George Kittle Agrees to Extension with 49ers, Making Him Highest-Paid Tight End

George Kittle and the 49ers have agreed to a five-year, $75 million extension, making him the highest paid tight end in the NFL.

George Kittle is widely regarded as the best all-around tight end in the NFL, and now he's going to be paid like it.

The 49ers and Kittle have agreed to a five-year, $75 million extension, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The team announced the length of the contract on Friday, but did not reveal the terms. 

More than half of the deal is reportedly made up of guarantees, with $30 million guaranteed at signing, $40 million guaranteed for injury and an $18 million signing bonus.

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"We are thrilled to have reached an agreement with George to keep him in red and gold well into the future," said general manager John Lynch. "George was part of our first draft class and represents as well as anyone the core values we covet in the players we build our team with. His talent and spirit are unique, his will and grit contagious and his production undeniable. We can't wait to see what the future holds for George and our team with him a part of it."

Kittle, who was entering the final year of his rookie contract, was scheduled to make just over $2.1 million during the 2020 season. 

Just a couple weeks ago, the NFL Network's Michael Silver reported that there was a "pretty significant disconnect philosophically" between the two sides. Kittle appeared to view himself as more than just a tight end due to his superior blocking and receiving skills, while the 49ers likely took a more traditional stance.

Former Falcons tight end Austin Hooper signed a four-year, $44 million deal with Cleveland in March that set a record for average annual value. Rob Gronkowski's six-year, $54 million contract he signed with New England in 2012 was the largest contract in total value for a tight end before Kittle's deal. 

With Kittle's extension shattering both marks, the reigning NFC champions have locked up the most versatile piece of their offense.