After a rough down year for the San Francisco 49ers last season, Kyle Shanahan's bunch is (understandably) looking for a major rebound to contention this fall. Such a rebound will likely require everyone in the 49ers' core to be on the same page and working as one.

Kittle is entering the final year of his contract, which holds a $22 million salary cap number for the Niners. Per OverTheCap, his contract's $15 million average annual value places him fourth at the tight end position, with Arizona Cardinals star Trey McBride leading the pack with his market-setting four-year, $76 million deal ($19 million AAV).

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that, according to sources, tight end George Kittle's absence from the start of the San Francisco 49ers' offseason program is contract-related.