Sometimes, it’s controversial. Negotiations between George Kittle’s agent, Jack Bechta, and the San Francisco 49ers
Information about one aspect or another was leaked suggesting that any contract extension is far away. There is no genuine drive for a deal that would make Iowa the highest-paid closed organization in NFL history.
That’s all going to be nothing more than a footnote following Thursday’s news that Kittle has in fact reset the tight end market as we know it. Multiple media reports indicate that the All-Pro has signed a five-year, $75 million extension with the defending NFC champions.
The deal requires $40 million in general promises and $30 million guaranteed at the time of signing, either NFL records for a wide-margin final. The $15 million Kittle will get annually, combined with a total of $75 million, is also a focus of attention for a closed end in league history.
These are amazing numbers to look at. The $40 million in general promises is more than double that of any tight final in league history. In terms of guaranteed money signing, Austin Hooper had already ruled the market with $18 million in the record deal he signed with the Cleveland Browns in March.
There is no other logical way to look at this contract. Kittle scored heavily on his first contract with an NFL veteran. Meanwhile, San Francisco blocks its most productive offensive player at well below the $20 million a year he discussed earlier in the off-season. It’s beneficial for both parties.
Kittle, 26, reached the level roaring like a moment in 2018 after San Francisco turned him into a fifth-round pick a year earlier. He broke the tight-end record in a season without marrying 1,377 yards that year, to keep him with a 1,000-yard crusade for the unexpected 49ers last season. Kittle also scored 71% of his goals in three seasons in the NFL.
This technically makes Kittle San Francisco the number one catcher an offensive that continues to rely heavily on the tight end position.
However, Kittle’s importance for the San Francisco offensive under Kyle Shanahan goes much further. It’s legitimately the tight end of running blocking the NFL.
According to Pro Football Focus, Kittle was the highest-ranked player in the league last season.
In the NFL’s 100 most sensitive annuals, Kittle’s teammates ranked him as the seventh player in the league. Needless to say, this young man’s importance to San Francisco’s good fortune only compares to his ability to dominate the grill.
From a purely monetary point of view, the timing of this record contract is huge for San Francisco. There is expected to be a significant drop in earnings around the NFL next season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This is basically because the enthusiasts will not be able to attend the matches.
It is estimated that this may reduce the salary cap to $25 million in 2021 after the NFL and NFLPA finalized a restructured collective bargaining agreement to reflect the existing economic situation.
Signing Kittle for an extension before the 2020 season creates avenues for San Francisco bosses to take into account the aforementioned demanding economic situations that the groups will face for the foreseeable future.
First, the 49ers can top up the contract. San Francisco’s senior officials, led by contract guru Paraag Marathe, can eventually reject big hits beyond the 2021 season, paying $10 million as opposed to the cap in each of the next two seasons after the 2020 campaign. At this point, the NFL will have a greater understanding of the long-term effect on declining revenue. San Francisco could then consider paying Kittle $20 million in opposition to the peak for the next two seasons.
Prior to the economic recession created by the pandemic, the NFL was estimated to see significant increases in the wage cap in the coming years. Since the salary cap is based on the team’s revenue and is fundamentally based on price ticket revenue, it is imaginable that this good fortune is likely only to occur during the 2020 season.
From a closer 49ers attitude, signing Kittle for an extension before his contract expires next March is surely huge. They have a number of high-level players in a position to get ahead in a dubious economic landscape.
This list includes long-term Hall of Fame members, to the left of Trent Williams, and corner corner Richard Sherman. Beginners like Jaquiski Tartt, K’Waun Williams, Kyle Juszczyk and Kendrick Bourne are also about to have a loose agency. Looking at it vaguely, the resignation of the six players can charge the 49ers more than $50 million a year.
San Francisco’s not going to hold all those players. That’s not how it works in today’s NFL. But by signing Kittle right now, the team is more likely to stay at the core of last season’s Super Bowl in combination for a while.
A low season that saw San Francisco work diligently to build a long-term contender has now culminated in the team that has blocked, perhaps, its most productive player over the next half decade.
Editor-in-chief of Sportsnaut, Forbes contributor. Seen on Fox Sports and MSN. I heard on Fox Sports Radio and ESPN Radio. Previous signatories include: Bleacher
Editor-in-chief of Sportsnaut, Forbes contributor. Seen on Fox Sports and MSN. I heard on Fox Sports Radio and ESPN Radio. References above include: Bleacher Report, Pro Football Focus, Yahoo! Sports and eDraft.