. And if it was all Derek, then why did he only make on Pro Bowl, even though Winslow had TWO solid seasons like that as his tight end? Oh, that's right, Derek wasn't the starter BEFORE Winslow started showing the talent. You'd actually compare "Pro Bowl" qb Derek Anderson to Rivers?!?!

I said all pro, not Pro Bowl. Guess i am smart after all, huh.
Again, when Winslow puts in a full season...

85 catches, 900+ yards, 4 touchdowns.

Chris Cooley gets a 30 mil contract and finally broke 800 yards receiving for the first time last year, to go with one whopping touchdown catch, Kellen played HALF a season, and had three, yet...Hes not worth a smidge more? one mil a year?

Look, realistically speaking we're whining about a guy who when playing 16 games, is a top five tight end, easily. They gave Haynesworth 100 mil, if you want to talk insane...

4-10-2009 @ 8:11AM

rjw6683 said...

Claytor I agree with you on Kellen's skills as a receiver...they are top notch. He's also not as much of a head case as the media made him out to be. He is an emotional player and that boils over into the paper sometimes, but every one of his team mates has said the guy is all about the team and winning. Being from Cleveland I've watched him compete when most pro's would be sitting on the bench in street clothes. The only reason I say he is not worth this contract is that you no longer have a tight end on the field...you have an over sized WR. The guys blocking ability is sceptic on his best day and almost unwatchable on a bad one. Having to run another TE out onto the field in order to run the ball makes your team way to predictable as the Browns had to do with Heiden.