George Kittle, the All-Pro tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, is well-acquainted with the intricacies of NFL contract negotiations, having gone through the process himself in 2020. Currently, the focus is on the contract discussions between the 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. Despite being under contract and set to earn $14.124 million from a fifth-year option, Aiyuk is pushing for a deal that reflects his value as one of the NFL’s top receivers.
With training camp for veterans less than two weeks away, fans are hoping for a swift resolution to the stalemate.
Kittle addressed Aiyuk’s contract situation on the “Rich Eisen Show,” emphasizing his expectation that Aiyuk will remain with the team in 2024. Reflecting on his own experience and that of his teammates, Kittle noted, “I didn’t get signed until the second week of training camp, [WR] Deebo [Samuel] was pretty late [in 2022], [DE Nick] Bosa was [right before] the first week of [last] season. That’s just how business is done out there.”
Kittle admitted he avoids discussions about ongoing negotiations to remain uninformed and impartial but expressed no concern about Aiyuk’s status. He praised Aiyuk, calling him “a phenomenal football player” and “one of the most complete receivers” he’s ever played with, confidently assuming Aiyuk will be on the team by the season’s start.
Last month, Aiyuk’s absence from the 49ers’ mandatory minicamp resulted in fines totaling approximately $100,000. This amount will increase if he decides to skip training camp as a negotiation strategy. The 49ers’ veterans, including Aiyuk, are required to report for training camp on July 23, with rookies arriving the week before.
