This offseason has been about a reduction in cash spending for the San Francisco 49ers, with obvious deference to the time with quarterback Brock Purdy on a bargain contract coming to an end. A contract extension for tight end George Kittle is also on the docket, and there has been mutual sentiment about making him a "49er for life."
The tight end market changed when the Arizona Cardinals gave Trey McBride a four-year, $76 million contract extension. Kittle has a solid case to usurp McBride in annual average and be the highest-paid tight end in the NFL, with $20 million a year an easy number to put out there.
When notable players don't show up for the start of the offseason program, it makes easy headlines. So when Kittle was not there for the start of the Niners' offseason program this week, reports came out to suggest his absence was rooted in his contract situation. Those reports conveniently forgot that Kittle has not attended the start of the voluntary portion of offseason work in recent years.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic directly reported Kittle's absence from OTAs was "contract related." Kittle quickly refuted the report, telling Russini her source is "incorrect."
Reporter adds troubling tentacle to George Kittle contract reporting
On Wednesday's addition of the "Scoop City" podcast, Russini had more about the Kittle situation.
"George Kittle and the San Francisco 49ers are in the middle of this negotiation", Russini said. "We know that Kittle wasn't there for OTAs, and from what I was told, it has to do with his contract. He wants to be the highest-paid tight end in the NFL I was told. In fact, many around the league know about this. He wants to make about $20 million a year. So I reported that. And Kittle, who's one of the nicest people in football, responded that my sources were wrong."
Interesting.
"That was one of those situations where I immediately had to go dig on it", Russini continued. "Did someone give me bad info? And there were just so many people sharing about this that I knew it wasn't wrong. And it's not wrong. It really comes down to semantics."
Russini then dove into the semantics she mentioned.
"When you take a look at the Trey McBride deal, it's four years, $76 million. Just a few months ago Arizona did that deal making him the highest-paid tight end. The 49ers made an offer to Kittle that in guaranteed money essentially made him the highest-paid tight end but it still was less than the Trey McBride contract. So, it really comes down to these small details.
"In my opinion, it's really not about that. It's more about are they going to be able to come to an agreement? Because right now, there's no deal. This isn't done at this point. So, I'm sure George is mad that it's out there. The truth of the matter is he wants to be paid. And I think he knows perhaps the San Francisco 49ers aren't willing to go that high."
McBride's contract includes $43 million guaranteed, and $32.5 million fully guaranteed at signing. Russini is reporting the Niners made an offer to Kittle that exceeds that $43 million in guaranteed money, but was less than McBride's deal in APY, probably total money and maybe not four years.
Kittle is entering his age-32 season, but he is coming off one of the best seasons of his career by many metrics with no significant signs of slowing down.
The 49ers have history of waiting too long do contract extensions with star players, but this time they've apparently added what comes off as a low-ball offer to the equation.
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