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Major George Kittle News Drops During 2025 NFL Draft
The San Francisco 49ers have a lot on their plate as they negotiate an expensive long-term contract extension for star quarterback Brock Purdy.
But Purdy isn’t the only 49ers offensive star seeking a new contract.
Fresh off his sixth Pro Bowl season in which he caught 78 passes for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns, tight end George Kittle is entering the final season of his five-year, $75 million contract.
The 31-year-old pass-catcher turned some heads earlier this week when he no-showed the start of San Francisco’s OTAs, which many attributed to him holding out while he and the team negotiate a new deal.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini even speculated as much, stating Kittle’s absence was likely contract related.
“Kittle wants to become the NFL’s highest-paid tight end, per a league source,” she said. “Trey McBride reset the market earlier this offseason; the 25-year-old inked a four-year, $76 million pact with Arizona.
“San Francisco’s offers to Kittle have thus far been rebuffed, and the two sides remain apart as Kittle, who will be 32 in October, enters the final year of his deal. I’m told no trade request has been made, but other teams are keeping an eye on it.”
And while the 49ers have reportedly received multiple trade inquiries about the All-Pro TE, the team has no interest in moving the Iowa alum.
In fact, before Day 3 of the 2025 NFL draft started on Saturday, Russini reported that Kittle finally showed up to the 49ers’ facility — a sign that the two sides have made some progress in their talks.
“Negotiations between TE George Kittle and the San Francisco 49ers continue to move in a good direction with Kittle showing up for voluntary OTAs, per sources,” Russini wrote. “Teams did inquire with the 49ers about a possible trade, but they are expected to keep him.”
Spotrac lists Kittle’s market value at $16.3 million per season, which would make him the fourth-highest paid player at his position behind McBride ($19 million per year), Kansas City’s Travis Kelce ($17.25 million per year), and Minnesota’s T.J. Hockenson ($16.5 million per year).
Kittle has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, totaling 143 catches and 14 touchdowns during that stretch.