© Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
One of the 49ers’ priorities this offseason is getting a contract extension done with DeForest Buckner, who is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. While George Kittle’s extension is also a priority, Buckner came first and the 49ers would likely risk upsetting him if they negotiated a deal with Kittle first.
An extension would also have the potential to lower the immediate 2020 cap impact of Buckner, who is due a fully-guaranteed fifth-year salary of $14.36 million per Over The Cap.
John Middlekauff said on The Middlekauff and Haberman Podcast that Buckner turned down an extension last summer.
“I was told that last year they made a very aggressive offer to him,” Middlekauff said. “We’re talking in the $60 million range … Fletcher Cox, years ago, got $63 [million]. They offered less than that, and he said no.”
Buckner appeared to deny the report via his Instagram, saying, “When did we start believing everything on the internet.”