Jonathan Jones believes George Kittle will ultimately remain a 49er but cautioned that the veteran could mimic past San Francisco stars by letting negotiations linger deep into camp. Kittle, now 30, has watched four tight ends reset the market since his 2020 extension and is seeking to leapfrog Travis Kelce’s $14.3 million AAV. The front office chose not to pre‑empt Trey McBride’s record deal, and Jones noted the organization’s history—Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa both inked late‑August contracts—as evidence that talks could drag. While Jones does not foresee a trade, he sees "real hold‑in" potential that could keep Kittle out of mandatory minicamp. Season‑long drafters should bake a small training‑camp absence into their risk profile.