Niners Nation
The 49ers have struggled to find a complement for tight end George Kittle since he was drafted.
When it comes to building out their roster, the San Francisco 49ers have done a pretty darn good job with creating one of the best on-paper teams in the NFL since head coach Kyle Shanahan took over.
They created one of the best skill position rooms in the league all-around. Put together a loaded defensive line. One of the best linebacker rooms in the NFL. And now have a strong cornerback room headed by younger players.
But, one position where the 49ers have thrown a number of darts at but failed has been the tight end position. Specifically to complement George Kittle.
Kittle was one of the team’s best draft hits back in the 2017 NFL Draft, blossoming into an All-Pro level player in his second season in the NFL. Since then, he’s been one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in six of the last seven years, with the lone miss coming due to injury.
However, the 49ers have really struggled to add around Kittle and create a strong complementary tight end room. They signed Ross Dwelley back in 2018. They signed Jordan Reed and drafted Charlie Woerner in 2020. All of those moves never panned out into a consistent backup option.
Then, they splurged in the 2023 NFL Draft, drafting Cameron Latu in the third round and Brayden Willis in the seventh round. Both players were cut after their rookie seasons.
Fast-forward to 2025 and the 49ers have still yet to find a quality No. 2 tight end, which has put more on the shoulders of Kittle, specifically when it comes to blocking responsibilities. As the star tight end gets older, it’ll be more important to find a good complement for him and potentially even replace Kittle in the future.
Will that finally happen in 2025?
The 49ers have a major opportunity to add a premier talent in this year’s NFL Draft with the No. 11 pick, and several pundits have pegged Penn State Nittany Lions star tight end Tyler Warren as a potential fit, given his size and stature for blocking, as well as his ability as a pass-catcher.
Warren, who caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns as Penn State’s leading receiver in 2024, stands at 6’6, 257 pounds. Here’s what NFL Network’s Lance Zerlein wrote about the star tight end in his draft profile.
“The ultimate “whatever, whenever” player in the 2025 draft with the size, athleticism and competitive spirit to make good on his intentions,” Zerlein said. “Warren plays with swagger and “best player on the field” energy. He imprints on games with alignment versatility, allowing opportunities for play-callers to stress the defense.
“Despite his size, he’s quick enough to beat man coverage underneath and plays with good recognition of holes in coverage. He has the ball skills and toughness to win contested catches and withstand punishing contact....
