After allowing starting right tackle Mike McGlinchey, a five-year veteran, to enter free agency last season, the 49ers promoted Colton McKivitz as part of a cheap replacement strategy.
The performance of the first-year regular seems to have pleased the reigning NFC champions.
According to McKivitz’s agency, the 49ers have granted him a one-year extension that will keep him under contract through the 2025 season.
Last season, McKivitz started every 20 games for the 49ers. According to the agency, this arrangement will be worth $7MM, meaning that 65% of the contract is fully guaranteed.
The 49ers are expected to return their center and tackles this offseason, though it would not be shocking to see them make a larger investment at guard.Trent Williams revealed he will be returning for his fifteenth season, ending speculation about an early retirement.
In 2023, Jake Brendel was also re-signed by the 49ers. The 27-year-old McKivitz is expected to remain in the starting lineup for Kyle Shanahan’s squad.
It’s remarkable that McKivitz would remove himself from the free agency picture in 2025 without receiving further security. However, after spending his first three seasons as a backup and being selected in the fifth round, the West Virginia native has worked his way up.
This is comparable to Brendel’s journey, who was benched for the majority of his career until Alex Mack’s retirement led to a promotion.
The 49ers allowed McGlinchey to sign a contract with the Broncos that featured $52.5MM guaranteed, the third-highest amount among right tackles, while Williams was still on a high-end tackle deal.
Just prior to McGlinchey’s departure, McKivitz, who had been San Francisco’s swing tackle, had agreed to a two-year, $4.65MM contract extension with the 49ers.
McKivitz was rated as a mid-pack tackle by Pro Football Focus, who placed him 47th in the previous season.
McKivitz performed well on the ground for the whole of the season, showing better pass protection.In Super Bowl LVIII, Chris Jones applied critical overtime pressure on Brock Purdy against McKivitz.
However, guard Jon Feliciano defended the young right-hander by ostensibly laying the blame on his injury substitute, Spencer Burford.
While the San Francisco guard position remains uncertain, the 49ers are considering re-signing Feliciano and investigating a reunion with Laken Tomlinson. Meanwhile, this McKivitz contract secures the other front-row places.
