49ers Need to Address ‘Life After’ George Kittle Analyst Says.
While the San Francisco 49ers need tight end depth, George Kittle‘s future could hit the list of priorities sooner or later.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco discussed that the day after the 49ers lost out on restricted free agent tight end Brock Wright. The Detroit Lions retained Wright with a matching deal with a three-year, $12 million contract.
“They got to start making some plans, perhaps for life after George Kittle,” Maiocco said during the “49ers Talk” podcast on Thursday. “I know that’s kind of odd to say because it seems like he’s just so young, and he just, not too long ago, broke into the NFL. But he is 30 years old.”A fifth-round draft pick in 2017, Kittle has been a sturdy force for the 49ers in seven seasons amid four All-Pro awards and five Pro Bowl appearances. He has 460 catches for 6,274 yards and 37 touchdowns in his career.
Kittle has a five-year, $75 million contract with the 49ers that runs through the 2025 season. The top-paid tight end in the league, Kittle could command another large contract in 2026, but he will be 32 then.
49ers Didn’t Find Many Answers Behind George Kittle Last Year.
Maiocco said that pursuing Wright was “a clear indication that they’re looking to beef that up” tight end room. Last offseason, the 49ers drafted Brayden Willis and Cameron Latu as Maiocco noted.
