San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle is destined to get paid.
The game-changing third-year tight end has one year left on his rookie-scale deal, worth $735,000. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, “few around the league believe that Kittle will play next season under those terms.” Kittle, a 2017 fifth-round pick, is expected to reset the tight end market in the offseason.
Kittle and a group of other star tight ends — most notably Philadelphia Eagles' Zach Ertz and Atlanta Falcons' Austin Hooper — are in-line to get deals that will change the way the position is paid. Hooper is a free agent in March, while Kittle and Ertz on the last years of their respective deals (Ertz: $6.4 million).
Minnesota Vikings' Kyle Rudolph is the league's highest-paid tight end ($9.35 million), he signed an extension last offseason. In 2018, Jimmy Graham set the market, signing a three-year $30 million deal with the Green Bay Packers. Expect all of Kittle, Ertz and Hooper to surpass those numbers.
Los Angeles Chargers' Hunter Henry and Indianapolis Colts' Eric Ebron are also entering the free-agent pool. Each could warrant a big contract.
Don't be surprised if Kittle hauls in the largest tight end contract ever in the offseason as part of an extension. Despite missing two games in 2019, the 49ers tight end has the fifth-most receiving yards for his position with 754, while also recording 60 receptions and four touchdowns.
In 2018, Kittle broke the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season with 1,377. To top it off, he is considered an elite run blocker.
Kittle is a talent worth being paid. The San Francisco brass will make sure that happens.
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