- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 468,678
- Reaction score
- 45
George Kittle took a significant step toward retiring in San Francisco after signing a four-year contract extension that will keep him with the 49ers through the 2029 season. Kittle told the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast that the deal was worth $76.4 million.
The extension includes $40 million in guaranteed money and will impact the Ravens' tight end duo of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely.
With the news official, here's how the deal impacts Baltimore's tandem.
The extension includes $40 million in guaranteed money. After previously restructuring his old extension, Kittle was heading into this season with a $22 million cap hit and three void years to follow. The move created $10,596,000 in cap space. If Baltimore restructured Andrews, the franchise could create almost $5 million. Andrews signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the Ravens on September 6, 2021. The franchise has said everything about Andrews's presence and took steps to ensure his place on the roster, picking up and paying out a $4 million option bonus.
The $19.1 million per year pact leapfrogs Kittle over the Arizona Cardinals' Trey McBride ($19 million) as the league's new highest-paid tight end.
Kittle is still arguably the league's best tight end heading into his age-32 season. A six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro through eight NFL seasons, Kittle has amassed 7,380 yards and 45 touchdowns on 538 receptions as a Niner. He was at his best during the 2024 campaign while catching a career-high 83% of his targets. Kittle's 78 receptions marked his most since 2019, while his 1,106 receiving yards topped all seasons outside of 2018. His eight touchdowns were the second-most of his career. Kittle was PFF's best-ranked tight end last season. His overall grade of 92.1 bested McBride's second-place 86.8 grade by 5.3 points. PFF also graded him as the position group's top receiver (92.4) and second-best run blocker (70.8).
Even with the rough ending, Andrews is still elite. In 2024, he recorded a career-best 11 touchdowns and 55 receptions. The expectation is that Isaiah Likely will eventually leapfrog Andrews for the starter's spot at tight end, and 2025 could be that year. Likely caught four of five targets for 73 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' 27-25 divisional-round loss to the Bills. Likely recorded 126 receiving yards during the playoffs, and he had a career-best 42 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns. Likely will play out the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, but Baltimore will have a decision to make.
Andrews became the franchise leader in total touchdowns in 2024, surpassing running back Jamal Lewis. Despite this, Andrews' future with the Ravens has been heavily debated this offseason after his season ended with a disastrous fumble and two-point conversion drop in the team's divisional playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. Considering this is the final year of Andrews' contract and budding star tight end Isaiah Likely is also due for a new contract next offseason, it makes sense to consider trading the 29-year-old tight end. With tight ends being such a focal point of the Ravens' offense, and Andrews and Likely in particular being favorite targets in the passing game for quarterback Lamar Jackson, Baltimore must find a way to keep one of the two for the foreseeable future.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: How George Kittle's new contract with 49ers impacts Ravens tight ends
Continue reading...
The extension includes $40 million in guaranteed money and will impact the Ravens' tight end duo of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely.
With the news official, here's how the deal impacts Baltimore's tandem.
The details are in the numbers
The extension includes $40 million in guaranteed money. After previously restructuring his old extension, Kittle was heading into this season with a $22 million cap hit and three void years to follow. The move created $10,596,000 in cap space. If Baltimore restructured Andrews, the franchise could create almost $5 million. Andrews signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the Ravens on September 6, 2021. The franchise has said everything about Andrews's presence and took steps to ensure his place on the roster, picking up and paying out a $4 million option bonus.
The highest paid list
The $19.1 million per year pact leapfrogs Kittle over the Arizona Cardinals' Trey McBride ($19 million) as the league's new highest-paid tight end.
You must be registered for see images attach
Comparing the players
Kittle is still arguably the league's best tight end heading into his age-32 season. A six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro through eight NFL seasons, Kittle has amassed 7,380 yards and 45 touchdowns on 538 receptions as a Niner. He was at his best during the 2024 campaign while catching a career-high 83% of his targets. Kittle's 78 receptions marked his most since 2019, while his 1,106 receiving yards topped all seasons outside of 2018. His eight touchdowns were the second-most of his career. Kittle was PFF's best-ranked tight end last season. His overall grade of 92.1 bested McBride's second-place 86.8 grade by 5.3 points. PFF also graded him as the position group's top receiver (92.4) and second-best run blocker (70.8).
Even with the rough ending, Andrews is still elite. In 2024, he recorded a career-best 11 touchdowns and 55 receptions. The expectation is that Isaiah Likely will eventually leapfrog Andrews for the starter's spot at tight end, and 2025 could be that year. Likely caught four of five targets for 73 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' 27-25 divisional-round loss to the Bills. Likely recorded 126 receiving yards during the playoffs, and he had a career-best 42 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns. Likely will play out the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, but Baltimore will have a decision to make.
Final analysis
Andrews became the franchise leader in total touchdowns in 2024, surpassing running back Jamal Lewis. Despite this, Andrews' future with the Ravens has been heavily debated this offseason after his season ended with a disastrous fumble and two-point conversion drop in the team's divisional playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. Considering this is the final year of Andrews' contract and budding star tight end Isaiah Likely is also due for a new contract next offseason, it makes sense to consider trading the 29-year-old tight end. With tight ends being such a focal point of the Ravens' offense, and Andrews and Likely in particular being favorite targets in the passing game for quarterback Lamar Jackson, Baltimore must find a way to keep one of the two for the foreseeable future.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: How George Kittle's new contract with 49ers impacts Ravens tight ends
Continue reading...
