Daniel Kilgore, who’s barely been used since the 49ers took him in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, will probably see a lot more playing time in 2014 and beyond. The 49ers announced a three-year extension for Kilgore today, which came with the following statement.
“We are pleased to extend the contract of a talented, young player like Dan,” said General Manager Trent Baalke. “This move is another example of our philosophy to extend the contracts of our own young players.”
This probably means the oldest member of the line will either land somewhere else or retire. Jonathan Goodwin, 35, sent an email to the San Francisco Chronicle stating that the 49ers had yet to contact either him or his agent.
Kilgore will likely start at center, with Joe Looney, Adam Snyder and Ryan Seymour serving as backup interior linemen. With the 49ers investing in Kilgore, the need for a center in the draft probably isn’t as strong. The team may still look for a swing tackle, although they have younger linemen like Luke Marquardt and Carter Bykowski that they could consider using in that capacity.
Today’s transaction means I was totally, completely 100% (maybe even 110%) incorrect when I wrote Kilgore’s recent arrest for public intoxication might alter the 49ers’ plans. I wasn’t trying to play the role of moral police officer, but I thought the lack of playing time along with an avoidable arrest at the beginning of the offseason might give the 49ers pause. You know, because nothing spooks the 49ers like alcohol-related incidents involving their players. Man, I’m dumb sometimes.
