How George Kittle contract extension impacts Brock Purdy

The San Francisco 49ers made George Kittle the highest-paid tight finish in NFL historical past Tuesday.

The 49ers signed Kittle to a four-year deal price as much as $76.4 million with $40 million in ensures, per NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport. The deal carries a median annual worth (AAV) of $19.1 million, surpassing the earlier file of $19 million set by Trey McBride earlier in the course of the 2025 offseason.

Kittle has been an important a part of San Francisco’s offense since being a fifth-round choice within the 2017 NFL Draft. The 31-year-old posted 78 catches for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024, turning into simply the fifth tight finish in NFL historical past to file four-plus 1,000-yard seasons. The others have been Tony Gonzalez, Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce and Jason Witten.

Given Kittle’s historical past of high-end manufacturing, it is little shock the crew determined to maintain him. Locking him up past the 2025 NFL season ought to now free the crew as much as deal with signing their subsequent key offensive participant to a long-term extension: quarterback Brock Purdy.

How George Kittle‘s contract extension might influence Brock Purdy

Purdy would look like the clear-cut subsequent in line for a profitable extension for the 49ers. The 25-year-old quarterback is ready to be a free agent following the 2025 NFL season, so there may be some urgency to get a deal finished with the 2023 Professional Bowler and keep away from slapping him with the franchise tag.

Earlier than Kittle’s extension, he was additionally set to be a free agent following the 2025 NFL season. One might have argued he and Purdy have been of equal significance to San Francisco’s offensive success regardless of Purdy taking part in the extra useful place.

However with Kittle now on a long-term deal, the 49ers do not have one other pending free agent with the identical pedigree as Purdy. Positive, Jauan Jennings and Colton McKivitz are two starters who will see their contracts expire following the season, however neither is sort of as essential to San Francisco’s offensive success as its 25-year-old quarterback.

Not solely is Purdy now the clear-cut precedence, however the 49ers must also have a greater concept of what their wage cap will appear like in 2026 and past. They’ve cost-certainty with Kittle, who not has void years – an accounting mechanism utilized by NFL groups to defray the cap hit of a participant by prorating it over years he isn’t formally on the crew’s roster – on his contract that run from the 2026-2028 seasons.

Kittle’s new deal ought to assist San Francisco higher perceive the sources it has long-term, which might inform it how precisely to construction Purdy’s eventual extension. That will maximize the crew’s monetary flexibility and hold its Tremendous Bowl window open.

With that in thoughts, the trail to a Purdy extension appears clearer than ever, particularly with Purdy seeming keen to barter a deal. He reported to the primary (and voluntary) part of 49ers OTAs regardless of not having a brand new contract, which purchased him some goodwill with 49ers common supervisor John Lynch.

“That is Brock,” Lynch mentioned, addressing Purdy’s OTA look amid contract negotiations. “He is a professional. Brock’s very clear-minded and never going to let different folks affect what he must be doing. And that is one factor all people I believe respects about Brock. He is finished loads for this group and we’re grateful for him and searching ahead to having him as our quarterback for a very long time.”

As such, it looks like it would simply be a matter of time earlier than a deal is struck between Purdy and the 49ers.

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