It’s impossible to navigate a conversation about the 49ers’ 2002 season and beyond without addressing George Kittle’s looming contract extension. The team has been negotiating with the All-Pro tight end on a new contract, but the two sides are still not close on a deal according to a recent report by NFL Network’s Mike Silver.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch on. Monday spoke to the media via Zoom for their season-opening press conference, and addressed the ongoing contract negotiations with their tight end.
“We’re working diligently, I can tell you that,” Lynch said. “I’m not going to get into timeframes. We are working diligently to come to a resolution. I’ve been on record saying what George means to this place. … Had a nice opportunity … to visit with George today, and I know Kyle did as well, and that’s what you welcome. We’ve tried to be respectful of the agent/player thing, but it’s always nice just to talk with the player. I think there’s a great understanding that, we’re in this thing together. We’re partners to try to get something done because it makes too much sense not to.”
It wasn’t just the GM who offered optimism about an extension for the tight end with more receiving yards than any tight end in history through their first three seasons. Shanahan told reporters he wasn’t worried about keeping Kittle in Santa Clara.
“I think we don’t have to say how important George is to us and not only as being the best tight end to me in the league, but also the type of person he is,” Shanahan said. “So, we’re doing everything we can to get that done. I do feel good about it. It was great to see George today for the first time. I know you open camp on the 28th, but all the COVID testing and stuff, today was actually the first day that we were able to see all the vets and everybody. So, it’s always hard when you’re away from people for a little bit, but to be able to sit down and reconnect with people that you know real well and stuff. It was great to see George again today and no one’s changed and I feel really good about this going forward and I feel very optimistic about it. Hopefully something will happen sooner than later. I’m not too concerned about it, though.”
Reports indicate the rift between Kittle and the 49ers derives from the scale he’s looking to get paid on. While San Francisco is happy to put him well clear of Austin Hooper’s league-high $10.5 million per year for a tight end, Kittle has his sites set outside of his position.
No specific numbers from the negotiations have been reported, but the top tight end is making $10.5 million, and the top 10 wide receivers all make $16.2 million or above. Assuming those are the numbers each side is working from, it’s easy to see where a significant divide could form before negotiations even start.
Lynch and Shanahan’s optimism is a positive sign for the moment, and Kittle reported to training camp on time.
Kittle is on the final year of his four-year rookie deal with a $2.1 million base salary due. While he can hold out, the leverage mostly lies with the 49ers who can utilize the franchise tag to keep him retained beyond the 2020 season. However, that’s not likely the route either side wants to take.
The optimism from the GM and head coach are a good first step, but the questions about Kittle’s future will linger until there’s a deal officially signed.