49ers should target LSU’s Stephen Sullivan late in 2020 NFL Draft

The San Francisco 49ers may be looking to bolster their tight end depth in the 2020 NFL Draft, and LSU’s Stephen Sullivan provides an enticing option on day three.

With All-Pro George Kittle within the ranks, the San Francisco 49ers aren’t going to be making tight end a high-priority position when the 2020 NFL Draft kicks off this April.

But that doesn’t mean the Niners avoid the position altogether.

According to a previous report from NFL Network’s Mike Silver, San Francisco was interested in now-Cleveland Browns tight end Austin Hooper, who would have been a dynamic partner with Kittle at the position had he signed with the 49ers. Few defenses are equipped to defend against two pass-catching tight ends, and the Niners already boast the best one in the league in Kittle.

Yet with only two picks in the first four rounds of the 2020 draft (Nos. 13 and 31 overall), it’s highly unlikely a tight end is an initial target.

On day three, however, general manager John Lynch boasts five picks in total: two in Round 5, another in Round 6 and two more in Round 7.

And it’s here where the 49ers could target another potential draft gem, LSU tight end Stephen Sullivan.

Like Kittle, Sullivan’s collegiate numbers don’t jump off the table. Additionally, the 6-foot-5, 242-pound target shifted from wide receiver to tight end with the Tigers only last year. If there’s a downside, and there are plenty with Sullivan, he still shows all the signs of being a wide receiver first, a tight end second. That presents some problems, notably with his inline blocking, which isn’t good against pass-rushers and linebackers even at the college level.

This skill set hasn’t hindered Sullivan’s blocking in space, though, so that’s something to consider.

But the reason why Sullivan can make sense for San Francisco in, let’s say, Round 5 is due to his sheer mismatch potential and playmaking threat. With a 4.66 40-yard time at the NFL Combine, Sullivan has good speed for the position. He should be able to beat most linebackers in coverage. His 35 3/8-inch arms also make for an excellent red-zone threat and someone who can easily fight for 50-50 balls thrown his way.

The Draft Network’s Kyle Crabbs pointed this out:

"His catch radius is monstrous and he has made a number of successful ball adjustments on throws that altered his hands and charged him with flashing outside the numbers. Showed good hand strength in contested situation to finish targets in traffic."

So how does a player like Sullivan fit into San Francisco’s plans?

First, the Niners would be using a late-round pick to gamble on Sullivan’s upside as a pass catcher. While the No. 2 option behind Kittle right now is Ross Dwelley, Sullivan certainly has far more potential as a big-play threat, and his intangible traits make for someone who could easily be a mismatch nightmare.

And while Sullivan doesn’t exactly have a true position he’s closely identified with, head coach Kyle Shanahan has started leaning to what some deem a “positionless” offense. It’s not hard to see how a player like Sullivan could be used as an H-back or boundary tight end, potentially throwing zone blocks on outside runs and sweeps. He can handle his own in that manner.

Either way, if the 49ers are truly looking to bolster their tight end depth behind Kittle, going after a player like Sullivan on day three of the NFL Draft is a risk worth taking.

The 2020 draft kicks off on Thursday, April 23.