[Report] George Kittle Could Receive $13 Million Annually On Next Contract

San Francisco 49ers superstar George Kittle is entering the final season of his contract, and barring any surprises, he'll eventually become the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.

The two sides haven't been able to reach an agreement on an extension yet. Because Kittle wasn't a first-round pick, there's no fifth-year option on the four-year rookie deal he signed in 2017.

If (and when) Kittle signs an extension with the 49ers, what will the value of the deal be? That's remains to be seen, but during a recent mailbag segment, Matt Barrows of The Athletic said that he "spoke with someone in the know who" believes that Kittle could make $13 million annually on his next contract.

Barrows suggested that Kittle could skip training camp in an effort to secure the deal he wants, although it seems unlikely.

Per Spotrac.com, Cleveland Browns newcomer Austin Hooper - who signed a four-year deal worth $42 million in free agency - is the NFL's highest-paid tight end for 2020 at $11.5 million in total cash. Hunter Henry of the Los Angeles Chargers is second at $10.607 million, followed by Rob Gronkowski (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) at $9.25 million each.

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It won't be long until Kittle becomes the league's highest-paid tight end, however. Only Kelce can challenge Kittle for the notion of being the NFL's top tight end.

In the 2018 season, Kittle set the record for most receiving yards by a tight end with 1,377, even though starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo missed 13 games. Kittle followed it up with 1,053 receiving yards (on 85 receptions) and five touchdowns. He was instrumental in helping San Francisco reach Super Bowl LIV, where they fell to Kelce and Kansas City.

Kittle is the best player on the San Francisco offense, and there's no way they can risk letting him leave in free agency. It could take a while until an extension is finalized, but when all is said and done, expect Kittle to re-sign with the 49ers.

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