With all of the salary-purging the San Francisco 49ers have done this offseason before they get quarterback Brock Purdy's contract extension completed, it is very possible they might not be able to work out a contract extension for tight end George Kittle, who has been looking for one as he is in the final year of his deal.
So what to do?
The 49ers, we say, could make the decision to draft Kittle's eventual replacement in the first round of the NFL Draft. With Penn State's Tyler Warren projected to be off the board at No. 7 to the New York Jets, the 49ers could draft the next best tight end on the board at 11 and select Colston Loveland of the University of Michigan.
The former Wolverines star had a solid junior season as he caught 56 balls for 582 yards and five touchdowns. He opted to forego his senior season for the riches and spoils of the NFL.
He was showcased in a nationally-televised game against Oregon, which was ranked No. 1 at the time. He caught seven passes for 112 yards and was the bright spot in a 38-17 loss.
NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah ranks Loveland in a lofty way, as the sixth-best pro prospect in the draft. The scout had nothing but great things to say about the player in his last report.
"Loveland is a long, lean tight end with outstanding awareness, quickness and big-play ability. He has aligned in-line, as a wing and in the slot. He’s urgent in his release. He has a tremendous feel for option routes and working in space. He can cleanly get in/out of breaks and he presents a big target to the quarterback," Jeremiah said. "He attacks the ball in the air and is adept at finishing in crowds. After the catch, he has a smooth stride and possesses a nasty stiff-arm. He has some wiggle to make defenders miss, as well. His lack of bulk impacts his ability to stay connected as a run blocker, though. Overall, Loveland is equipped to make a lot of catches as a starting tight end in his rookie campaign."
It is important as a safety valve to make sure the 49ers lock in a tight end in this draft in the event the negotiations with Kittle sour. Or, less controversially, it all works out with Kittle, and Loveland can pair up with Kittle in two-tight-end sets and also learn from the veteran.
In either way, there are a lot of wins here for San Fran.
