George Kittle Trade Offer Reportedly Turned Down by 49ers Before 2025 NFL Draft

Before George Kittle signed a new deal with the San Francisco 49ers, at least one team tried to trade for the All-Pro tight end.

On the latest episode of the Scoop City podcast, The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported the Niners were offered a second-round draft pick from an unnamed team for the 31-year-old that was turned down.

Kittle signed a four-year, $76.4 million extension with the 49ers on Tuesday that made him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.

There were rumblings about a potential issue between the player and the 49ers last week when he didn't report to OTAs, though Kittle dismissed a report from Russini that his absence was related to his contract.

Given how soon after the draft Kittle got his extension done, it would at least suggest any potential negotiation holdups were being overblown.

It is interesting to think about which team might have made the trade offer for the six-time Pro Bowler. The Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts selected tight ends in the first round. The New York Jets used their second-round pick on Mason Taylor.

The Bears, in particular, would have made for an interesting landing spot just because of what Kittle could bring to an offense with Ben Johnson calling plays and surrounded by a skill-position group that includes DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.

However, on the heels of losing 17 players in free agency, the 49ers really couldn't withstand trading their best offensive player from last season on top of it.

Kittle has been a team captain in each of the last seven seasons and is still arguably the best all-around tight end in the NFL. He finished 2024 with 78 receptions for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games.