3 49ers who could be named first-team All-Pros in 2020
No. 1: Tight end George Kittle
As if this comes as any surprise.
The first-team All-Pro tight end, two-time Pro Bowler and highest-graded PFF player in the NFL for 2019 has the best of repeating at that first-team slot in 2020.
George Kittle, who was named to the second team for his record-breaking season in 2018, finished 2019 with 85 catches for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns, despite just playing in 14 games.
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In doing so, he also set the record for most receiving yards by a tight end through his first three seasons, passing former Bear Mike Ditka in the Niners’ Week 12 loss to the Falcons. Ultimately, Kittle surpassed Ditka by 171 yards, in spite totaling just 515 yards as a rookie.
The former Iowa product was one of three players, including Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, to earn an elite grade from PFF for the entire season. But Kittle’s 95.0 overall topped them all. It’s also his second straight season finishing with an 89 grade or more.
Sure, there are other top tight ends in the game, such as the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Zach Ertz and Las Vegas Raiders’ up-and-comer, Darren Waller, just to name a few. But Kittle has shown himself to likely be the best of the bunch.
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And if he continues to be as dominant as he has been the past two seasons, not only as a receiver but as a run blocker, there’s no reason to think Kittle won’t get his second consecutive nod as the tight end on the first-team All-Pro for 2020.