5 prospects SF 49ers must consider with first pick in 2021 NFL Draft

SF 49ers NFL Draft Target No. 2: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida

Hold your hate mail, SF 49ers fans, this is not a call for the Niners to find a replacement for All-Pro tight end George Kittle. On the contrary, this is a pick that seems like a luxury at first but makes sense the more you look at it.

The 49ers are very much a running team and want to use two tight ends who can be both a threat in the ground game and in the air. If San Francisco can utilize a lot of formations with dual tight ends who are equally a threat, it adds a layer of unpredictability for opposing defenses to deal with.

Florida’s Kyle Pitts is very much a better receiver than blocker right now, but his tape stands out as a player who can nab catches and has a willingness to get gritty with blocking.

The biggest advantage Pitts has is that he’s too fast for linebackers while being too big for safeties. He’s a potential mismatch of Kittle-like proportions on the field.

Pitts does need some work blocking, but Kittle would be the perfect mentor to give him tips on how to improve. The result would be two tight ends who could form the nucleus of the offense for 2021 and beyond.

Reserve Niners tight end Jordan Reed is a great talent but will never be durable, Ross Dwelley is average and Charlie Woerner is only a late-round NFL Draft pick who the team isn’t beholden to if they see a better option (which we saw when they signed Reed).

It seems like a luxury, but the argument is there the SF 49ers could take Pitts with their first-round pick to transform their offense.