49ers

49ers Hoping To Get Extensions Worked Out With Mike Iupati & Michael Crabtree

July 28, 2014

49ers GM Trent Baalke told reporters on Monday that they try to sign contract-year G Mike Iupati and WR Michael Crabtree to extensions this year.

“We’re going to try,” Baalke said, via Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. “We’re going to work at it, certainly. But at some point, you got to stop negotiating deals and let these guys concentrate on playing football. I don’t know what point that is. We’ll make that determination as a club.

However, Maiocco reports that the 49ers are not believed to be “remotely close” to new contracts for either player.

“But we’re certainly going to work toward that goal. Those are two very good football players, and guys we’d love to have in this organization for the long term.”

San Francisco has already got extensions worked out with QB Colin Kaepernick and LT Joe Staley this offseason, but it will be hard to fit huge extensions for Crabtree and Iupati into their cap situation.

There has been speculation that San Francisco could allow Iupati to test the open market next year given that they do have some solid young players who could possibly develop into starting-caliber players in the coming years.

Crabtree is without a doubt the team’s most talented receiver. Jordy Nelson just landed a deal that will pay him just shy of $10 million per season, which isn’t far off from the $10 million salary Brandon Marshall secured from the Bears.

It seems likely that Crabtree will be looking for something in that neighborhood.

Crabtree, 26, is entering the final year of his six-year, $32 million rookie contract and is set to make $3.5 million for the 2014 season.

Last year, Crabtree was limited to playing just five regular season games due to an Achilles injury he suffered. He finished the year with 19 receptions for 284 yards receiving and a touchdown.

In 2013, Iupati was rated as the No. 35 guard in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. He held up pretty well as a run-blocker, but he was just as bad when it came to pass-protecting.