49ers exercise the 2020 option on FB Kyle Juszczyk

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Wednesday afternoon that the San Francisco 49ers are exercising the option on fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who signed a four-year, $21 million contract with the 49ers on March 11, 2017. In 2020, Juice will have a cap number of $6.7 million. The team can create salary-cap space by extending Jusszczyk. I wonder if we see the two sides reach a deal sooner than later. That would be the first of many dominoes to fall.

I know there is a group of 49ers fans that believe Juszczyk isn’t worth that type of money because he is a fullback. It’s impossible to quantify what Juice brings to the table. Bringing up the rushing splits with him on and off the field don’t do Juszczyk’s value justice. Ross Dwelley filled in admirably, but he couldn’t execute the difficult blocks that Kyle Shanahan asks Juice to do. A run and pass blocker, a receiver out of the backfield, and ultimately, a big reason the 49ers have so much success on offense. Juszczyk being on the field means opposing defenses have to stay in their base defense. That creates mismatches, and that’s why the 49ers were one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL.