Agent: 49ers, TE Kittle far apart in negotiations

The San Francisco 49ers will have to make George Kittle more than just the NFL's highest-paid tight end if they want him to sign a long-term deal, his agent said. "I don't care about the tight end market," agent Jack Bechta told NFL Network. "I'm being paid to do a George Kittle deal."

Kittle, 26, is entering the final season of his rookie contract in 2020. A two-time Pro Bowl selection and a first-team All-Pro in 2019, Kittle caught 85 passes for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns last season for the NFC champions. Cleveland's Austin Hooper is currently the league's highest-paid tight end with a four-year, $42 million deal that includes $23 million guaranteed.

During the past two seasons with Atlanta, Hooper caught 146 passes for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns in 29 games. In the same span, Kittle tallied 173 receptions for 2,430 yards and 10 scores. Kittle broke the NFL single-season record for tight ends with 1,377 yards in 2018. Earlier this month, San Francisco general manager John Lynch said the team plans to lock Kittle up with a long contract.

"George isn't going anywhere," Lynch told 95.7 The Game. "We're going to work hard to try to get it done. I think they've got motivation just to really reset the tight end market, as do we, for him. It's just finding that sweet spot, where that is." The 49ers selected Kittle in the fifth round out of Iowa in the 2017 NFL Draft.

--Field Level Media

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