49ers depth chart: Predicting how George Kittle, tight ends pan out

49ers Tight Ends: Strong Bubble

George Kittle is a lock. There isn’t any question whether or not he’ll make the 53-man roster, barring injury or some odd development (knock on wood it doesn’t happen).

Jordan Reed, meanwhile, is a one-time Pro Bowler who nearly hit 1,000 receiving yards in 2015 to go along with 11 touchdowns. He backed up those efforts with a Pro Bowl campaign the following year, recording 66 receptions for 686 yards and six touchdowns.

Charlie Woerner, meanwhile, was a non-factor in Georgia’s receiving game the past four years, never recording more than 11 receptions in a single season. But the Niners didn’t bring aboard Woerner for that purpose, rather they saw him as an elite-level blocker, likely pegged to replace tight end Levine Toilolo, who departed to the New York Giants via free agency during the offseason.

Jordan Reed

Assuming he stays healthy, San Francisco will want Reed to emerge as the No. 2 option behind Kittle on the depth chart.

But that’s a big ask. Reed has missed at least two games each year dating back to his rookie season in 2013. He’s had a reported seven concussions dating back to his first year at the pro level, the number made even worse by a recorded three more during his college years at Florida. There is a myriad of other injuries, too.

Yet Reed, 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, is still a bona fide threat. And with teams focusing pressure on Kittle, there’s the opportunity for Reed to have quite the bounce-back effort with San Francisco.

Charlie Woerner

The 49ers invested a sixth-round pick in Woerner, which makes for anything but a sure lock on the 53-man roster.

Remember, the Niners’ sixth-round pick from 2019, former Stanford tight end Kaden Smith, flamed out during training camp and subsequently failed to make the cut before signing on with the Giants.

Yet Woerner isn’t going to be asked to be a major contributor in the receiving game right away, rather San Francisco will hope he can fill in as a blocking option in year one and potentially move into a role where he can support Kittle as a receiving threat in subsequent years.

Essentially, adding Reed takes the pressure off Woerner to develop his receiving game.