The 49ers have the NFL’s best tight end. The depth behind him is less of a sure thing.
Our dive into the 49ers’ depth chart moves onto a group of tight ends headlined by All-Pro George Kittle. The other four players on the roster at that spot include a 2020 sixth-round pick, an undrafted rookie, a second-year undrafted free agent, and a third-year undrafted free agent.
San Francisco got by without a ton of depth at tight end last season, but the departure of Levine Toilolo weakened an already shaky group. How the players behind Kittle fare in 2020 is an intriguing story line to follow throughout training camp.
Here’s our depth chart projection prior to any on-field activities:
1. George Kittle
There’s not an NFL roster where Kittle wouldn’t be the top tight end. In three years he’s blossomed into an All-Pro and most productive player in the league at his position. Pro Football Focus named him the best player in the NFL last season thanks to the dominant run blocking skill set that he matches with elite receiving skills. Kittle is the team’s most valuable player and will continue to be as long as he wears their uniform.
2. Ross Dwelley
Dwelley settled in nicely as the No. 2 tight end last year, and earned a couple starts while Kittle missed time with knee and ankle injuries. The former undrafted free agent is a versatile blocker who can line up at multiple spots, and play fullback when Kyle Juszczyk is unavailable. While he only averaged 6.1 yards per reception on 15 catches, he did punch in two touchdowns in a Week 11 win over the Cardinals. Dwelley doesn’t offer a ton as a pass catcher, which is perhaps the only thing keeping him from locking up the No. 2 TE spot.
3. Charlie Woerner
San Francisco traded Marquise Goodwin and a sixth-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for their sixth-round pick. That allowed the 49ers to move up and select Woerner out of Georgia. He’s one of the draft’s best run-blocking tight ends and brings good versatility to be effective from multiple spots on the field. He’s an okay athlete who was used almost exclusively as a blocker in college. Woerner caught 34 passes for 371 yards and one touchdown with the Bulldogs. His role as a receiver would need to expand greatly if he’s going to out-snap Dwelley in his first season.
4. Daniel Helm
Helm broke into the NFL last season with the Chargers as an undrafted rookie out of Duke. He spent some time in Los Angeles before getting released and landing with the 49ers in early August. He spent most of the year on the practice squad, but was elevated to the active roster in mid December. Helm is another player who can play as a move tight end, but he produced more as a receiver with the Blue Devils (69 catches, 767 yards, 6 touchdowns). He’ll need to undergo a pretty significant improvement in the offseason to carve out a roster spot.
5. Chase Harrell
Harrell was one of the 49ers’ undrafted free agent signings. He spent time at Kansas and Arkansas, and hauled in 37 receptions for 396 yards and six touchdowns in four college seasons. He had a nice Pro Day and has some upside as an athlete, but a good training camp probably means a practice squad spot. He’d have to be truly exceptional to earn a job on the 53-man.
