The tight end market has not moved much over the past half-decade. The Patriots refused to give Rob Gronkowski a new deal, and other teams did not move their lower-profile tight ends too far past the future Hall of Famer on the position’s salary spectrum.
Jimmy Graham‘s $10MM-per-year pact, which the Packers seem likely to move on from, currently tops the tight end market. But the 49ers will be tasked with modernizing this. They are set to meet with George Kittle‘s representation at the Combine and have already begun preliminary extension discussions, Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes (subscription required).
Kittle’s agent, Jack Bechta, said (via Barrows) he will proceed with considerable patience in negotiating this deal with the 49ers. The uncertain CBA status supports that strategy, but Kittle should be expected to enter the 2020 season with a contract far more lucrative than any tight end’s current deal.
Coming off two dominant seasons, the two-time Pro Bowler is primed to raise the bar for tight ends considerably. The 49ers are prepared for this. Buzz about near-future cap spikes being greater than they were under the 2011 CBA could well affect this situation. The prospect of free agent tight ends Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper and Eric Ebron seeing big deals figure to help Kittle take the market to a new level as well.
Extensions for Kittle and DeForest Buckner will be priorities this offseason in San Francisco. The 49ers also have Arik Armstead, Jimmie Ward and Emmanuel Sanders on track for free agency. The team currently holds just $13MM in cap space — far less than it did in recent offseasons. But some big money will need to be earmarked for Kittle, a 26-year-old star who graded as Pro Football Focus’ top 2019 player.
Being a KC Chiefs fan and watching NFL Mic’d up how can you not pull for a player like Kittle. He has true enthusiasm for the game. Loved all of his comments in the Super Bowl.
Thanks, and it was such a great game to watch..Although,the outcome could’ve been better..lol haha..Got to love the fight, passion, and perseverance of those Chiefs regardless…They definitely earned it..Hopefully, the 49ers will see those Chiefs again next year for Round 2!! lol
As far as Kittle goes, he’s quickly become a fan favorite of Niners Nation and the 9er Faithfuls, and he just oozes with charisma, toughness, and everything you want in a teammate and a leader.
Dude is just a wrastler in pads..lol So easy to root for, and it is leaders like Kittle, Staley, Buckner, Juice, Sherman, and Warner that carry the torch, but even their new additions like Bosa, Deebo, Greenlaw, and Kwon they have all spread that team-first, hard-nosed, fiery passion across the entire 53-man roster..Obviously, they are led by Lynch and primarily Shanahan, but it is all these guys that have helped start something special in SanFran..
Rarely do you ever see so many guys that are genuinely happy and ecstatic even for their teammates’ success..It is extremely refreshing, and they’re just an incredibly fun bunch to watch!!