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NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the San Francisco 49ers and George Kittle have agreed to a five-year extension for $75 million.
The #49ers & star TE George Kittle are in agreement on a 5-year, $75M extension, sources tell me & @MikeSilver, one that gives him more than half of it in guarantees. Language is being worked on, but numbers are there. One of their top players, this was a big-time priority
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 13, 2020
These reporters add that George Kittle gets $30M guaranteed at signing. https://t.co/3zL1gRJe49
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 13, 2020
The #49ers are giving TE George Kittle an $18M signing bonus, source said. A large sum especially in a pandemic. Mostly, he blows the doors off the TE market and they keep their own. https://t.co/WVOrQflHXp
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 13, 2020
$30 million of Kittle’s deal is fully guaranteed. The deal comes with an AAV of $15 million. In total, Kittle will have $40 million in guarantees. Kittle is now the highest-paid tight end in league history.
Kittle has more receiving yards than any tight end in NFL history through three seasons (2,945), the most catches by a tight through three seasons (219), the most receiving yards in a single season by a tight end ever (1,377) and he’s the best blocking tight end in football. So, yeah, he deserves this. I’m happy we could put this to bed, Kittle got paid, and we can get back to talking football. I’m also happy for Kittle.
The highest-paid tight end makes $10.5 million while the highest-paid wideout makes $22 million, so Kittle comes close to splitting the difference. $40 million is the same as Amari Cooper, and a million less than Odell Beckam Jr. Kittle has more guaranteed money than Michael Thomas, Tyreek Hill, Mike Evans, and DeAndre Hopkins. I’d imagine the guarantees were the hold-up.