Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network are reporting from Miami ahead of Super Bowl LIV and have some San Francisco 49ers-related news. It has to do with contract extensions. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner may not be the only one in the pipeline for a new deal.
George Kittle becomes eligible for a contract extension after Sunday's game, and the 49ers could move quickly to ensure they retain their All-Pro and Pro Bowl tight end for the foreseeable future. Kittle is expected to top the tight end market.
"I am told by sources informed of the negotiations that are to come, that they're going to happen pretty soon," Garafolo reports. "As soon as after the game. The Niners are going to make this a priority; try to get an extension done with Kittle quickly.
"The top of the tight end market? About $10 million per year. He's going to blow the lid off of that. I would think you're looking at $13 million as the floor on this one."
Jimmy Graham of the Green Bay Packers is currently the league's highest-paid tight end with that $10 million per year average salary, according to Spotrac. Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, also playing in Sunday's game, earns an average of about $9.4 million per year.
But there's more, according to Rapport. The 49ers are also looking to lock up their head coach and general manager tandem for the foreseeable future. They have transformed one of the NFL's most talent-deprived rosters into a championship contender.
"A couple of more guys who are in line for extensions: John Lynch, the general manager, and Kyle Shanahan, the head coach," Rapoport reports. "This duo has helped lead this team back from the abyss. Everyone thought Jed York was crazy to give these two guys six-year deals. Now, they are in the Super Bowl.
"They have clearly outsized those deals. I am told they are going to work to an extension this offseason."
From the @NFLGameDay #SuperBowlLIV Notebook segment with me and @RapSheet: The #49ers will try to finalize a big-money contract extension with TE George Kittle soon and will work to extend coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch as well. pic.twitter.com/mPACiufhix
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 2, 2020
