George Kittle and the 49ers still aren’t close on contract talks according to NFL Network’s Mike Silver.
While training camp draws closer, the 49ers and tight end George Kittle remain far apart in contract talks. NFL Network’s Mike Silver on Friday reported that a disconnect remains between the two sides as they negotiate the financials on a contract extension for Kittle as he enters the final year of his rookie deal.
San Francisco selected Kittle in the fifth round of the 2017 draft and he quickly made himself an indispensable part of the offense. His 2,945 receiving yards are the most ever by a tight end through their first three seasons. While starring as the team’s No. 1 receiver for the last two years, he’s also carved out a role as an elite run blocker who helped pave the way for the NFL’s No. 2-ranked rushing attack last year.
According to Silver, the rift between the two sides stems from positional value. While the 49ers are happy to overhaul the tight end market for Kittle, Kittle has his eyes on dollar figures typically reserved for a more lucrative position.
“There remains a pretty significant disconnect philosophically between the 49ers and George Kittle’s camp,” Silver said Friday on NFL Network. “The 49ers believe they want to reset the tight end market and give him a great tight end deal. And Kittle’s kind of saying, ‘I think I’m more than just a tight end.’
“George Kittle, who was just voted the seventh-best player in the league by his peers … is thinking, ‘I don’t want to be called a tight end for the purposes of these negotiations.'”
Austin Hooper reset the market this offseason when he signed a four-year deal worth $42 million. While the 49ers are looking to settle on a deal north of Hooper’s $10.5 million average annual value, Kittle could be aiming for something in the range of a top wide receiver. The top 10 receivers all make more than $16.2 million.
49ers general manager John Lynch said in an interview on Bay Area radio Tuesday that uncertainty about the 2021 salary cap in the wake of a season affected by the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in the team’s negotiations. Now that there’s a little more certainty, perhaps the two sides could get closer on a deal.
Kittle showed up to training camp on the required reporting date, which is good news for the 49ers. The All-Pro tight end said he intends on participating regardless of the state of extension talks.
The 49ers have a lot of leverage in this scenario thanks to the franchise tag, but that’s not likely the route they want to go with a player as essential as Kittle. This isn’t a massive issue yet for San Francisco, but it’s certainly not one they want carrying through what’s already sure to be a difficult season. The sooner they can find a middle ground with their star tight end the better.
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