GEORGE KITTLE is expected to make a $20million demand from the San Francisco 49ers.
And it could push his team right to the edge of the salary cap.
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Kittle, 31, will enter the final year of his five-year, $75m contract with the 49ers.
The tight end has reiterated that he wants to finish his career with the Californian franchise.
And he therefore is keen to extend his current $15-a-year deal.
General manager John Lynch also wants the star to stay.
He said: “We want George to retire a Niner. He’s one of those guys. He’s a Niner through and through.”
However, 49ersSportsTalk report Kittle is asking for a whopping pay rise.
It is reported Kittle may command as much as $20m per year in a new contract.
That would certainly stretch the 49ers’ finances – even with the rising salary cap.
However, the fact that others in the locker room are on that kind of wage, the 49ers chiefs may well approve the request.
Right now, the 49ers have $34.36m leftover underneath the cap limit – increasing Kittle’s wage would take them significantly closer.
But there are various potential ways they could make it work.
One could see various contracts restructured – including the likes of Fred Warner and Nick Bosa.
Another way could be by extending Kittle’s contract with a back-loaded structure to soften the short-term hike in salary.
Thirdly, moving on the likes of Bosa or Brandon Aiyuk who are paid handsomely would free up cash.
Lastly, the 49ers may use incentives without increasing his wages by the full amount or even use the NFL Draft to sign cheaper talent in order to fund keeping Kittle in the red and gold.
Elsewhere, the 49ers are reportedly set to bump up prodigy Brock Purdy’s salary – and by a lot.
A new deal worth a whopping $50m to $55m could be in the works, which would put the quarterback on a pay packet level with some of the NFL’s top footballers.
Purdy said: “If there’s an opportunity to be able to get that done quick, that’d be great.
“Just so we can get back for phase one, get after it with the receivers and our team and just continue to grow.”
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