San Francisco 49ers: Predicting 53-man roster after 2020 NFL Draft

Tight Ends (3)

George Kittle

Ross Dwelley

Charlie Woerner

Practice Squad/Dark Horse: Chase Harrell

If Kyle Shanahan’s tenure in San Francisco so far tells us anything, it’s that he’s got a very specific makeup for his tight end room in mind.

The No. 1 option is simple: 2019 All-Pro George Kittle looks to continue to make his mark as the NFL’s best tight end, after NFL-setting records both of his last two seasons.

Ross Dwelley supplanted Garrett Celek last year, but he only had 15 catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns last season in spite playing in all 16 regular-season games. While he might be a solid No. 2 option, he isn’t exactly striking fear in opposing defenses and taking some focus away from Kittle.

That might be part of the reason adding Jalen Hurd to the roster as a move tight end, as opposed to a wide receiver, might be the direction the 49ers ultimately choose to go, as the last year’s third-round draft pick is likely a more dynamic option.

As far as the tight end position is concerned, it may mean Dwelley is fighting for a roster spot, as Shanahan continues to push towards more positionless football on the offensive side of the ball.

The third tight end in a Shanahan system is going to be the bruising blocker, a role played by the since-departed Levine Toilolo in 2019, and now seems to be the job of Charlie Woerner, the rookie out of Georgia, who the 49ers took in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Woerner isn’t much of a threat as a receiver, having amassed just 34 receptions for 376 yards and one touchdown in four seasons in Athens, but he should more than make up for that with blocks like this.

UDFA signee Chase Harrell out of Arkansas could throw a wrench in the plan, but as of now, I’d expect him to a practice squad candidate at best.