The San Francisco 49ers have had an eventful offseason. Deebo Samuel kicked things off by successfully requesting a trade and several departures in free agency added another chapter as the team doesn’t seem to have improved from a disappointing 6-11 campaign.
The 49ers will look to turn the page as they prepare for a new season but they can’t seem to escape the drama. While Brock Purdy and Fred Warner are seeking new contracts, another problem surfaced on Monday afternoon involving George Kittle. It’s an issue that has been brewing for a while and it’s a storyline the 49ers could do without as they prepare for this weekend’s NFL Draft.
George Kittle, 49ers 'Far Apart' on New Contract
The Athletic’s Michael Silver reported that there is uncertainty that Warner, Purdy and Kittle will show up as the 49ers kick off voluntary activities this week.
Silver noted that it could change in the case of Purdy, who is expected to get a contract worth more than $50 million per season annually and Warner, who hasn’t had “any substantive talks about a possible extension.” But Kittle’s case seemed much more dire as Silver called his potential extension “a longshot, as he and the 49ers remain far apart in discussions about a new deal.”
1) Some reporting for @TheAthletic... The 49ers’ offseason program begins tomorrow, and there’s some uncertainty about whether players seeking new contracts—specifically QB Brock Purdy, TE George Kittle and LB Fred Warner—will show up for voluntary activities...
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) April 21, 2025
3) Warner and the 49ers have yet to have any substantive talks about a possible extension, but the veteran team leader is likely to report. Kittle, heading into the final year of a five-year, $75-million deal, is much more of a longshot, as he and the 49ers remain far apart in…
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) April 21, 2025
Kittle remains one of the 49ers’ top weapons, catching 78 passes for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns last season. But he enters the final year of a five-year, $75 million extension and the 32-year-old has played with no guaranteed money each of the past two seasons.
A potential contract comparison could be Travis Kelce, who signed a two-year, $34.25 million contract extension with $17 million guaranteed. But Kittle could also eye some recent contracts of tight ends in their prime such as T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings (four years, $66 million signed in 2023) and Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals (four years, $76 million this offseason).
The problem is that Kittle is entering his 30s and looking for a contract as a strong draft class enters the league. With 11 picks in the draft, the 49ers could try to find a cheaper version of Kittle such as Penn State’s Tyler Warren or Michigan’s Colston Loveland or hit the mid-to-late rounds for Miami’s Elijah Arroyo, LSU’s Mason Taylor or Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson.
With cost cutting the theme of the offseason in preparation for Purdy’s new contract, it would seem strange if the 49ers spent big to keep Kittle around. But it’s a situation that is ongoing as the 49ers not only prepare for this weekend’s draft but look ahead to the 2025 season.