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49ers sign George Kittle to record-breaking deal

By Scott Rogust

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 29: Tight end George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers heads off the field following the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 29: Tight end George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers heads off the field following the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers and their star tight end have reached an agreement on a contract extension.

Following the San Francisco 49ers‘ Super Bowl LIV loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, reports indicated that the team was prioritizing signing star tight end George Kittle to a contract extension.

Six months later, that deal has finally arrived.

According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Michael Silver, the 49ers and Kittle have reached an agreement to a five-year, $75 million contract extension on Thursday, making him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. $30 million being guaranteed at signing and $40 million is guaranteed with injury, per Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take.”

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1293923315220914176

Kittle well worth the long-term extension

Earlier this year, Austin Hooper set the tight end market after signing a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the Cleveland Browns. Now, that contract looks like chump change compared to Kittle’s deal.

The 49ers knew that they had to pay Kittle, as he was set to become an unrestricted free agent. As is the case with any great team, the 49ers had to free up some cap space to retain their superior talent. They traded DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for the purpose of paying edge rusher Arik Armstead and to eventually write a big check to Kittle.

It’s amazing to look back and realize that Kittle was selected by the 49ers in the fifth-round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The names taken off the board before him include O.J.. Howard, Evan Engram, David Njoku, Gerald Everett, Adam Shaheen, Jonnu Smith, Michael Roberts and Jake Butt. Leave it to general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan to find a true diamond in the rough.

Kittle didn’t make much of an impact in his rookie season, where he was a rotational tight end, but he truly exploded into a superstar these past two years. Through the 2018-19 seasons, Kittle recorded 173 receptions for 2,430 yards and ten touchdowns. Those statistics helped him clinch two Pro Bowl berths and become a First-Team All-Pro in 2019.

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49ers fans can rest easy now. There won’t be a hold out for Kittle, as he’ll be good to go for padded practices and the upcoming regular season campaign. Now that Kittle has the big bucks, the new goal for him is to avenge San Francisco’s Super Bowl loss.