The San Francisco 49ers have signed Colton McKivitz to a one-year contract extension, according to his agency AMDG Sports.

McKivitz started at right tackle in 2023, playing all 17 games in succeeding Mike McGlinchey as the starter.

While his record in staying on the field was impressive, his performance in his first season as a starter saw him receive considerable scrutiny. McKivitz was targeted as the weak link on the offensive line and committed 34 blown blocks in pass protection, the seventh-most in the NFL and just one fewer than predecessor McGlinchey, per Sports Info Solutions. His 47 pressures allowed were the eighth-most among tackles, per Pro Football Focus.

McKivitz enjoyed more success in the run game, committing only five blown blocks, but a disappointing effort in the postseason, in which his 12 pressures conceded were the most allowed of any tackle in the playoffs, only added fuel to the notion of the 2020 fifth-round pick being a player that 49ers need to replace. Four of those pressures came in the Super Bowl, with McKivitz struggling to hold up against Chris Jones and Co. on the Kansas City Chiefs' defensive line as the 49ers lost in overtime.

Yet the 49ers were clearly satisfied with what they saw from McKivitz over the course of the campaign, his extension reportedly worth $7 million.

Despite the Niners' decision to keep McKivitz around through 2025, when he was due to be a free agent, the new contract for their incumbent right tackle does not preclude San Francisco from drafting another.

San Francisco met with several of the top tackles during last week's Combine and should be in good position to take one of an extremely deep class at the position with the 31st pick in the first round.

Having McKivitz on the roster at least gives the 49ers a medium-term safety net. A new tackle could compete for the starting role with McKivitz, who would seemingly be set to serve as the swing tackle — he has two starts at left tackle in his career — if he lost the competition. McKivitz also has prior experience at guard.

Frustration at the 49ers extending McKivitz is understandable, but it is a move that, once the full contract details are confirmed, could get San Francisco under the salary cap and ensures the Niners will have a player with vast experience of the offense who can play multiple positions under contract for the next two years.

A lack of depth has been as much of a problem for the 49ers on the offensive line as the concerns on the right-hand side. While there's a strong case to be made that he's a sub-par pass protector, McKivitz is a valuable depth piece to have. There's no guarantee the 49ers will select a tackle in the draft, but the fact McKivitz is around for another year is unlikely to come into their thinking when they are on the clock at 31.

San Francisco 49ers set up themselves for sustained success at biggest problem area in new mock draft

They’d be in a much better spot.