Draft expert says 49ers could make surprise move with first pick in NFL Draft
The San Francisco 49ers don't pick until close to the end of the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but that may not prevent them from surprising both their fans and the rest of the NFL world. According to ESPN's Jordan Reid, the 49ers have been doing a ton of homework on the tight […]
The San Francisco 49ers don't pick until close to the end of the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but that may not prevent them from surprising both their fans and the rest of the NFL world.
According to ESPN's Jordan Reid, the 49ers have been doing a ton of homework on the tight ends in this draft and they could be in line to take one with their first pick at No. 99.
The 49ers don't have a selection in the top 95 picks and have a great tight end in George Kittle, but a source with knowledge of the team's plans say they have done more work on that position than any other team they've encountered. With needs on the offensive line and secondary, it would be a surprise early selection, but file this nugget away for early on Day 3 of the draft… In a historically great tight end class — I have eight players with starter grades — the 49ers could definitely find a running mate for Kittle. – ESPN's Jordan Reid
So far, the 49ers have met with nine known tight ends and three of them, Jamal Turner, Cameron Latu, and Elijah Higgins (a WR convert), have visited with the team via top-30 visits.
Reid is correct, this would certainly be a surprise move. The 49ers have more glaring needs at right tackle, defensive end, safety, and even cornerback. Taking a tight end right off the bat would raise eyebrows, but it'd also make sense.
This tight end class is a deep one and because of this, the 49ers are more likely to find a quality player at pick No. 99 that can sooner contribute than a RT, DE, S, or CB would if picked at 99.
And, if you look at the 49ers, there is one key similarity with the skill positions: the team has at least one quality player at wideout, running back, and even quarterback. The tight end position is the only spot where it's a one-man show.
This draft has several tight ends that will still be around at 99 to pair with Kittle in order to make the All-Pro's life a lot easier. Another skilled tight end would also add yet another layer of versatility to the 49ers offense, which is something no defense wants. The 49ers would routinely be able to mix up between 11 and 12 personnel without tipping their hand to the play because all of their skill players would be guys that can do more than one thing. The running backs can also catch, the receivers can also block, and the tight ends can block and catch.
On top of the aforementioned top-30 visits, the 49ers have reportedly met with the following players:
- Davis Allen
- Zach Kuntz
- Sam LaPorta
- Brenton Strange
- Josh Whyle
- Brayden Willis
Taking a tight end at 99 would certainly raise debate on the front end, but another key is the 49ers pick as soon as pick 101. They're not going to have to worry too much about losing the top players on their board at that point. And, obviously, they have No. 102 to snatch the next top player on their board.
Once the dust settles, securing one of the tight ends in this draft makes a lot of sense.
You can check out the full ESPN column, here.
