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Kittle's agent doesn't believe the existing tight end market is relevant to his client's next contract, ESPN.com reports.
The agent, Jack Bechta, makes a reasonable point, considering Kittle's combination of receiving and blocking skill hasn't been seen in the NFL since Rob Gronkowski's prime. Travis Kelce is the closest thing to a fair comparison right now, but he signed a five-year, $46.8 million extension four years ago and has since become one of the top bargains in the league for his team. Entering the fourth and final season his his rookie contract, Kittle can make a case for the same type of money that's recently been paid to No. 1 WRs and top pass rushers -- around $20 million per year. The 49ers do have some leverage in the form of franchise tags, an option that likely would cost $10-11 million for 2021 and $12-13 million for 2022. Of course, it's also an option that likely would led to a holdout, and potentially hostility between player and team.
