Vance McDonald

Vance McDonald signs five-year extension with 49ers

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Vance McDonald has signed a five-year contract extension to remain with the San Francisco 49ers. McDonald was scheduled to enter free agency this offseason. The new deal prevents other suitors from calling.

The San Francisco 49ers passing game has been absolutely anemic this season. Vance McDonald, however, has stood out. The 49ers have rewarded McDonald with a new five-year contract extension, as first reported by ESPN Insiders Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan.

The 49ers are wise to lock McDonald up before free agency. He has been one of the few promising players on the 49ers offense this season. Despite lacking the burst of Vernon Davis in his prime, McDonald has developed into a solid option at tight end.

This season has seen McDonald set career highs in both catches and touchdowns (391 and four, respectively). These numbers are not great, objectively, but they do look better once the 49ers situation at quarterback is taken into consideration.

Chip Kelly’s offense has a history of featuring tight ends, so it is no surprise McDonald has improved his production this season.

The one thing that is surprising is the dollar figure on the contract. McDonald’s deal gives him $35 million over 5 years — an average of $7 million a year. The 49ers have tremendous cap space, so they can afford to pay this. But despite his improvement, McDonald does not, on the surface, appear worthy of such a payout.