49ers vs. Kittle Update Takes A Troublesome Turn

The George Kittle holdout has started. … and depending on the coming days and weeks?

It is feared it’s going to be a long and bitter summer for him and the San Francisco 49ers.

As the 49ers begin Phase I of their voluntary workouts, Kittle has made it clear he will not attend while his contract extension is being negotiated.

On Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed the same as Kittle was noticeably absent from the first day of the 49ers workouts.

Kittle is in the last year of a five-year, $75 million contract. He is scheduled to have a cap number of $22.026 million for 2025. He is expected to earn a base salary of $14 million in 2025. Kittle has a voidable year in 2026.

However, Kittle and the 49ers are reportedly “far apart” on their contract talks, which prompted Kittle to maintain his position to stay away from the team in the interim.

Several draft experts have the 49ers playing hardball with Kittle and potentially trading him to another team for a higher draft pick in the first round to grab his replacement. The 49ers are going toward a youth movement and are looking to keep their cap numbers down on veteran players.

Kittle has six Pro Bowls and four 1,000-yard receiving seasons to his credit, and is considered among the NFL's top tight ends. Kittle is a key ingredient to the 49ers trying to prove their 6-11 season from a year ago was an aberration.

Last season Kittle caught 78 passes for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns. For his career, Kittle has 538 reception for 7,380 yards and 45 touchdowns.