The 49ers’ list of draft needs is relatively long with more than 40 players set to hit free agency and a salary cap crunch that could keep San Francisco from retaining some key contributors. While they could go into the draft aiming to fill specific holes on the roster, they may also go the route of simply adding another good player, even at a position that might not be a high priority. That’s the strategy they utilized in a mock draft by NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah.
San Francisco with the No. 12 selection in Jeremiah’s mock scoop up Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.
It seems like the kind of choice that wouldn’t behoove a 49ers club that needs a couple starters in the secondary, another edge rusher, some offensive lineman, and maybe a quarterback.
However, versatile tight ends can cause huge matchup problems for defenses. Adding another effective wide-receiver-type pass catcher to the 49ers’ growing list of weapons could make them even more difficult to defend.
Pitts is a massive 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, but runs routes like a much smaller player. Florida utilized him as an in-line tight end, in the slot, and split out wide, and he’s effective at all three spots. He was a favorite target of quarterback Kyle Trask in 2020 and hauled in 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games as a junior. That came after a strong sophomore campaign where he posted 54 receptions, 649 yards and five touchdowns.
It’s easy to see how a big, explosive, versatile tight end would add a new layer of difficulty for defending the 49ers’ offense. On the other hand, it may be wiser to locate some explosive athletes later in the draft and focus on some of the more pressing needs in the early rounds.
