In the Super Bowl, the 49ers trailing by 10 points against the Chiefs suffered yet another heartbreaking defeat.
Early in the game, San Francisco had an opportunity to extend their advantage, but Kansas City regained control after running back Christian McCaffery mishandled the ball.
Worse, a mic’d-up video just surfaced showing 49ers tight end George Kittle nearby the fumble, but he was too occupied saying “hello” to Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis, who recovered the fumble, rather than paying attention to the play. The play’s irony stems from the fact that Kittle was featured in another widely shared, hilarious video four years prior, during the 49ers’ Super Bowl LIV loss to the Chiefs. “I will be back here, and I will be back with a vengeance,” is audible in the clip. I will not give up on you.”
Kittle was correct in one regard. Back at the Super Bowl, he went. But his claim that he would return with avengeance was false.
Only two receptions for four yards were made by the five-time Pro Bowler during the contest. Perhaps San Francisco would have prevailed in the rematch if he had been able to retrieve the lost football.
After regulation ended with the two teams deadlocked 19-19, Super Bowl LVIII proceeded into overtime. That might not have happened with a field goal or touchdown.
After recording 65 receptions for 1,020 yards and six touchdowns in 2023, Kittle is still among the league’s top tight ends. Without him, his team probably would not have advanced to the Super Bowl at all.
But if he and the 49ers want to be in the running for another Super Bowl in 2024, they have to start over from scratch. It’s safe to assume that Kittle won’t be thinking about saying “hi” to any of his opponents the next time around if they succeed.
Teams have begun making plans for the 2024 season well in advance of March 13, which marks the beginning of free agency and the new league year. The most unexpected cut for each NFC team is predicted by Yardbarker league writers when NFL front offices start rearranging rosters.
Dallas Cowboys | NFC East | Wide Receiver Brandin Cooks By sending the Texans their fifth and sixth round picks in exchange for Cooks, the Cowboys believed they had found the Robin to CeeDee Lamb’s Batman. However, in 2023, rookie tight end Jake Ferguson was the team’s second-leading receiver. If Cooks is released after June 1, the team will save $8 million because he has a $10 million salary hit in 2024. WR Darius Slayton, New York Giants | Despite Slayton’s career-high 770 yards as New York’s top receiver last season, the team’s passing attack was only 31st in the NFL (169.8 yards per game). The 27-year-old receiver might be one of the Giants’ first cuts after being released with nearly $6 million in cap savings. The squad needs to perform better.
Eagles of Philadelphia | CB Darius Slay With two interceptions for 84 yards and 15 passes defensed, Slay could have been Philadelphia’s greatest cornerback, but the team’s passing defense was only 31st in the NFL (252.7 YPG). The Eagles need to improve, and the 33-year-old cornerback may be cut as soon as possible given his team’s almost $11 million in cap savings after his post-June 1 release. Commanders in Washington | TE Logan Thomas Although Thomas’s dismissal might save the team over $6 million in salary space, new owner Joshua Harris could prefer to keep the veteran coach Dan Quinn around. The thirty-two-year-old receiver for the Commanders last season averaged 14.4 yards receiving during his final five games, but he also lost two fumbles. — Bruce Ewing
Cameron Thomas | Arizona Cardinals | When the 2023 season got underway, Thomas appeared to be a Cardinals breakout prospect. However, at the end of the season, he had significantly declined (zero sacks) and had a less role. The Cardinals lack the pass rush they were hoping for from Thomas, and they need impact guys on defense.
Hunter Long, tight end with the Los Angeles Rams The Rams don’t have much depth at tight end and Tyler Higbee (ACL tear) could not be fully recovered in time for the start of the next year, but Long isn’t paid much—roughly $1.3 million—and the team could perform better. Although he was a crucial component of the transaction that sent Miami CB Jalen Ramsey, he was involved in
Arik Armstead, the defensive line for the San Francisco 49ers Despite having played for the 49ers for his whole nine-year career, Armstead could be dismissed for a variety of reasons. His production has dropped, he is expected to earn little over $17 million the upcoming season, and he is recovering from a meniscus tear that may limit his progress.
Tyler Lockett, a wide receiver with the Seattle Seahawks Lockett has performed admirably in Seattle (894 receiving yards in 2023), but his 2024 salary is projected to be $17 million, and he will be 32 years old. That might be a hazardous investment, particularly considering that Seattle’s wide receiver corps is still led by D.K. Metcalf and 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba. — Gretz Adam
Velus Jones, a wide receiver for the Chicago Bears, Jones regressed in 2023, participating in 14 games but only playing 11% of the offensive snaps, down from 22% in his rookie season. Although he finished fifth in the NFL in terms of kick return yards (435), he is a strong candidate to be cut by the Bears because they had higher expectations for the 2022 third-round pick.
