The San Francisco 49ers have been busy this offseason rewarding core members of their NFC champion squad with new contracts. With training camp approaching, All-Pro tight end George Kittle isn’t close to getting his deal.
Coming off another dominant season, earning first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career, Kittle wants to reset the market for his peers. However, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, it might be a while before that happens.
49ers, TE George Kittle not close on contract extension
The 49ers have rewarded head coach Kyle Shanahan with a contract extension, restructured Trent Williams’ contract and gave Raheem Mostert a pay raise. While general manager John Lynch says negotiations with Kittle are ongoing, it’s clear a record-breaking extension won’t be coming immediately.
As Rapoport described on Wednesday, Kittle and the 49ers aren’t particularly close on anything regarding an extension. While both sides expect Kittle’s contract to reset the market with a massive figure, the number is very different from each party.
Currently, Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry leads the pack with his $10.7 million salary under the franchise tag. Behind him, Cleveland Browns tight end Austin Hooper is the only other player at the position owed $10-plus million this year.
Whenever Kittle lands his record-breaking deal, it will easily blow past the current marks and could even reach $15 million annually. From that point, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce might want to renegotiate his contract with just two years remaining.