49ers roster 2021: George Kittle can get another All-Pro
By Peter Panacy
Why George Kittle improves with 49ers in 2021
George Kittle did more than enough in 2019 to suggest why he’s a first-team All-Pro candidate essentially every year. Perhaps the only element getting in the way of that would be injuries.
Staying healthy is essentially going to be the primary goal for Kittle. But caught in the middle of the sheer multitude of injuries the Niners suffered last year, it’s reasonable to assume both Kittle and his team will bounce back healthy in 2021.
At 27 years old, there isn’t necessarily much more that Kittle can accomplish. As far as his records go, just look at the following:
- Most receptions (43) and receiving yards (515) by a rookie tight end selected in Round 5 or later of the NFL Draft during the modern era
- Second most single-season receiving yards for a tight end (1,377)
- Most career receiving yards over the first three years of his career (2,945)
And his pass blocking? Pro Football Focus awarded him a 75.1 grade in that category, which would equate to a quality starting-caliber offensive lineman.
Perhaps the lone spot at which Kittle could improve, though, would be increasing his touchdown totals. This is an area where Travis Kelce generally has Kittle beaten, although San Francisco has historically had some woes in the red zone under head coach Kyle Shanahan anyway.
To date, Kittle has found the end zone just 14 times, whereas Kelce managed 11 touchdowns in 2021 alone.
Should Kittle become more of a touchdown threat, his value to the 49ers skyrockets. It’s that simple.