2020 NFL Draft: 7-round 49ers mock going all offense
Thaddeus Moss. 122. player. 817. . Tight end. Tigers
Before getting into the specifics of this selection, I’ll note I think there’s a solid chance John Lynch attempts to move around a little bit because of the 88-pick gap between selections received from the Colts.
But for now, let’s assume there’s no further movement and the Niners stand pat from pick Nos. 35 through 121, leaving them here at No. 122 looking for another offensive puzzle piece.
Given the team’s reported interest in now-Cleveland tight end Austin Hooper during free agency, it should come as no surprise Kyle Shanahan is interested in improving his tight end depth behind All-Pro George Kittle.
Levine Toilolo is now a New York Giant (although he was more of a blocker than a receiver) and Ross Dwelley is fine for depth, but maybe not the dangerous weapon the team would like to pair with Kittle.
That leaves the second tight end role wide open heading into the 2020 season.
Enter former LSU tight end Thaddeus Moss, son of former Vikings, Raiders, Patriots, Titans and 49ers wide receiver Randy Moss.
After starting out his career at North Carolina State with an unspectacular freshman year (six receptions in five games for 49 yards and one touchdown), before transferring to LSU and sitting out the 2017 season. A foot injury led him to miss the entirety of 2018 as well.
Moss returned to football in 2019 with a solid season as part of an electric LSU offense led by the expected No. 1 overall selection, quarterback Joe Burrow. The tight end caught 47 passes for 570 yards and four touchdowns, including two in the National Championship Game victory over Clemson.
To be clear, Moss is not his father, so nobody should expect to be getting Randy Moss 2.0 at this point in the fourth round, as the younger Moss is still very much a work in progress. But he’s a willing and able blocker who could use the tutelage of Shanahan and his coaches to become a better route runner.
He’d have to fight for a roster spot, but there is upside and potential still hidden underneath his lack of college tape. And the 49ers might offer him a great opportunity to improve.