San Francisco 49ers tackle Colton McKivitz's performance in the 2023 season could be described as inconsistent at best. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed a team-high 59 pressures and nine sacks, figures that don't warrant celebration. McKivitz's overall grade of 65.2 ranked sixth among the 49ers' offensive linemen, or fifth if we throw out Matt Pryor, who only played 42 snaps in 2023.
So, why did the 49ers extend McKivitz's contract for another year, keeping him under contract through the 2025 season? There may be some salary-cap space gains. As far as his play goes, despite his uneven season, the 49ers evidently see potential in the 27-year-old.
It's also worth noting that this move doesn't necessarily mean the 49ers won't draft a tackle next month.
McKivitz started all 17 games in 2023, filling in for Mike McGlinchey, who departed the previous year after signing a lucrative contract with the Denver Broncos. McGlinchey didn't fare much better last season, allowing a career-high 49 pressures and tying his career-high of six sacks allowed. His overall Pro Football Focus grade of 67.5 was only marginally better than McKivitz's. However, his run-blocking grade of 74.8 outshined McKivitz's 66.3 mark.
Three of McKivitz's sacks allowed came in Week 1 while facing Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt, a challenging assignment for any offensive lineman. Nonetheless, the 49ers coaching staff noted progress throughout the season and want to afford McKivitz more time to prove he can develop into a reliable anchor along the offensive line.
"Colt's really doing a good job this year," run game coordinator and offensive line coach Chris Foerster said ahead of the 49ers' regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams. "I mean, obviously, there's always room for improvement, and he's getting better every week. He works really hard. He's got a great attitude about getting better and Colt's got great responses.
"I'll ask him, 'Hey Colt, what happened on that play?' And Colt looks at me and says, 'Yeah, I didn't do what you've told me to do a thousand times.' I said, 'Okay, what are we going to do about it?' So, the point is he understands what he needs to do and how he needs to do it to fix it. And that's not like, oh, Coach knows everything, but he's like, 'Yeah, I get it. I didn't do what I'm supposed to do, and I have to do it.'"
Foerster appreciates McKivitz's attitude and willingness to accept criticism. McKivitz is eager to put in the work required to improve. The coach acknowledged that the plan to handle McKivitz in Week 1 against Watt didn't go exactly as intended, leading to some struggles against one of the league's premier pass rushers.
"So, Colt had to hold up on some one-on-ones, and he lost some and gave the three sacks the first game," Foerster shared. "And I had to be sure that he understood that if we put anybody out there and give him that many one-on-ones against that player, he was going to get beat. And some, we could've got the ball out. Others, the guy beat him and got a sack.
"And so, I had to make sure he is okay coming out of that. And he was, but some guys, it's hard. The bright lights come on, and you're like, you don't want to be the guy that everybody sees, oh crap, that was the sack that cost us the drive, the game, whatever it is. And Colton's got that tough mindset to get himself through it."