49ers TE George Kittle named 2019 first-team All-Pro

The Associated Press told San Francisco 49ers fans what they already knew, tight end George Kittle was the best player at his position during the 2019 regular season.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is the best player at his position from 2019.

Certainly according to every Niners fan out there, but also according to the Associated Press, which just released its selections for the 2019 first- and second-team All-Pro squads. And according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan, Kittle received 33 of the 50 total votes, while Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce received the other 17.

Kittle, now a two-time Pro Bowler, managed 1,053 receiving yards on 85 catches with five touchdowns despite playing two fewer games this year than his previous record-setting campaign back in 2018.

Additionally, Kittle set new records for Pro Football Focus, too. He finished with a 95.0 overall grade, which is quite exemplary.

And it surely stands in the face of one particular pundit, who argued Kittle was only a so-so blocker. If anything, he’s the most well-rounded tight end in football today.

AP certainly thinks so.

Meanwhile, AP also selected two other 49ers players to the second-team All-Pro group: defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and cornerback Richard Sherman. Buckner, who was snubbed for his second consecutive Pro Bowl this season, still finished the year with a solid 7.5 sacks amid a stacked defensive line.

Sherman, meanwhile, was selected to the Pro Bowl and also earns some pretty noteworthy dollars for making an All-Pro selection, as pointed out by The Athletic’s Matt Barrows:

Sherman’s response to the news was pretty entertaining, too:

Remember, Sherman represented himself during negotiations when the 49ers inked him to a three-year deal back in 2018.

Seems as if both sides have benefited nicely from that particular transaction.

Kittle will, too, when the time comes for the three-year pro to start discussions for a contract extension. The Niners can open that window in 2020, and Kittle will certainly be able to cash in on what has turned into arguably the most productive career for any player at his position, certainly for someone contributing so early.

Meanwhile, Kittle, Sherman and the rest of San Francisco’s squad will be gearing up for whoever they will face in the 2020 divisional round.