Why Cardinals' Trey McBride Doesn't Feel He's the Best NFL TE Despite Being Pro Bowl Starter

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride just led all players in his position group with 126 catches, 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns, tying Dallas Goedert of the Philadelphia Eagles in the last category.

Still, McBride doesn't feel he's the best tight end in the league just yet, citing the year-to-year excellence of a pair of veterans in the San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle and Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce.

"I think I'm a great tight end, I just don't think I'm the best," McBride told ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "I feel like I'm considered one of the top tight ends, but I got to just keep proving myself each and every day, each and every week, every year. I've had a good couple years, but [49ers tight end George] Kittle, [Chiefs tight end Travis] Kelce, these guys have had eight, nine years of that.

"So, I got a lot to catch up on those guys. But, yeah, I had a great year. I've had a good couple years, but I just got to keep doing it for many more."

McBride has played all four of his NFL seasons with the Cardinals, who selected the former Colorado State star with a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. He's steadily improved his production year-to-year and earned Pro Bowl honors last season, amassing 111 catches for 1,146 yards and two scores.

Now McBride is a first team All-Pro for the first time in his career after his dominant 2025 season. He is also a Pro Bowl Games starter at tight end for the NFC. To put his numbers in greater perspective, McBride was second among all players in receptions, sixth in receiving yards and tied for second in touchdowns.

McBride may not think he's one of the greatest tight ends in the game just yet, but he's certainly one of the best pass-catchers in the league, regardless of position. He has a bright future ahead in Arizona, which signed McBride to a four-year, $76 million contract extension that takes him through 2029.