SANTA CLARA — Right tackle Colton McKivitz’s first full season as a 49ers’ starter earned him a coveted award among their offensive linemen, and now it also has earned him an extension.
McKivitz agreed to a one-year, $7 million extension with 65-percent of that fully guaranteed, according to his agency, AMDG Sports.
While next week’s free agency might still lure more offensive linemen to the reigning NFC champions, the 49ers have been pro-McKivitz for over a year, and he acquitted himself well last season as Mike McGlinchey’s replacement at right tackle.
McKivitz had one year remaining on his contract, at a 2024 base salary of $2.5 million. Essentially, the 49ers have him locked in as a starter the next two seasons at right tackle. He has experience at left tackle, too, and that is something to consider when All-Pro Trent Williams decides to retire, presumably in future years beyond this coming season.
After yielding three sacks to T.J. Watt in the season-opening win at Pittsburgh, McKivitz responded so well he won the team’s Bobb McKivitiz Award among their offensive linemen, and he became an alternate for the Pro Bowl games.
The 49ers have yet to confirm McKivitz’s deal or any other contract moves ahead of Wednesday’s start to the new league year, and the first day that free agents can be signed from other teams. Negotiations with free agents can begin Monday at 9 a.m. PT.
Other notable 49ers who are entering the final year of their contracts and could be in line for an extension: wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk ($14.1 million salary in 2024), linebacker Dre Greenlaw ($8.1 million), safety Talanoa Hufanga ($4.9 million), left guard Aaron Banks ($3.1 million), and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir ($3.1 million).
The only offensive starter slated to hit free agency is Jon Feliciano, who took over at right guard in place of Spencer Burford as the 49ers clinched the NFC West, the No. 1 seed and the NFC crown before falling in Super Bowl LVIII. Feliciano came to McKivitz’s defense after that defeat, explaining on Twitter/X that McKivitz was not to blame for a third-down breakdown in pass protection in overtime, but rather it was Burford who missed his assignment while filling in for the injured Feliciano.
McKivitz was a 2020 fifth-round selection out of West Virginia. He got released after the 2021 training camp but battled his way back into the 49ers’ good graces as a replacement starter in 2021 and ’22 before starting every game last season.
Prior to an impressive playoff run, McKivitz drew praise from coach Kyle Shanahan: “He’s played like a really good right tackle. If we didn’t think he was going to be a really good right tackle, we would’ve gone and tried to get someone we thought would be a really good right tackle. He’s really earned our trust here. … I know that first game, you get sacks and that’s going to be what jumps out. But half those were my fault. I can’t call some of those passes and put him on T.J. Watt at that time in the game, but Colton would never say that. Colton battles and isn’t worried about any of that stuff. I think he’s become one of the more confident players on our team. I think it shows over in the games.”
