As the 49ers look to continue George Kittle‘s tenure with the team, another tight end investment is being made. Luke Farrell has agreed to a three-year contract with San Francisco, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Farrell will earn $11MM guaranteed, per Rapoport. The pact has a maximum value of $20.25MM. The 27-year-old has cashed in considerably after playing out his rookie contract with the Jaguars.
Kittle is unsurprisingly on San Francisco’s extension radar, having established a Hall of Fame case with the team, but the 49ers lost multiple backups — Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley — last year. They also saw the Lions match their Brock Wright RFA offer sheet. Farrell will arrive in San Francisco as a contributor more as a blocker than receiver.
Kyle Shanahan’s offense features extensive blocking assignments from his tight ends, as Kittle fantasy GMs know quite well, and Farrell comes in after seeing 238 run-blocking snaps (compared to just 103 as a receiver) last season. Urban Meyer drafted Farrell in the fifth round out of Ohio State, after coaching him with the Buckeyes, but Doug Pederson became Farrell’s primary NFL coach. The 27-year-old Ohio native has yet to score an NFL touchdown but has missed only two games during a four-year career.
The 49ers’ second-most used tight end from last season — Eric Saubert — is a free agent. Farrell appears all set to fill that role behind Kittle. Though, the 49ers may need to keep shopping if they want a another reserve tight end with notable receiving chops.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
John Lynch just randomly woke up and decided to give a guy with 36 career catches 318 yards and 0 td’s in four seasons almost $6.25M AAV.
Just because he can’t draft TE2 and keeps cutting them after year 2….
Wasted cap space.
Ever think maybe he is very good at blocking?
Please stop, he could be a fantastic blocking TE for all I care, Lynch also drafted Cameron Fatu 2 years ago and proceeded to cut him. He was the 101st pick in that draft, drafted Charlie Woener also under his watch and he’s no longer on the team. This is money they could have saved and gotten themselves an impact player on a roster that’s begging and desperate to win and they choose to sign a blocking TE with that cap space?
Never got to see Latu play really. Niners are very weird with TEs who aren’t Kittle. Gave Atlanta 2 of them last year. Dwelley and Charlie
Not sexy but smart. #2 ranked blocking tight end last season This is a Juszczyk depth piece, as well. Can play that role too.
Yup! Plus he’ll play on Special Teams as well. More of a very good depth piece. Sounds like the 49ers will target the trenches in the draft mostly.
Thanks for the ranking info shamrocks. I just didn’t get this contract based on his offensive stats
He gave him 3.67 in reality and if he reaches something like that max value then it’s worth it?
I feel like you’re new and don’t get why you structure things a certain way. If they hit the bonuses, then they’re obviously worthy of the deal. If not, that’s why you give them a lower deal.
I’m not new lol but go ahead and think that. Obviously base salary/bonuses haven’t been updated yet so I went by the actual salary length and terms.
That was literally what was reported when you hopped on crying about the MAX he could earn…
When it was reported it was 3 for 11 but keep pretending you know what you’re talking about.
What the hell? Lmao alright dude keep that energy over there. Nobody was crying here. It’s just football.