Reports indicate that the San Francisco 49ers made some serious headway on a looming contract extension for tight end George Kittle. However, it appears that is hardly the case.
According to Michael Silver and Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated, the 49ers were rumored to be closing in on a six-year, $94.8 million extension for Kittle.
In reference to the @grantcohn report: I'm told the 49ers and George Kittle are 'making progress' on a lucrative contract extension⊠which means the đ emoji may be obsolete. He's on track to be the highest-paid TE in league history, by far.
â Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 12, 2020
Kittle quickly took to Twitter to shut down this report.
Yâall believe everything you read on the internet huh đ https://t.co/2TcAdjKjN5
â George Kittle (@gkittle46) August 12, 2020
What was initially a sigh of relief for the 49ers faithful has now returned to plenty of speculation regarding his future with the team. The update from Kittle himself only serves to solidify this notion.
Although the two-time All-Pro selection was slated to reset the tight end market with his new deal this offseason, reports indicated that Kittle's price tag would transcend the boundaries of his position. He is certainly more than deserving after racking up 173 receptions for 2,430 yards and 10 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
Kittle's efforts as a blocker in the run game and role as the safety net for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the passing game make him an invaluable part of the offense. Unfortunately, his comments indicate that the 49ers have not intended to pay him as such up to this point.
There is no question that the looming financial repercussions have made it difficult for teams to double down on lucrative contracts for their franchise players. This is especially true for San Francisco when it comes to deciding on whether to pay George Kittle wide receiver money or not.
Follow Us
Subscribe