NFL Draft: 4 tight end prospects SF 49ers may target in 2021

The SF 49ers have long been searching for a No. 2 tight end to complement George Kittle, and the 2021 NFL Draft has intriguing options.

Another offseason for the SF 49ers, and we have yet another time when head coach Kyle Shanahan could be seeking some added tight end depth behind the All-Pro, George Kittle.

Last year, the Niners’ search included now-Cleveland Browns tight end Austin Hooper, although San Francisco eventually settled with drafting former Georgia tight end Charlie Woerner before a late-offseason addition of the veteran, Jordan Reed.

Reed is pegged for free agency, though, and Woerner remains a work in progress at best. And unless Shanahan is entirely committed to fellow tight end Ross Dwelley, which isn’t a horrible idea, it’s likely the SF 49ers will be back on the market for another tight end this season.

Luckily enough, there are some enticing options available in the 2021 NFL Draft.

While not as deep at the position as some other classes in previous years, there are some decent mid-round prospects potentially on the Niners radar. In addition to some of those names, there’s one particular tight end who clearly stands above the rest, and there’s no shortage of suggestions he could be one of San Francisco’s prime targets.

Either way, one of these four tight ends could find himself donning the red and gold in 2021.

SF 49ers Tight End Target No. 4: Tre’ McKitty, Georgia

In 2020, Georgia effectively replaced Woerner with former Florida State transfer Tre’ McKitty, who rounded out the Bulldogs’ run-heavy offense by being the kind of workable blocker Woerner was in 2018 and 2019.

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound McKitty was a bit bigger a receiving threat with the Seminoles than he was at Georgia, although his lone year with the Bulldogs helped him develop that element of his game that could be important to the SF 49ers.

Especially if Shanahan isn’t overly enamored with Woerner. The 2020 rookie saw just 11 percent of the Niners’ offensive snaps last season anyway.

McKitty might not be as good a blocker as Woerner, but the former offers up considerably more in the pass-catching department, which could be attractive.

Seen as a mid-to-late day-three NFL Draft target, San Francisco should have no trouble targeting McKitty somewhere in Rounds 5 or 6.