The 49ers may lose center Jonathan Goodwin to free agency this offseason and he’s nearing the end of the line even if he does return, so they’ve decided to make sure that his backup is around beyond 2014.
The team announced a three-year extension with center Daniel Kilgore on Thursday. Kilgore was a fifth-round pick in 2011 and has played in 33 games for the Niners over the past three years. He saw most of his offensive action as an extra offensive lineman in 2013, but could be an option to take over for Goodwin if the veteran has played his last snap for San Francisco.
“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.”
Kilgore has one year left on his rookie contract and joins Raiders special teamer Taiwan Jones and Eagles center Jason Kelce as members of his draft class to get extensions.
Kilgore was arrested for public intoxication last month in Tennessee, but that doesn’t seem to have affected his standing with the team.