Coming off his first Pro Bowl campaign in which he posted career numbers of 111 receptions and 1,146 yards, McBride's new deal saw him vault ahead of Kansas City Chiefs superstar Travis Kelce ($17.25 million) for the most by a TE annually and the San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle ($75 million) for the highest total value.

McBride's quarterback Kyler Murray was one of the first to contact him Thursday with congratulations, and is likewise one of the leading reasons the Colorado State product believes the best is yet to come.

"Kyler, one of the first guys I talked to, FaceTimed me," McBride, 25, said. "We were able to talk, just rejoice. Really just how excited we are to play with each other for a few more years, to grow, to win, to do all the things that we want to do together. To know that me and him will be here together for a long time was very special."

McBride's journey to the top of the tight end mountaintop saw him emerge from the small town of Fort Morgan, Colorado, to become the first TE drafted in 2022. After a trying rookie campaign by his own account, McBride has risen to the ranks of tight end elite.

It was that odyssey that had him choked up on Friday.

"It's been a journey, there's no doubt about it," he said. "I come in, I'm the first tight end taken and I hardly play my first year. I got 29 catches. It was a rocky rookie year. I didn't play as much as I wanted to. But, I really, I kept my head down, I kept grinding. I kept working hard and I knew my opportunity was going to come and when it came, I knew I had to seize it. I feel like that's exactly what I did. I just put the work in every day. I put the work in over time. To finally reap the rewards is exciting."

Just how ample the rewards are isn't at all lost on the still-burgeoning talent, who was taken 55th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Following a rookie season with the aforementioned 29 catches for 265 yards and a TD, McBride has posted 192 receptions for 1,971 yards and five scores over the past two years.

"I come from a small town in Colorado," McBride said. "To go play Division I college football is a huge deal. To be the highest-paid tight end from Fort Morgan, I mean, gosh, it's just the biggest honor. It's so cool, it's very special. If you would've told me I would've been the highest paid, I would've never believed you. Just comes with so much hard work, so much grit, all the above. It's finally paid off. But more importantly, I'm excited to keep working, to keep grinding and continue to build on that."

As McBride has built himself up to become recognized as one of the finest TEs in the game, the Cardinals have shown improvement, as well. Last year, Arizona went 8-9, its win total equaling the previous two seasons' combined.

He's ready for a bigger step, though, which would include a winning season and a playoff berth.

"That's the expectation now," he said. "We have the foundation built. We're built right where we need to be, so now it's like, we gotta go now, there's no more waiting anymore."

From Fort Morgan to Glendale, McBride has arrived and he's ready to keep on soaring, right along with the Cardinals.