In the days after the Super Bowl, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle was asked about his contract situation as he packed up his locker and got ready to head into the offseason. He, of course, didn't comment and directed all questions toward his agent, Jack Bechta.
So, this week, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area went to Bechta, who joined his 49ers Insider Podcast. Naturally, the conversation led to his client's contract situation.
On Friday, Michael Silver reported on NFL Network that San Francisco and Kittle's agent aren't close when it comes to the contract talks, and that nothing has really moved since the weeks following the Super Bowl.
"I don't think the tight end market is cutting it," Silver said. "I've been talking a lot to his agent, Jack Bechta, over the past few months, and he has consistently said, 'I don't care about the tight end market. I'm being paid to do a George Kittle deal.'"
That is reportedly one of the issues surrounding the delay in getting a deal done. Yes, Kittle is a tight end, but for the Niners, he is so much more. You can't just look at the top of the position market to determine Kittle's value. The 49ers' All-Pro player isn't just expected to become the highest-paid tight end in the league; he will significantly reset the market.
"Right now, there is not comp for George," Bechta told Maiocco. "He's unique. He's a unicorn. He's one of a kind. And that's a problem for both sides."
Bechta corrected his choice of words.
"Not a problem," he added. "It's a challenge."
The agent goes on the explain that the tight end market hasn't shifted much in recent years, the values are outdated, and that isn't fair to the players.
Understandably, Bechta didn't want to go into too much detail about the negotiations and where the two sides stand while speaking with Maiocco. He did, however, share that he trusts the process and the Niners' desire to get a deal done.
"As a rule, and as a long-time agent, I just kind of have a policy that I don't comment on ongoing negotiations," Bechta said. "I don't think it's ever fair to the player or the other side. But I will say this: George is a very special player. He needs a special contract. And those things take time from both sides. It's a nice problem for everybody to have.
"At the end of the day, I trust the Niners will do the right thing, and take good care of George, as they should. I trust the process, and I won't comment where we're at or numbers or anything like that, but hopefully, it gets done."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Bechta below.