49ers final 7-round mock NFL Draft ahead of 2021 free agency

Round 7, Pick No. 228 Overall (from Jets): 49ers select tight end Shaun Beyer, Iowa

Maybe the 49ers can strike gold again in the late rounds of the draft by going after yet another tight end from “Tight End University,” Iowa’s Shaun Beyer.

OK, so no one is expecting the 6-foot-5, 248-pound Beyer to become the next version of his previous alma mater member, George Kittle. But then again, few expected Kittle to become, well… George Kittle.

Iowa’s run-heavy offense doesn’t necessarily predicate tight ends generate a ton of stats, so one shouldn’t look too deep into Beyer’s 275 receiving yards as an indicator of his pro-level success.

Instead, Beyer should be considered a developmental prospect who could turn into a decent No. 2 option to complement Kittle within a year or two’s time.

The Niners have been searching for a quality second-tier option to support Kittle for a while now. And while fellow tight end Ross Dwelley has performed that role adequately enough the last two years, the fact San Francisco has continued to add tight ends to its depth chart despite Dwelley’s presence suggests Kyle Shanahan isn’t overly convinced this part of the roster is complete.

Perhaps someone like Beyer can help fill that void.