The 49ers and George Kittle have kicked off extension talks, but there’s still a major gap to bridge, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). As it stands, the league’s best tight end is set to enter the final year of his contract with just $2.133MM in base pay. 
Since 2017, Kittle has recorded 2,945 receiving yards, the most of any tight end in their first three seasons – and that’s just in the regular season. And, since 2018, Kittle’s had 1,464 yards after the catch, more than any other player in the league not named Christian McCaffrey. With that in mind Kittle’s agent says that he’s not viewing the current tight end market as the comp for his client. Instead, he’s taking a page from McCaffrey’s camp – he wants a deal that reflects Kittle’s value as the NFL’s No. 1 TE, plus a little extra. In essence, Kittle puts up numbers like a supreme tight end and a WR2, all wrapped into one.
Last year, the 49ers watched Raheem Mostert enjoy a breakout season, thanks in part to Kittle’s blocking and looming aerial threat. Mostert led the team with 772 rushing yards and paced all running backs with 5.6 per carry, numbers that lifted him to a short-term pay bump earlier this week. In Kittle’s 14 games last year, SF averaged 4.83 yards per carry and tallied 23 rushing touchdowns. In the two games he missed, 49ers running backs averaged just 2.63 yards per attempt with zero scores.
We’ve seen fewer big-money deals than usual this offseason, but Kittle’s camp won’t necessarily take the pandemic as an excuse. In the last two weeks, Joey Bosa and Myles Garrett have inked eight-figure deals, so the pressure is on John Lynch & Co. to get something done. Kittle’s asking price is believed to be much higher than Austin Hooper‘s $10.5MM/year watermark; possibly in the $18MM/year range.
Honestly, I’d trade him for a pair of 2nds and a 4th then send the 4th to Cleveland for Njoku.
Personally, I’d look to draft a TE in 2021 like Jake Ferguson out of Wisconsin who’s had to learn to block in run heavy Wisconsin offense but definitely has catching ability. Could be a steal.
Jamal Adams just got two firsts. If they traded Kittle who is on a completely different level than Adams for a pair of seconds then…. well…. I just don’t know
Jamaal Adams is under contract 2 more years.
So was Jalen Ramsey who was also traded for 2 1sts at the time.
Kittle is in the last year of his contract and is a free agent at end of the season.
Adams and Ramsey as former 1st round picks have a 5th year option.
Kittle as a former 4th round pick does not.
Jamaal Adams 5th year option checks in at 9.9 mill.
Hunter Henry who received the tag this past off season checked in at around 11 mill.
That is one of the dumbest trade ideas that I read in a loooooong time.
Yankees should have traded George Herman Ruth when they had the chance
Really original comment there
“I don’t like what you posted so I will say it’s dumb but am not brave enough to post my own trade idea or have any factual evidence to prove its a bad idea other than I don’t like it”
Really original comment. When you actually drop a pair and have the balls to post your own counter proposal or offer evidence why he should cost more then I’ll take you seriously.
It’s not that I didn’t like your trade idea, it’s the fact that’s it is so dumb that nobody serious would even consider it. Trading the highest rank TE that has been a critical part of the team’s success should be dumb. Trading him for a pair of 2nd round picks, presumably spread over two season is dumb. Why would Cleveland want 2 pay two high end TE salaries, that would be dumb. My counter proposal would be to sign Kittle and pay the man. Keep flipping burgers guy. #dumbestevertradeidea
The 49ers offense would be pretty lackluster. They already lost Samuel for the first month of the season, so they need Kittle for his receiving ability. He’s also essentially an extra offensive lineman, so Njoku would be a tremendous downgrade from that standpoint as well
“Trade the #1 at his position for peanuts, then use one of those peanuts to draft a kid from a school not known for their generational TE talents who may or may not even make the roster the following year.”
49ers are lucky you aren’t their GM. That’s a Bill O’Brien move.
TWO second rounders AND a 4th isn’t peanuts for a guy in the last year of his contract and who will cost 11 mill if he’s franchise tagged.
49ers need to pay or replace Trent Williams, Richard Sherman, Tartt after 2020 and Warner after 2021.
SF has 4 mill in cap space for 2021.
They can’t pay everybody and with a bigger need at LT than TE they’d be smarter to trade Kittle instead of paying him record money for a TE, 12-15 mill a year, and instead make a strong run at Green Bays David Baktiari or pay Trent Williams.
According to my sources, they have $49 million in 2021 and can cut Weston Richburg to save more money. If they get really desperate, you could part ways with Ford at a position of strength. I just think Kittle is a once in a lifetime kind of athlete and believe it will be nearly impossible to find someone of his value. Part of the reason they traded Buckner was to save cap room for a potential Kittle extension.
Just my thoughts. I don’t think your ideas are stupid by any means. People can interpret situations in different ways
Pay this dude. Game changer.
Agree! Game changer & class act. As a 49er fan, love rooting for him & having him on the team.
Kittle might be the next Gronk but Jimmy G certainly isn’t the next Brady so sacrificing Buckner to achieve half of a great passing combo was a mistake the Niners will come to regret.
It will be interesting to see what Jimmy G’s ceiling is. I think he still has a lot of growth potential. Of course, Brady level probably not realistic.
…sacrificing Buckner…? They couldn’t afford Buckner. It’s that simple. You cant pay 3-4 people on your defensive line 80mil+ contracts. Armstead is there. Buckner would have been there. Ford is there. In a year or two, Bosa will cost $150mil.
Fantasy build your team all you want, but if you spend that much on your d-line, you might as well search practice squads to fill the rest of your roster since you wont have any money left.
To follow up your argument, they also spent the draft pick acquired in that trade on Buckner’s replacement, who they have cheap control over for a maximum of five years. It’s called maximizing your window of contention and it’s why the 49ers should be in the mix for years to come
Clarence, the cross eyed lemon, the players’ top 100 came out. Garappolo 43 and Buckner 56. But I’m sure you know more than these silly opponents.
I would pay Kittle whatever it took. Guy is unbelievable and a gamer. I am a Chiefs fan. I would give him the deal he wanted if I was San Fran.
Do you know what teams the number 1 and 2 TE’s played in this year The Super Bowl lay that man his money
Gotta love them iowa te’s.