San Francisco 49ers' Kyle Juszczyk retains deserved status despite agreeing to restructured contract
The San Francisco 49ers weren't able to agree on a restructured contract with Arik Armstead, but they've come to an agreement with their All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk. San Francisco, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, has agreed a reworked contract with Juszczyk that will save the 49ers around $1.75 million against the salary cap. Negotiations with […]
The San Francisco 49ers weren't able to agree on a restructured contract with Arik Armstead, but they've come to an agreement with their All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
San Francisco, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, has agreed a reworked contract with Juszczyk that will save the 49ers around $1.75 million against the salary cap.
Negotiations with the eight-time Pro Bowler had previously shown no signs of reaching a resolution, with the 49ers potentially facing the prospect of having to release one of their most versatile offensive weapons. San Francisco plans to release Armstead, their longest-tenured player, on Wednesday after the defensive tackle refused to agree to a restructured contract that would have seen him take a pay cut.
But Juszczyk will remain on the team and, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, will remain the highest-paid fullback in the NFL. Juszczyk was set to count $7.58 million against the cap in each of the next two seasons.
Juszczyk is a vital part of the 49er offense, with his play in the blocking game and ability to operate as a receiving threat from anywhere in the formation critical to San Francisco's success in being able to get five excellent pass-catching threats on the field from 21 personnel (two backs and one tight end).
Since signing with the 49ers as part of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch's first free agent class in 2017, Juszczyk leads all running backs and fullbacks with 10.3 yards per reception, while his 1,695 receiving yards are 17th in that span.
He has also made huge plays in each of the 49ers' Super Bowl losses to the Kansas City Chiefs, scoring a touchdown in Super Bowl 54 and making an acrobatic catch on second and long in overtime on San Francisco's go-ahead field goal drive in Super Bowl 58.
With the All-Pro team including fullbacks for the first time in 2023, Juszczyk was deservedly named first-team All-Pro after another stellar season.
After helping his team out with a cap-clearing move that secures his future, Juszczyk can likely look forward to another All-Pro year as the league's most valuable fullback.
