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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking 5 best fifth-round NFL Draft picks of all time

By Peter Panacy

George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers.(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers.(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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George Kittle, 49ers
Tight end George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

2. player. 878. . Tight End. Hawkeyes . George Kittle

There are those of you who are going to feel George Kittle belongs at the very top of the list of the 49ers’ best Round 5 selections of all time.

And in a few years, you could be right. After all, Kittle only managed to set numerous records over his first three seasons in the NFL. In case you were wondering what they were, here you go:

  • Kittle’s 43 receptions and 515 receiving yards in 2017 was the most among rookie tight ends selected in Round 5 or later during the modern NFL era
  • Kittle’s 1,377 receiving yards in 2018 set a new record for single-season receiving yards by a tight end
  • Kittle’s 2,945 receiving yards between 2017 and 2019 broke Hall of Famer Mike Ditka‘s previous record for a player over his first three seasons in the league

Kittle also boasts two Pro Bowl nominations, a 2019 first-team All-Pro selection and was also Pro Football Focus’ best-graded player that season.

Those who have watched the Niners in recent years need little more introduction to “The People’s Tight End,” knowing full well San Francisco arguably got the steal of the 2017 NFL Draft when they selected the former Iowa product.