While much of the offseason focus for the San Francisco 49ers will land on quarterback Brock Purdy’s contract extension and ways the team can retool for a Super Bowl via free agency and the NFL draft, there are handful of other housekeeping details to keep an eye on.
One of those details, a contract extension for tight end George Kittle, should land relatively high on the team’s priorities for the offseason.
Kittle told Kay Adams on Radio Row at Super Bowl LIX that he’d like to spend the rest of his career with San Francisco, and given his contributions as he’s entered his 30s, it would behoove them to ensure they’re keeping the four-time All-Pro around.
He was more mum on whether extension talks were in the works.
For the 49ers it’s a no-brainer to extend the TE they selected in the fifth round of the 2017 draft, particularly since they don’t have an heir-apparent and finding an adequate second tight end has proved difficult.
However, Kittle’s value has never been higher with quarterback Brock Purdy under center. It looked in 2021 like there may be a dip in production coming for Kittle as he entered his 30s. He put up a very strong 910 yards and six touchdowns that year, but followed it up in 2022 with 765 yards and 11 TDs.
Purdy’s reliance on Kittle in the red zone made it seem as though the TE would have a revised role where his yardage dipped, but his TDs might stay inflated. However, in the last two years Purdy has helped Kittle return to form as a reliable playmaker between the 20s as well.
In 36 games with Purdy since Purdy took over late in the 2022 season, Kittle has 159 catches for 2,332 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. He has 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last two years. His 15.7 yards per reception in 2023 were a career-high, and his 14.2 yards per reception in 2024 were the third-best mark of his career.
Kittle’s value as a blocker is still one of the highest at his position in the NFL, and he’s been rejuvenated as a go-to pass catching threat in the 49ers’ offense.
He’s entering the final year of his deal in 2024, and his value is as high as ever. Replacing Kittle isn’t going to be easy. The 49ers need to do everything they can this offseason to ensure he’s with them beyond the end of his contract at the close of the 2024 campaign.