49ers GM John Lynch Confident They’ll Sign George Kittle To New Deal “In Due Time”

49ers GM John Lynch tells Matt Maiocco of NBC Bay Area that he’s confident they’ll be able to get a long-term extension in place for TE George Kittle.

“George is certainly a priority,” Lynch said. “I don’t anticipate – you never say never – but George is going to be Niner. We think too highly of him. I think he loves the (environment).

“We got to find the right deal and we’ll continue working towards that. We’re not going to put any timetable on that. But George is certainly is a priority for us. We love everything about him. We love everything he brings to the Niners.”

Kittle is expected to reset the tight end market with his next deal. 

Lynch admits that there are some challenges with this contract, but both parties are motivated to get an agreement finalized “in due time.”

“Those are some of the challenges, I think,” Lynch said. “We understand that. And he understands that.

“These things aren’t easy. Oftentimes, they’re complex, but they’re doable. I know there’s motivation on both sides. And so I’m very confident in due time, we’ll get that done.”

Mike Garafolo previously reported that Kittle will “blow the lid off” the top of the tight end market and $13 million per season could end up being the floor for negotiations. 

Kittle, 26, is a former fifth-round pick of the 49ers out of Iowa back in 2017. He’s currently in the third year of his four-year, $2.69 million contract and made a base salary of $645,000 for the 2019 season.

Kittle will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2020 and stands to make a base salary of $735,000.

In 2019, Kittle appeared in 14 games for the 49ers and caught 85 passes for 1,053 yards receiving and five touchdowns.