“In 2017, our first year with the 49ers. We selected a skinny tight end from Iowa whom we were really excited about. We had high hopes, but no one knew that he would become the player that he is today.” 49ers GM John Lynch said after handing George Kittle, yet another record-breaking 4-year, $76.4M contract extension. Kittle had always been the top earner in his position ever since he secured a $60M extension in 2020. But as he entered the lame-duck year of that contract, rumors started swirling around his future as a 49er. Well, now obviously both parties are happy, considering the contractual impasse is over. However, if not for the 49ers’ sacrifice, things could have been way different.

Kittle’s $19.1M per season contract narrowly exceeds Trey McBride’s $19M per season contract extension with the Cardinals. Not only that, Kittle’s $76.5M contract also has $40M in fully guaranteed money. And guess what? It’s also a new record. McBride’s $76M extension only had $32.5M in guarantees. So, Kittle is way above the rest of the pack. To be honest, he also deserves to be at the top, given that he is one of the most valuable non-QB players in football.

In the last 6 of his 7 seasons, Kittle led all TEs in yards per route run. Last season, he garnered 2.62 YPRR behind only Puka Nacua and Nico Collins, who are receivers. And obviously, you can’t forget the extra advantage he brings as a blocker. He was among the top-3 TEs in PFF’s run-blocking grade in each of his last two seasons. So, there’s the consistency, production, and determination to keep pulling exorbitant numbers no matter how others around you are performing.

That’s why the 49ers were probably obliged to make a massive draft sacrifice for the sake of keeping Kittle in the Bay Area. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini believes the 49ers refused a second rounder in exchange for their All-Pro TE. Kittle, who is entering the latter stages of his career, was preferred over a second-round pick. The 49ers could have easily accepted the second-rounder and drafted a young and more explosive TE. But nah. They instead chose to keep Kittle as a Niner rather than replace him with a relatively unknown face.

The 49ers just couldn’t get rid of their team captain for the last 7 seasons as they dream of making him retire as a 49er.

George Kittle’s story as a 49er enters its final chapter

When Kittle didn’t arrive for the 49ers’ opening day of their voluntary workout program, there were a lot of question marks on his future. Was he going to repeat what Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and others did by calling a holdout? Or was he going to get traded to some other team? Those rumors only intensified as Brock Purdy, who also expects a contract extension, didn’t miss a single day of the offseason program. He and Kittle being on different pages painted an ominous picture for the 49ers. However, since those rumors, Kittle did end up attending the 49ers camp. Once he did, those trade rumors started mellowing down.

And after a few days, those talks were all but over as Kittle got his much-deserved contract extension. Honestly, the 49ers were never really looking to move on from their future Hall of Fame TE. John Lynch said back in February, “We want George to retire a Niner. He’s a Niner through and through.” And he kept his word. As Kittle is most likely to retire as a 49er now. Within a few years, he would also secure a spot on the coveted “10-year wall” in the 49ers’ facility.

So, this negotiation was never meant to be complicated. It was just a matter of time before they gave their legendary TE a contract, which was a massive bargain. Given Kittle’s efficiency as a wideout and a blocker, his earnings of just $19.1M annually are pretty darn low. Elsewhere, the Bengals just gave Ja’Marr Chase a contract worth over $40M annually. So, Kittle, who is a surefire future Hall of Famer and an integral member of the 49ers roster in dual-threat capabilities. The Niners giving up a second-rounder for Kittle wasn’t a bad deal for them. Instead, they just saved themselves from getting lured by that franchise that could have had George Kittle in their ranks.