The 49ers will roll largely with the same crop of tight ends carried over from 2017.
That’s not a bad thing at all, considering then-rookie TE George Kittle ended up having a historic first year for all the right reasons.
Kittle likely surpasses veteran tight end Garrett Celek on the depth chart, although Celek managed to flourish a bit under Kyle Shanahan last year too. His four touchdown receptions in 2017 marked a career high.
One might question why San Francisco’s tight ends would receive a C-minus grade then.
In the grand scheme of things (comparing this unit to the rest of the NFL), it would be nice to see the Niners boast a true mismatch nightmare at the position. Or, at least, a pair of dual tight ends capable of creating all kinds of issues for opposing defenses.
The 49ers aren’t there yet. And while the 49ers have a solid tandem in this group, it’s far from being considered an elite unit.