2018 prospect profile: Why Auden Tate is a fit for the 49ers in the NFL Draft
By Joseph Naki
General manager John Lynch of the venerated San Francisco 49ers will have to make timely decisions in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft. No doubt, decisions on selecting a wide receiver will be one of focus and need. And Florida State’s Auden Tate should be on the target list.
The San Francisco 49ers are in the market for a wide receiver that can handle the end-zone duties as a big-body target for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Scoring points is the name of the game, and head coach Kyle Shanahan knows how to put points on the board.
Looking at the wide receiver position, we look for football players that are able to fit scheme and become productive assets to a team in search of championships.
Auden Tate, WR, Florida State
Because the 49ers have so many holes to fill on their roster, pressing positional needs like EDGE, cornerback and offensive linemen will have to be addressed early on in the draft.
However, as the Niners do need and want a big receiver to be a red-zone threat, selecting a receiver in the mid-to-late rounds is more plausible to the team effort.
San Francisco 49ers
At 6-foot-5 and coming in at a firm 228 pounds, Auden Tate of the Florida State Seminoles fits the physical wants and desires Shanahan would want in his offensive attack.
A big physical receiver, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com described Tate:
"What he does have going for him is that he can catch through contact and has very good ball skills especially near the end zone. Tate’s toughness and willingness to play through a shoulder injury this year will stand out to teams. Tate will be targeted by teams looking for a match up weapon with value as a zone beater and red zone target."
Boom! Exactly what the doctor ordered, in terms of fitting Shanahan’s need for a big receiver, who owns the end zone.
Not exactly a speed demon, Tate was timed at 4.68 seconds in his 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. But then again, our own Jerry Rice didn’t fare so well in his 40-yard dash time, but look at where his career got him? Yes, in the Pro Football Hall of Fame!
Tate racked up some decent numbers in his 2017 campaign. Catching 10 touchdowns, chalking up 548 yards on 40 receptions, Tate demonstrated the ability of being a go-to guy. No doubt, something Shanahan saw on film, therefore inviting the former Seminole for a visit at 4949 Centennial Blvd.
Projected to come off the big board in the fifth or sixth round of the draft, Tate would be available at the right time for the 49ers. Definitely a talent to consider drafting, Lynch will need to trust his evaluation process and select the wide receiver who can contribute early and often.
Auden Tate may be the right guy, at the right time.