The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best tight ends of the generation in George Kittle, but he is unfortunately not getting any younger.
In a recent article by PFF's Dalton Wasserman, he selects one player in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft that could be a "surprise" pick for every team. For the Niners, he thinks they could go with a tight end in the first round in Penn State's Tyler Warren.
"The 49ers already have superstar tight end George Kittle firmly entrenched in their offense, but it’s fair to wonder if Kyle Shanahan might consider adding Tyler Warren to form the league’s most intimidating 12-personnel package," Wasserman writes. "Warren earned an elite 93.4 receiving grade in 2024 and brings the kind of physicality as a run blocker that would complement Kittle perfectly on the edge."
Kittle is 31 years old, so he might have a few more good years in him. But it's always good to plan for the future, and that is exactly what Kyle Shanahan and the Niners could do in the draft.
Warren finished his final year at Penn State with 1,233 yards, eight touchdowns, and a Big Ten-leading 104 receptions. He was also incorporated into the run game a bit, finishing 218 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
It's a tough thing to begin thinking about, but it might be time for the 49ers to take a look into the future, and who they would like to be their starting tight end.
