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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The agent goes on the explain that the tight end market hasn't shifted much in recent years, the values are outdated, and that isn't fair to the players.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.
On Wednesday, Chat Sports contributor Chase Senior reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers were "aggressively pursuing" San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. He further stated that the Steelers are confident they can finalize a deal for the star player.
REPORTS: The Pittsburgh Steelers are aggressively pursuing a Brandon Aiyuk trade and the Steelers would be "surprised" if they don't land Aiyuk. Of note: Pittsburgh has the 20th overall pick. The Niners could look at that as equal value for Aiyuk if they can't get a deal done.…
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
