The 49ers Give Colton McKivitz a One Year $7 Million Extension
This is not the news you wanted to read.
The 49ers have given Colton McKivitz a one-year $7 million extension, according to Adam Schefter, which means he most likely will be their starting right tackle through 2025. My sincerest condolences to anyone who hoped the 49ers might draft an offensive tackle in Round 1 this year.
Nothing against McKivitz -- he's a tough guy and a good story. A former fifth-round pick who spent time on the practice squad and now is a multi millionaire. Good for him.
It's just that McKivitz gave up a whopping 13 sacks last season. And when the 49ers tried to run behind him, they were unsuccessful, which is why they ran away from McKivitz so often.
So why did they extend his contract?
Simple -- they don't value the right tackle position. The only position they truly value on the offensive line is left tackle. Everywhere else, the 49ers try to save as much money as they can. And right tackle has become an extremely expensive position. Good ones get picked in Round 1 and then go on to make more than $17 million per season -- just look at Mike McGlinchey, and he isn't even good.
So McKivitz still is a bargain for the 49ers, and he's good enough for them. He didn't ruin their season. Wasn't the main reason they lost the Super Bowl. Kyle Shanahan is more than happy to work around a mediocre right tackle if it means he can load up his defensive line, which he does every offseason.
Expect the 49ers to spend their first-round pick on yet another defensive lineman. It's what they do.
