Colton McKivitz is officially a San Francisco 49er.

The Union Local and West Virginia University product signed his rookie contract late last week after getting clearance to fly to the Bay Area to undergo a physical and finalize the terms of his four-year contract.

“It was a pretty cool moment,” McKivitz said of signing his first professional contract. “I took a minute and actually sat back and just stared at it. I did that before and after I signed it.”

The way NFL rookie contracts are structured, there is actually no negotiating needed. The deals are all slotted with each pick taking on a different value both in terms of the totality of the deal and also the signing bonus. The terms of McKivitz’s contract were four years for $3.62M. He receives a signing bonus of $329,780, which is divided up over the lifetime of the contract.

“My agent talked me through it and how the slots work and the payments,” McKivitz said.

The only part of a rookie NFL contract that is guaranteed is the signing bonus, so McKivitz knows he still must go out and prove himself when training camp opens.

“It’s like hitting a restart button,” McKivitz said. “I have to earn every year of the contract.”

There was no major ordeal or presentation for McKivitz the day he signed. Quite simply, a 49ers operations guy brought the contract to the hotel where McKivitz was staying during his brief time there and he signed it.

The process was significantly delayed because of COVID-19. While some NFL franchises were signing players the 49ers delayed their signings until they could get their picks on site to undergo medical testing.

“In a normal year, it would have been drafted one day and then about two days later get signed, but because of the pandemic, we had to wait this long to sign,” McKivitz explained.

Though he admitted the draft, in which he was taken 153rd overall, was the ultimate moment for a player, officially signing is right up there with it.

“Nothing can replace that feeling of seeing your name pop up and being picked is something that just sticks with you,” McKivitz said. “But, signing your name is a really big deal.”

Though he was unsigned, McKivitz has been going through the 49ers virtual offseason program basically since he was drafted on April 25 in the fifth round.

“The first time you hear everything, it can be a bit overwhelming, but as you continue to go over things you really start to get a good feeling about it,” McKivitz said. “I am feeling good about the playbook and looking forward to getting a chance to getting out there to play.”

McKivitz, who is back in suburban Phoenix training, is like all other NFL players and unsure of when training camps will open because of the pandemic.

“No one has really said anything,” McKivitz admitted. “There is some belief that rookies may report as early as July 15, but some guys (in other organizations) have been told between July 21st and 23rd, but there’s no decision yet.”