San Francisco 49ers right tackle Colton McKivitz recently shared that it is his goal to to make it to 10 seasons with the team. It’s an admirable goal, but since several fans have been critical of McKivitz over the years, that would be a nightmare for many.
McKivitz was drafted by San Francisco back in 2020 out of West Virginia. He’s already got six seasons under his belt and has played all 17 games the last three seasons. He was signed to a contract extension last year that will keep him in a 49ers uniform through 2028, so if he fulfills the rest of his contract, he will be at nine seasons.
That means the Niners would have to extend him or bring him back in free agency in order to fulfill his wish. It’s certainly a possibility considering the fact Trent Williams just reworked his deal and may only be with San Francisco for two more years before his likely retirement.
Maybe the Niners will decide to move McKivitz from right tackle to left tackle after Williams is done playing. He could very well be their best option at that point, but some fans would cringe at the thought of him playing left tackle.
While McKivitz has improved over the years, many will still remember the growing pains that came with him assuming the role of starter back in 2023. The offensive line took a lot of heat that year as it was arguably the only main weakness on an otherwise strong offense that led San Francisco to the Super Bowl.
Fair or not, McKivitz and center Jake Brendel tend to get a lot of grief from fans online about their play. Despite this, the 49ers clearly view their O-line much differently than outside observers do.
This disconnect is not new at all.
For years, the way the 49ers have talked about their offensive line has seemingly been out of step with what many fans think about the unit. Most people outside of the building view the O-line as Trent Williams and four other average players, but in the building, they are clearly happy with what they have.
We’ll have to see if that continues this season. Williams, McKivitz, right guard Dominick Puni, and Brendel are all locked in at starter, but left guard remains a question mark. The starter there will likely be sorted out in training camp and the preseason.
McKivitz can prove fans wrong if he continues to get better and better these next few seasons. While many fans wouldn’t love the idea of McKivitz being with San Francisco for 10 years or more, maybe a few strong seasons will have fans demanding he get another extension.
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