It's been a relatively easy thing for San Francisco 49ers fans to do: criticize right tackle Colton McKivitz's play ever since he became a full-time starter back in 2023.
Indeed, McKivitz isn't exactly an elite tackle, and debating whether or not the Niners could opt for an upgrade isn't a conversation that gets avoided every offseason. Heck, looking back at the 2026 NFL Draft, exploring replacement options certainly was on the table. And maybe San Francisco did just that by using a day-three pick on Kansas tackle Enrique Cruz Jr.
But McKivitz isn't simply going to let an up-and-coming raw prospect take over his job, nor is he eager to find greener pastures elsewhere.
In fact, it seems as if the 49ers' fifth-round pick from the 2020 draft out of West Virginia wants to make the Bay Area his home for the balance of his pro career.
Colton McKivitz vows to be a 10-year man for 49ers
Speaking with team reporters during the offseason, McKivitz acknowledged it was hard being cut from the 53-man roster, demoted to the practice squad and then returning, ultimately emerging as a full-time starter at right tackle in 2023.
Yet he also realizes that he's now on the latter half of being a 10-year player for the Niners.
"I want to be on that 10-year wall," McKivitz said. "I don't want to leave here. Obviously being cut, I've got some scars there. But, there was a reason why I was drafted here, why I was cut here, and why I still play here. Now I've had three good seasons of starting and I'm going into the fourth."
Interestingly enough, and despite his critics, it's a fair argument to say San Francisco has gotten more than its money's worth from the veteran.
He signed a three-year extension worth up to $45 million back in 2025, which averages out to $15 million per season—a relative bargain for a quality starting right tackle. And Over the Cap valued his 2025 efforts at $18.18 million, too, suggesting McKivitz has outplayed his contractual value.
A free agent to be in 2029, the next major question would be if he seeks a hefty payday on the open market, which might be a goal in light of the fact he'll turn 33 years old that year. And that might potentially price himself out from the 49ers' comfort range and deny a shot at that 10-year wall.
But, if McKivitz remains a good-but-overlooked starter who doesn't have to command top dollar, reaching that pinnacle of 10 years with the Niners may very well be in play.
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