George Kittle became the highest paid tight end in the NFL with an average annual value of $19.1 … More
The top end of the NFL tight end market has become a little pricier this month.
George Kittle became the highest paid tight end in the National Football League when he signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers in a deal announced Tuesday.
Kittle will receive $40 million guaranteed, and his average annual value of $19.1 million per year puts him at the top of the tight end pool, just ahead of Arizona’s Trey McBride and Kansas City’s Travis Kelce.
Rising star McBride signed a four-year, $76 million contract extension earlier in April, a deal that guarantees him $32.5 million with an average annual value of $19 million. Kelce has an AAV of 17.1 million.
Kittle was the 49ers’ fifth-round pick in the 2017 draft.
George Kittle throws down a spike after scoring one of his 45 career touchdown. (Photo by Ezra … More
“In 2017, our first year with the 49ers, we selected a skinny tight end from Iowa whom we were really excited about,” 49ers general managerJohn Lynch said in a statement Tuesday.
“We had high hopes, but no one knew that he would become the player that he is today. He has a great sense of pride in his role and has put in the work to be one of the best tight ends in the NFL.”
The next order of Niners’ business? Ascertaining whether to sign quarterback Brock Purdy to a long-term extension. As it stands entering the offseason, Purdy will play in 2025 on the final year of his rookie contract that will pay him $5.346 million.
Kittle, 31, was one of the few bright spots when the 49ers fell to 6-11 season, a year that was sabotaged by a season-long injury issues on both sides of the ball.
All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey played only four games last season. Primary wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and safety Talanoa Tufanga played only seven, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw only appeared in two as the 49ers sank to No. 13 in scoring and No. 29 in points allowed after finishing third in both categories while making the Super Bowl in 2023.
Kittle played through it with 78 receptions for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024, ranking first among tight ends in yards per reception (14.2) while tying for second in touchdown catches and finishing third in receiving yards. He was a second-team All-Pro, the fifth time he has been first or second.
Kittle told reporters he planned to keep playing “until the wheels fall off,” and that reaching 10 years with the 49ers is “a huge goal.”
There is little indication he will not get there.
With his big 2024, Kittle became one of tight ends in NFL history to have four or more 1,000-yard receiving seasons, joining Kelce, Rob Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez and Mark Witten. Kelce has seven. The other three are retired.
Kelce, who has played 12 seasons after being the fifth tight end chosen in the 2013 draft, is the top-earning tight end in NFL history at $93.95 million. He signed a two-year, $34.25 million extension with the Chiefs last season that will take him through 2025.
The 49ers have a history of rewarding their top-tier tight ends. Vernon Davis, who spent the first 10 of his 14 NFL seasons with the Niners, earned $78.7 million in his career, second only to Kelce among tight ends.
Davis, the sixth player taken overall in the 2006 draft, had 583 receptions for 7,562 yards and 63 touchdowns. He tied with Larry Fitzgerald and Randy Moss for the NFL lead with 13 touchdowns receptions in 2009, the first of his two Pro Bowl seasons.
Washington’s Zach Ertz ($74.8 million) is the only other active tight end with higher net earnings than Kittle and Kelce. Ertz signed a one-year, $6.25 million contract extension in March.
The Niners are close to completing their off-field business after locking up Kittle. Days before the start of the 2024 season, they signed offensive tackle Trent Williams to a three-year $82.66 million extension and Aiyuk with a four-year, $120 million extension.
Now Purdy, and perhaps McCaffrey. McCaffrey’s situation is a bit in flux after his injury-plagued 2024. He signed a two-year, $38 million extension last June, be he can an opt out after the 2025 season per terms of the deal.
