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00:00Welcome to our number two live right here on this Tuesday morning bright and early on the early line on Sports Grid.
00:07He is Donnie Wright's side. I am Ben Stevens. A lot to get into here in our second hour.
00:13Some NFL headlines following the 2025 NFL draft.
00:17The early portions of the full NFL offseason where the football calendar kind of quiets down for a few weeks
00:24before we get into more of those offseason programs.
00:27But we did see some big news overnight.
00:30Our guy Keith Stewart will join us up next for a preview of a new week on the PGA Tour.
00:35And then we've got four NBA playoff games on this Tuesday.
00:39A quadruple header to break down and get you ready for.
00:43And in three of those four spots all out in the Eastern Conference,
00:47a couple of series can be won and clinched on this Tuesday night.
00:52And then our most competitive opening round set in the night cap back in Denver at altitude between the Nuggets and the Clippers.
01:00A lot to get ready for DRS in this second hour.
01:03And a standing ovation for the NBA, at least for a couple things that they did right today.
01:07How about a 6 o'clock playoff game?
01:08Followed by a 7.30 playoff game.
01:10Followed by an 8.30 playoff game.
01:12Genius this year.
01:13The only difference is we could have popped that Clippers-Nuggets game at 9.30.
01:17Would have been a perfect four-game stretch.
01:19But I do love the fact that we are having three games on in the prime time that everybody can watch and enjoy.
01:25Or at least catch most of those games.
01:26Good job by the NBA.
01:28That's the way you're supposed to do it.
01:29If Donnie Wright's side is highlighting the positives of your scheduling, you know you have done a good job.
01:35Especially if that is the association, seeing as Donnie might just be a few days away from never watching a single minute of NBA regular season action again.
01:46DRS, let's go to the National Football League.
01:48The big headlines around the NFL and some big news early this morning.
01:53George Kittle has signed a long-term contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers.
01:59Four years, $76.4 million.
02:02That is exactly $19.1 million on annual average value, making Kittle the highest-paid tight end in National Football League history.
02:12Last year in year number eight around the NFL, more than 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time in his career.
02:20For the 49ers this offseason, two big paydays had to happen.
02:24Brock Purdy, who we'll discuss in just a little bit, and their veteran tight end and one of the leaders of the franchise in George Kittle.
02:31The deal is now done.
02:34Deservedly so, too.
02:35I mean, the guy's been a really good football player since coming to San Francisco.
02:38Now, he has caught up with the injury bug a bit, and also, this isn't a guy in the middle of his prime.
02:43It's more of the back end.
02:44Like, in the NFL, like, hey, man, we're going to tie up that tight end, 26, 27 years old.
02:48George Kittle now will be into his 30s here, but also, production is key.
02:52And if you expect to be in that Super Bowl window, you want to pay your guys, keep them happy,
02:56and hopefully get those good performances out.
02:58The one thing we're going to worry about in just a few moments is who that quarterback's going to be
03:01and how much money that that quarterback is going to cost.
03:03But I don't think anybody looks at George Kittle and says, what a crazy deal.
03:07Understand this again.
03:08Most people say, well, how is he the highest paid tight end in football?
03:10I don't think he's the best.
03:11It's just the time that your actual contract comes up.
03:15He's not really resetting the market.
03:16He's just getting market value right now.
03:18And the next guy to come along who's a really good young tight end will break through George Kittle's numbers as well.
03:22He deserves to be paid.
03:23He's a good football player.
03:24Have no issues with this from the 49ers.
03:26Yeah, DRS, speaking of those young tight ends on their way up, it was Trey McBride earlier this offseason
03:33with the Cardinals signing a four-year, $76 million deal, 19 mil per season, highest paid tight end ever.
03:41George Kittle and the Niners with an additional $400,000.
03:45And what that means are $4 million, whatever I am saying.
03:49No, $400,000.
03:50Yeah, $19.1 million per year.
03:53It makes Kittle the highest paid tight end.
03:56Again, last season for Kittle, a Pro Bowl year.
03:59Played in 15 games.
04:00Has played in at least 14 in four consecutive years for San Fran, a Pro Bowler in all four of those seasons.
04:08Last season, 1,106 receiving yards, eight receiving touchdowns.
04:13Averaging better than 14 yards per reception.
04:16That was best among all tight ends around the NFL a season ago.
04:20He is still productive even at the end of his eighth NFL season, embarking on year number nine.
04:27He has stated it as a goal to play the entirety of his career with the Niners.
04:32He'll have a great opportunity with this four-year extension to do exactly that.
04:37In DRS, he is historic.
04:39We have seen, of course, the tight end position in the National Football League take on such a large and productive role in the last 20 years or so.
04:49Four tight ends in NFL history have had at least four seasons of 1,000 receiving yards.
04:55George Kittle accomplishing that feat a season ago.
04:57Tony Gonzalez and Rob Gronkowski all with four.
05:01However, Travis Kelsey as well has seven, so excuse me, five tight ends because he got to add in Jason Witten, who has four years of at least 1,000 receiving yards.
05:11But George Kittle, of course, in some pretty historic company.
05:14No doubt about it.
05:15And he should excel in that offense.
05:16One of the best play callers that we've seen in the NFL over the past 15 to 20 years.
05:20And Kyle Shanahan continually gets him open routes out there.
05:23Now, different structure there at wide receiver this year.
05:25Some changes made to that team, but old, you know, players that come back like George Kittle that know that system, that's a benefit, man.
05:31Good contract, good team.
05:33Let's see what George does this year.
05:35So quickly, DRS, and we talked about this throughout the NFL draft because it's not only the players and what their prospect looks like adding to the National Football League, but, of course, what it means for the franchise.
05:46Next big step for the 49ers this year is paying Brock Purdy.
05:50What exactly is that money going to look like?
05:52You said it yourself.
05:53It's not record-setting deals because George Kittle deserves, although he does, because George Kittle is the best tight end still and needs to be paid as the highest guy.
06:02It's because of what market value is asking.
06:05Well, market value right now for quarterbacks is basically 45 and, for a lot of them, $50 million per year.
06:12Nine QBs around the NFL receiving at least $51-plus million per season.
06:18Is Brock Purdy worthy of that money?
06:20And, again, maybe the toughest negotiation that I've seen over the past five to six years in the NFL.
06:27Like, we didn't look at Lamar Jackson and be like, huh, you're going to pay him that much money and reset the market?
06:31Yeah, you will.
06:32And nobody cared about it because Lamar Jackson is that good.
06:34Hey, look at Jalen Hurts just got a big deal.
06:36Yeah, next in line, looking to lead the Philadelphia Eagles, ends up winning a Super Bowl and becoming MVP.
06:41You see, like, Josh Allen or Mahomes.
06:43Like, yeah, these are easy ones, even a number one overall pick in Trevor Lawrence that has had a ton of success, still ringing the bell with a monster contract.
06:50And everybody goes, yeah, that makes sense.
06:52But nobody's making sense, which includes the 49ers, the fan base, and also the agents and the people representing Brock Purdy.
06:59They can't come to an agreement.
07:00It's been a long time since he's had the opportunity where that window opened up that you can start making deals with him where they can't come to an agreement.
07:08Because they're going, like, I'm a starting quarterback, I made NFC Championship games, I've been to a Super Bowl, why aren't I paid like everybody who's done the same thing, which means $55-plus million.
07:17And the 49ers are going, love you, kid, it's a business, we don't know if you're actually worth that much, which is the reason why we haven't gotten a deal yet.
07:24So, resetting the market for a starting quarterback should be a good starting quarterback, I should say, $50 million.
07:29But then you see the deals like what Baker Mayfield got.
07:32They said, boy, man, you got good production at 30-some-odd million dollars.
07:35Sam Darnold.
07:35I'm not even saying, like, they're on the same level as Brock Purdy if Brock Purdy's way above them or below them.
07:40I'm just saying, like, that team is saying, like, boy, I think we can get this guy to $40 million and we can really open up some other things for the San Francisco 49ers on offense or defense.
07:48But Brock Purdy's camp is like, no, this is a starter.
07:51He's young, in his prime.
07:52You will pay him exactly what that market bears, which if that comes down to $55-plus million, I'm sorry.
08:00Open market, Brock Purdy's not a $55-million quarterback.
08:03It's just the way it is.
08:04Perhaps, but he's not on the open market.
08:07This, as it should be clarified, is the first offseason.
08:10Brock Purdy is eligible to sign his second deal in a contract extension with the 49ers.
08:15DRS, here are the rest of the NFL headlines from yesterday.
08:19Derek Carr confirming his shoulder injury.
08:21Deontay Johnson signing a one-year deal.
08:23Brandon Bean, the GM of the Bills, ripping local radio hosts for not being grateful enough for what the Bills did in the NFL draft.
08:31And the commander's announcing their new stadium.
08:34That's really where things stand.