No. 3: 49ers Tight End George Kittle
So far, the career of tight end George Kittle can be summed up simply as, “whatever Kittle can’t do simply can’t be done.”
Kittle doesn’t just get Pro Bowls and All-Pros in his young career, he breaks records. He breaks records despite quarterback carousels and below-average rosters.
Of course, the 49ers don’t have a below-average roster now. But it’s sometimes important to remember he broke the all-time record for receiving yards by a tight end in a season where the 49ers were the second-worst team in the league and used no less than four different quarterbacks.
Kittle followed this up by a season that was slightly less statistically impressive, but only because he had to miss a few games due to injury.
He famously loves to block more than catch the ball, and Kittle is a big reason why the 49ers can rely on the running game like it does due to having him as a sixth lineman on the field.
Even when teams game plan against him, he still finds a way to make an impact. He’s simply that special kind of player who fits perfectly in a team.
At this rate, he could retire the best tight end ever and a Hall of Fame lock. Not bad for a former fifth-round selection.