Thanks to a late-night, West-Coast tweet, it appears as if San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is actually close to a massive contract extension that would make him the “the highest paid TE in the game by far.”
The #49ers and All-Pro TE George Kittle are closing in on a massive, contract extension to make him the highest paid TE in the game by far, sources tell me and @MikeSilver. A few small hurdles are left, but a well-deserved raise is coming.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 13, 2020
First, it was awkwardly reported by SI.com Kittle would sign a six-year, $94.8 million contract extension Friday:
Take this for what it’s worth.
A well-placed source who has been correct in the past just texted me this: The 49ers will announce George Kittle’s contract extension this Friday.
According to the source, it will be a six-year extension worth $94.8 million — or $15.8 million per season. Of that money, the 49ers guaranteed 50 percent of it, or $47.4 million. Kittle also will receive a $25 million signing bonus, and the 49ers will structure his deal in such a way that he will cost them only $10 million of their salary cap space in 2021.
The tight end appeared to knock down the report with a tweet:
Y’all believe everything you read on the internet huh 😑 https://t.co/2TcAdjKjN5
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) August 12, 2020
The NFL Network’s Michael Silver, however, seemed to boost credibility of the report.
In reference to the @grantcohn report: I'm told the 49ers and George Kittle are 'making progress' on a lucrative contract extension… which means the 🐛 emoji may be obsolete. He's on track to be the highest-paid TE in league history, by far.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 12, 2020
And from the darkness of night, came the RapSheet tweet.
Kittle was a fifth-round draft pick out of Iowa in 2017 who has blossomed. He had 43 catches as a rookie and followed with 88 and 85, respectively. In three seasons, he has 2,945 receiving yards and 12 TD receptions.