Patrick Mahomes will always be “the one who got away”. Not just for the 49ers, not just for the Chicago Bears, but for a handful of teams.
Mahomes somehow fell to the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 10 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and now he’s not going anywhere for a long, long time. Mahomes and the Chiefs agreed to a 10-year contract extension on Monday, worth $ 503 million.
We have signed QB Patrick Mahomes to a 10 year extension. Mahomes secured with Chiefs for the next 12 seasons. pic.twitter.com/ZsADdVkvxZ
– Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 6, 2020
Congratulations to @PatrickMahomes for agreeing to the terms of a $ 503 million 10-year extension. You get $ 477M in guarantee mechanisms and the ability to have outs if no guarantee mechanisms are exercised. Without commercial clause. First half-billion-dollar player in sports history. History made. pic.twitter.com/beSGN4jyej
– Steinberg Sports (@SteinbergSports) July 6, 2020
The 49ers, who owned the No. 2 pick in the 2017 draft and selected Solomon Thomas after swapping a spot with the Chicago Bears, saw Mahomes’ greatness firsthand on the brightest stage just five months ago. San Francisco forced Mahomes to two interceptions and fired the 2018 NFL MVP four times. Still, that was not enough.
Mahomes and the Chiefs followed the 49ers by 10 points with just over six minutes remaining in Super Bowl LIV. They then scored 21 unanswered points, beating the 49ers 31-20. In the blink of an eye, Mahomes stole the Lombardi Trophy from Jimmy Garoppolo and the rest of the 49ers.
While they don’t play in the same conference, Mahomes staying in Kansas City for at least the next twelve years is a major stumbling block for the 49ers to win their first championship since the 1994 season. How can they compete with the Chiefs long-term for your own super bowl rings? Here are three keys to a difficult task.
Jimmy G’s development
This is where I put on the Captain Obvious hat. Yes, it all starts with Garoppolo, who played as well or better than Mahomes for much of the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss. But Garoppolo fell short, there is no denying that.
We should also remember that this was Garoppolo’s first full season on Kyle Shanahan’s system, one year after breaking his ACL. However, he still led the 49ers to 13 regular-season wins while passing nearly 4,000 yards, and completing 69.1 percent of his passing attempts. Garoppolo was not at Mahomes’ level last season, but he was very good.
The simple fact is that Garoppolo ranked in the top five in the NFL in touchdowns (27), completion percentage and yards per attempt (8.4). He deserves more respect, and his coach feels the same way.
“Jimmy was one of the best quarterbacks in the league (last year), and there is still plenty of room to grow,” coach Kyle Shanahan said during the State of the 49ers franchise virtual event. “And he knows it. I know that. Having just one year in this league for him to do what he did is very exciting.
“I can’t wait to start with him this year. And I hope it improves more and more. ”
The 49ers have defended Garoppolo all offseason. He has his flaws, of course. He is also one of the best QBs in the league. If the 49ers are going to make multiple races for the championship, Garoppolo has to continue developing his game.
It all starts with Jimmy G.
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Re-sign George Kittle
The offensive begins with Garoppolo, but Kittle could be the biggest gear on the machine. There is a reason why he was the highest rated Pro Football Focus player in the game last season.
Kittle is the biggest unicorn in football. He’s part of the offensive lineman and part of the demolition catcher. Tight end really is the best of both worlds. He also owes a great payday.
The San Francisco All-Pro will become a free agent after this season. The goal, however, is to never let him get there. His agent believes Kittle will be a long-term 49er, but a considerable new contract will be needed.
“George is a very special player. You need a special contract, ”Bechta told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area on the 49ers Insider Podcast. “And those things take time for both sides. It is a good problem for everyone.
“At the end of the day, I am confident that the Niners will do the right thing and take good care of George, as they should. But I trust the process. I will not comment where we are, or numbers or anything like that. But I hope it is done. “
It has to be done. The 49ers are a Porsche with Kittle on the field and a ramshackle Honda Civic, like my own car that has become the favorite shooting practice of city drivers without it.
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Keeping Fred Warner long-term
As important as Kittle is to the 49ers’ offense, Warner almost has such a big impact on defense. He is the perfect hybrid linebacker in today’s modern NFL, one who can actually slow down elite QBs like Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.
Only at the Super Bowl did Warner put on a show. He had seven tackles, a pass defended and intercepted Mahomes.
A HUGE selection from Warner‼ ️ pic.twitter.com/Y6S56BIkiv
– 49ers on NBCS (@ NBCS49ers) February 3, 2020
Warner has averaged 121 tackles in his first two league seasons. Even more importantly, it is dominant in the defense of aerial play. He’s already among the top linebackers when it comes to breaking passes, and he had a coverage rating of 74.5 in 1,166 total snapshots last season. That was the fifth best rating of any linebacker who played at least 1,000 snapshots.
Through two seasons with the 49ers, Warner has three interceptions and 15 passes defended. He also added three sacks and three forced fumbles last season.
Warner, a 2018 third-round pick, is signed for the next two seasons. The 49ers have to keep him in the Bay Area for much longer.
It all starts with Garoppolo and Kittle is the engine that drives the offense. Warner, however, is at the forefront of a race of linebackers who can turn the game around on defense, even giving stars like Mahomes headaches for years to come.
