Latest George Kittle Contract Extension News Will Not Make 49ers Fans Happy
By Sam Dunn
George Kittle is an All-Pro. He's an NFC champ. His style is singular. But despite all his plaudits, the San Francisco 49ers tight end is still on his rookie contract. That means he's set to haul in just $2.13 million this campaign, making him all the more justified in clamoring for a game-changing extension sooner rather than later lest he hit free agency in 2021.
Unfortunately, per NFL insider Mike Silver, Kittle and the 49ers are far, far apart on terms. That's just about the last news any fan in the Bay could want to hear.
The @49ers and @gkittle46 remain far apart on a contract extension... and Kittle's agent says a 'tight-end deal' is a non-starter. @nflnetwork @NFLTotalAccess pic.twitter.com/pAOqDbu5KL
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) May 29, 2020
The biggest sticking point? Kittle's agent, Jack Bechta, reportedly wants to kill off the idea that Kittle should be paid like an All-Pro tight end. Rather, he insists that his client utterly breaks the mold for his position, and any new deal should take that into account.
"He is doing something that transcends what a typical tight end does," Silver notes.
“George Kittle is not only the best TE in the game between the lines but he’s also the best at having fun outside of them too.”
— Fourth and Nine (@fourth_nine) May 30, 2020
(via @YacovoneRick)
?: @insidethenfl pic.twitter.com/OFF0CjiWj8
Does that sound ridiculous? In a way, yes. But to be fair to Kittle, the guy did just set the single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end in, and Pro Football Focus graded him out as the best player in the entire NFL (!). That's all well and good, but it's also the perfect kindling to ignite a firestorm of a standoff between the superstar and his team barely nine months away from free agency.