The San Francisco 49ers made George Kittle the highest-paid tight end in NFL history on Tuesday, but this deal could have not happened.
Dianna Russini reported on her podcast that there was an unnamed team interested in Kittle the night before the NFL draft last week. The 49ers even talked about trading him for a second-round pick. But, in the end, Kittle was destined to remain in San Francisco.
"I know there was a team that had a conversation with the 49ers the night before the draft about a possible trade for Kittle, a second-rounder they were looking to get in return," Russini said. "They turned it down, the 49ers decided to keep him and really move this situation forward by getting a deal done."
Kittle was entering the final year of his five-year deal with the 49ers, so an extension was expected to happen this offseason if the team wanted to keep the tight end on the roster. His four-year deal is worth $76.4 million with $40 million guaranteed. His annual salary of $19.1 million plus his total salary makes it the richest contract for a tight end ever.
Like Russini and Chase Daniel say above, it would be difficult to imagine Kittle in another NFL jersey that isn't the 49ers'. Luckily, no one will have to see that hypothetical come true, as Kittle will suit up for a ninth season with the 49ers in the fall.
