We’ve already seen Patrick Mahomes reset the quarterback market this summer with his 10 year, $500 million deal. Now the 49ers have announced they have agreed to an extension with George Kittle, worth $75 million over 5 years.
What do we know about the deal?
The ins and outs of the contract are not yet public, but the $75 million is a record for a tight end. To get a perspective on the deal, the average of $15 million per year dwarfs the previous record of $10.5 million (the Browns’ Austin Hooper) and would even rank 12th amongst wide receivers.
Perhaps most significant for both Kittle and the 49ers is the amount of guaranteed money – $30 million on signing and $40 million in salary. This is another first and is more than twice the previous record for guaranteed money.
There has been no detail on the yearly breakdown of the deal, but with the potential for a reduction in the salary cap as a result of the impact of Covid-19, the 49ers will probably be looking to back-load.
Why Kittle is worth it
Much like Mahomes this is a costly deal but one that works for both sides. Kittle is the best tight end in the NFL and his versatility as a receiver and run-blocker should not be understated. He ranked as PFF’s highest graded player in the entire NFL in 2019 with a grade of 94.4, and it is easy to see why he is so well regarded.
After breaking the record for receiving yards by a tight end in 2018 with 1,377 yards, Kittle came back in 2019 and added another 1,053 yards. What sets him apart in particular is his ability with the ball in his hands. Over the past two seasons he has averaged 8.6 yards after the catch (the most in the NFL), and his total of 1,494 after the catch is over 500 more than the next best (Travis Kelce).
It is understandable that he is being paid like a receiver too as he has been the 49ers’ principal receiving threat since 2018. His 234 targets are more than double that of Kendrick Bourne who ranked second with just 104. Another key statistic is his wins above replacement (WAR) figure, a calculation of a player’s value across positions. Per PFF, Kittle’s value in terms of WAR would rank 20th amongst wide receivers. Once you add in the fact that he is a mauler in the running game, you begin to see why he got, and deserves, such a huge contract.
