The situation between George Kittle and the San Francisco 49ers has been brewing for a while. The star tight end is looking for a new contract as he enters the final year of a five-year, $75 million extension but the 49ers have stalled as they are negotiating a new mega-deal with quarterback Brock Purdy.
With Purdy’s deal expected to have an annual value of over $50 million, Kittle has sat idly as the 49ers have cut costs and depleted a roster that limped to a 6-11 record last season.
The team would probably like to move on as they report for voluntary workouts this week, but Kittle still has his eyes on a payday. It led to more bad news delivered on the eve of the NFL Draft and a delusional asking price that could have San Francisco making a difficult decision in the future.
George Kittle Wants to Become the Highest Paid Tight End in NFL
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that Kittle’s absence from voluntary workouts is contract related. While Kittle is part of San Francisco’s plans, he’s seeking to become the highest-paid tight end in the NFL surpassing Arizona Cardinals’ star Trey McBride, who signed a four-year, $76 million extension earlier this offseason.
“San Francisco’s offers to Kittle thus far have been rebuffed, and the two sides remain far apart as Kittle, who will be 32 in October, enters the final year of his deal,” Russini wrote. “I’m told no trade request has been made but other teams are keeping an eye on it.”
Kittle’s past production warrants a new contract. He ranks second among tight ends with 4,435 receiving yards since signing his current contract and also ranks third in touchdowns (33) and fifth in receptions (322). He is also showing few signs of slowing down, catching 78 passes for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
Only McBride (1,146) and Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders (1,194) had more receiving yards than Kittle last offseason and he could be an even bigger piece of the 49ers offense after they traded Deebo Samuel this offseason.
But there’s also a case that Kittle is making a delusional request. Several of the moves from trading Samuel to running back Jordan Mason have been cost-cutting measures to account for Purdy’s new contract. With Nick Bosa’s four-year, $170 million contract also on the books, the 49ers would probably like to avoid the situation the Dallas Cowboys are dealing with where Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and eventually Micah Parsons have top-of-the market deals hindering their ability to build a roster.
With Kittle turning 32 in October, there’s also an argument that the 49ers would be better off going younger and cheaper. While taking Penn State’s Tyler Warren or Michigan’s Colston Loveland with the 11th overall pick in the draft would be one possibility, San Francisco could set itself up for the future by selecting one of five tight ends in the top 100 on Pro Football Focus’s big board.
Perhaps the 49ers can find a way to bridge the gap in the same way the Chiefs did with Travis Kelce. After signing a four-year, $57.25 million deal in 2020, Kelce agreed to a two-year, $34.25 million deal at age-35, keeping a team legend in the fold. But the Chiefs also have Patrick Mahomes, giving them more wiggle room to build a roster around their two legends.
But general manager John Lynch hinted that players on the team needed a “shared sacrifice” to make Purdy’s contract work and leading some speculation that it was a shot at Kittle. If Kittle’s ask is to become the league’s highest-paid tight end, Lynch may be validated in his comments as he might have to make another unpopular decision by the end of the offseason.