The San Francisco 49ers and star George Kittle are in the middle of contract negotiations. When they are finished, Kittle’s contract should reshape the tight end market in the NFL.
On Thursday, speaking with 95.7 The Game, 49ers general manager John Lynch gave an update on where things stand, noting the 49ers tried to work out a long-term extension early on but were unsuccessful.
49ers star George Kittle ‘isn’t going anywhere’
Not that this is shocking in any way, but Lynch made it clear that Kittle is a huge priority for the 49ers and that he “isn’t going anywhere” in the years to come.
“George isn’t going anywhere. We’re going to work hard to try to get it done. I think they’ve got motivation just to really reset the tight end market, as do we, for him. It’s just finding that sweet spot, where that is.”
Lynch couldn’t say whether a deal will happen any time soon. However, he said the 49ers are “working hard, as are they, to try to make that happen.”
He concluded by saying that “George is going to be a part of the 49ers for a long, long time.”
Kittle is the best all-around tight end in football and is an integral player for the 49ers. Whether it’s pancaking players in the run game or taking souls with his after-the-catch exploits, he’s a superstar.
With that in mind, we can expect that Kittle will significantly eclipse what Austin Hooper is making — over $10 million per year.