49ers depth chart: 4 offensive veterans on the roster bubble
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers Tight End Ross Dwelley
Mere days ago, Ross Dwelley was at best going to be the No. 2 tight end on the 49ers’ 53-man roster behind the 2019 All-Pro, George Kittle. At worst, Dwelley was going to serve as the No. 3 option, assuming the Niners’ sixth-round NFL Draft choice, Georgia’s Charlie Woerner, made a rapid ascension up the depth chart.
But that was before San Francisco inked veteran tight end Jordan Reed to a one-year deal.
Reed, when healthy, can be a top-10 tight end in the league. And one can only imagine the kind of innovative plays Kyle Shanahan would prefer to draw up with a tight end tandem consisting of both Reed and Kittle.
What this means for Dwelley is anyone’s guess, especially if the 49ers only keep three tight ends on their 53-man roster. Reed’s health is a factor, as is Woerner’s maturation. Either way, the free-agent add doesn’t spell good news for Dwelley.
Last season, Dwelley filled in admirably for Kittle over the course of two games, catching a key third-down grab late on Oct. 31 against the Arizona Cardinals while also adding two clutch touchdowns elsewhere on the season. Yet Dwelley doesn’t offer the kind of blocking skills both Reed and Kittle possess, nor is the former an elite runner after the catch.
If Reed is healthy this season and the Niners want to continue working Woerner up the depth chart, Dwelley could find himself on the outside, looking in.