KITTLE gets paid

49ers signed TE George Kittle to a five-year, $75 million extension through 2025.
Kittle will get an $18 million signing bonus. The extension "blows the doors off the TE market," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Kittle has dominated when given the opportunity in San Francisco's run-first scheme, averaging 13.6 yards per reception over his first three years in the NFL. He's gone for 81 receiving yards per game since becoming the team's primary pass catcher in 2018, as he's led all tight ends and receivers in broken tackles over the past couple seasons. Kittle, 26, is positioned to be a dominant real and fantasy football force for years to come.

Well deserved...fair deal for the best TE in the game.

Ricky Roma said:

Well deserved...fair deal for the best TE in the game.

Click to expand...

Toss up between him and Kelce IMO.

That being said, I understand the money as Kittle is arguably the best TE in the game (best YOUNG tight end) but this is a TON of fucking money for a tight end.

It can be argued that the best TE (or arguably, could also argue Reid is a WCO coach - heavily utilizes a tight end, and Mahomes is far better than Jimmy Garpoloalollo) in the league should be paid a truck load, but this is CERTAINLY not a bargain or home discount as the 49ers paid TOP dollar and an unprecedented amount for that position. Could argue the same for Mahomes, but TE is not a QB.

For that reason I can't give it anywhere near an A. I'd say a B GRADE is appropriate. Letting Kittle go didn't really seem to be an option, elite tight ends are rare to find, and Kittle and his agent knew it. I'm sure Kelce and Ertz are ECSTATIC right now.

Thankfully it didn't smash the market too much. Eagles will have some interesting choices to make next year. They are going to have to do something with Ertz either extend him and spread his cap hit out to create some room next year or trade him. They have indicated they want to try to keep him but I'm not sure that will be the best idea with him set to be 31 when his current deal ends which also ends at the same time that Goedert's deal ends and one would think that for the time period of the next contract that Goedert will be the better TE.

Best TE in the game. Plays with a passion.

He was drafted in the 5th round in 2017 out of Iowa. While every team missed on this guy, the Lions and Broncos should be especially ashamed...

• The Lions took Michael Roberts out of Toledo in the 4th who washed out immediately, then drafted a different Iowa TE 8th overall in 2019.
• The Broncos took an injured Jake Butt out of Michigan the pick before Kittle, then drafted a different Iowa TE 20th overall in 2019.

Sharkonabicycle said:

Toss up between him and Kelce IMO.

Click to expand...

It's a toss-up between Kelce and Kittle when it comes to strictly pass receiving. When you figure in the dominating blocking in both the pass and run game, Kittle separates himself from everybody.

In that regard, he's right there with any TE that's ever played the game.

Ricky Roma said:

It's a toss-up between Kelce and Kittle when it comes to strictly pass receiving. When you figure in the dominating blocking in both the pass and run game, Kittle separates himself from everybody.

In that regard, he's right there with any TE that's ever played the game.

Click to expand...

Admittedly I don't watch much of the Chiefs, but I feel the offenses are a bit different from each other but I could be talking out my ass.

I still think Kittle/Kelce are a bit of a toss up, but I guess based on the fact Kittle is 4 years younger... no argument in giving him the nod.

Again the B grade is not a knock... I just can't give it an A because it's not a bargain. "BUT IT WILL BE IN 3 years!" blah blah blah... and then he'll be requesting a trade if the contract is not re-negotiated, etc. It's not a bargain now.

If you follow any of my ratings, I generally only reserve As for 1 year prove it deals or a ridiculous bargain. If it was 5 years $60 or something it would be an A+. B grade still translates to me: "Worth it, just a bit steep." And again, Kittle and his agent know that. They probably walked into the office, threw their dicks on the table, and the 49ers FO said, "Fine... how much." They couldn't let him walk and they both knew it.

Kittle seems like the most important cog in the Niners run game. Thats kinda all you need to know about this. Pay him. Rotate RBs in.

I do think Kelce is the better receiver. Doesn't need to live off play action, easily gets separation, has psychic link with Mahomes. But you pay Kittle more because he is younger and he'll have much better seasons ahead of him than Kelce as long as the Niners system stays in place.

RP-29 said:

He was drafted in the 5th round in 2017 out of Iowa. While every team missed on this guy, the Lions and Broncos should be especially ashamed...

• The Lions took Michael Roberts out of Toledo in the 4th who washed out immediately, then drafted a different Iowa TE 8th overall in 2019.
• The Broncos took an injured Jake Butt out of Michigan the pick before Kittle, then drafted a different Iowa TE 20th overall in 2019.

Click to expand...

cool, packers passed on kittle for what 4-5 rounds signed martellus bennett, then followed that up by signing jimmy graham. But yeah lets laugh at those guys....

RememberTheKoy said:

Thankfully it didn't smash the market too much. Eagles will have some interesting choices to make next year. They are going to have to do something with Ertz either extend him and spread his cap hit out to create some room next year or trade him. They have indicated they want to try to keep him but I'm not sure that will be the best idea with him set to be 31 when his current deal ends which also ends at the same time that Goedert's deal ends and one would think that for the time period of the next contract that Goedert will be the better TE.

Click to expand...

In Howie we trust

Sharkonabicycle said:

Toss up between him and Kelce IMO.

That being said, I understand the money as Kittle is arguably the best TE in the game (best YOUNG tight end) but this is a TON of fucking money for a tight end.

It can be argued that the best TE (or arguably, could also argue Reid is a WCO coach - heavily utilizes a tight end, and Mahomes is far better than Jimmy Garpoloalollo) in the league should be paid a truck load, but this is CERTAINLY not a bargain or home discount as the 49ers paid TOP dollar and an unprecedented amount for that position. Could argue the same for Mahomes, but TE is not a QB.

For that reason I can't give it anywhere near an A. I'd say a B GRADE is appropriate. Letting Kittle go didn't really seem to be an option, elite tight ends are rare to find, and Kittle and his agent knew it. I'm sure Kelce and Ertz are ECSTATIC right now.

Click to expand...

B is fair.

9ers didn't resign him at a bargain but I thought it was a pretty fair deal and both sides hit that sweet spot.

Kittle is a bit of a unique case at the TE position because it's just extremely rare to have a guy that's the best blocking tight end in the league also be a top shelf receiving threat as well.

It just allows you to do so much more on offense because it leaves defenses guessing if he's going to stay in and run or go out for a pass.

And that's even more valuable for the 9ers who want to run and do a lot on offense to keep defenses head spinning on what's going on.

Already the best TE in Niner history, sorry Bert and Vernon. Dude is a stud!