The 49ers announced tonight that they’ve signed tight end Vance McDonald to a five-year extension, locking him up through the 2021 campaign. The new deal is reportedly worth $35MM in total, including a $7MM signing bonus and $16MM in guarantees.
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McDonald, 26, has become one of the few reliable weapons in the San Francisco offense during his fourth season in the league, and he’s already exceeded most of his career-highs with four contests still left to play. Through 10 starts, McDonald has posted 24 receptions for 391 yards and four touchdowns, the latter of which makes him the 49ers’ leader in scores. He’s split snaps this season with Garrett Celek, as both tight ends have played exactly 425 offensive snaps.
As the season comes to a close, many clubs with extra cap space will look to lock up younger players and take some of the financial hit immediately. The 49ers certainly fit that bill, as the team ranks second in the NFL with roughly $43MM in 2016 cap room. Certainly, San Francisco will carry over some of that space into 2017, but the Niners are set next year too: they rank seventh in the league with more than $46MM in projected cap room next season.
McDonald becomes the third member of the 49ers’ 2013 draft class to earn an extension, as Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee notes (Twitter link) that defenders Quinton Dial and Tank Carradine have also scored new deals. 2013 first-round safety Eric Reid has also seen his contract somewhat amended, as San Francisco has already exercised its 2017 fifth-year option on Reid.
McDonald’s new $7MM annual average places him near the bottom of the second tier of tight end contracts, and puts him directly between Coby Fleener and Delanie Walker in per year salary. McDonald’s reported guarantee of $16MM would rank third among tight ends, which likely means that the figure refers to an injury-only — rather than a full — guarantee.
Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) were the first to report the five-year deal, its total value, and its guarantee. Caplan reported the signing bonus (Twitter link).
I thought this guys was going to be a bust but I think that he may actually end up being a solid tight end. Gotta get a better offense around him though.
But what about Favre, Mr. Madden?
Excuse me? Don’t really understand your insult. If you want to be like everyone else that talks crap you might as well just say instead of beating around the bush lol
I just wanted to say that
they are gonna suck for a long time.. he should have left them and gone some place where he could compete
Is McDonald a good blocker? 5/$35 seems like a lot. I know the 49ers have a bad offense and a ton of cap room but 24 catches, 391 yards, and 4 TDs don’t really scream second tier tight end type of numbers. I haven’t really ever watched him play, and don’t know his blocking numbers, so I could easily be wrong by only looking at his on-paper stats, but if he’s not a good blocker then I don’t see the reason for the extension.
I thought it was a lot as well. Consider that Delanie Walker is making about 6.7 million and Greg Olsen 7. Maybe it’s a weird Chip Kelly thing or they see considerable potential or are just starting to think about next season already and are committing to guys they want to stick around.
He is not that good but I guess they need players to field a team. This team will be bad for so many years. Until York hired a President to completely run the team and step away, if he ever does that. Hopefully Mommy and Daddy force him to.