George Kittle’s Extension: Smart Move or Risky Bet for 49ers?

Today is a day of anniversary for the 49ers.

They are aloof active George Kittle to a four-year, $76.4 actor addendum through 2029 according to reports. This addendum agency Kittle best acceptable will ability his career with the 49ers which would be an amazing ability for him.

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But the 49ers are a business, not a family. And Joe Montana didn’t alike ability his career with the 49ers — they traded him for a first-round pick. Thanks for the memories, Joe. Enjoy Kansas City.

If the 49ers had traded Kittle this offseason afore extending his deal, they ability accept been able to get a backward first-rounder for him. Now, he about is untradeable for the abutting two years. Which agency he needs to break advantageous and abide to aftermath 1,000-yard seasons.

And Kittle about never is healthy. In 2024, he played through a burst rib for best of the season. And in 2023, he played through a amount beef abrasion that appropriate anaplastic afterwards the Super Bowl.

Eventually, Kittle won’t be able to accumulate arena through these austere injuries. He will about-face 32 in October. And now that the 49ers aloof gave him $35 actor affirmed at signing, he has no banking allurement to comedy hurt. Of course, Kittle loves arena football alike back he’s injured. But eventually, his anatomy will abort him.

Last year, the 49ers gave extensions to Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams, two earlier players, and they went on to absence a accumulated 20 amateur in 2024.

Clearly, the 49ers feel Kittle will be different.

We’ll see.