49ers roster: Grading each position after first 4 weeks of 2021
By Peter Panacy
. player. 42. . . . Tight End
49ers Tight Ends: B-
It’s tough to rank and evaluate the 49ers’ tight end room, particularly George Kittle, and give anything else but an A-grade considering his value to the team, namely as a prolific pass-catching weapon, blocker, decoy and locker room leader.
Kittle’s blocking is up to its usual par, which is fine, and there’s little questioning how much attention he’ll draw from opposing defenses.
The problem, though, is Kittle has gotten off to a slowish start. At least in terms of the actual production.
Through four weeks, Kittle has just 227 receiving yards on 19 receptions with zero touchdowns, on pace to fall short of the 1,000-yard plateau he’s managed to reach in 2018 and 2019 before injuries cut last season’s follow-up campaign short.
True, Kittle’s nagging calf injury combined with quarterbacking issues could be the root of the problem, too. Yet there’s no doubting the Niners need to do whatever they can to ensure Kittle winds up being a primary featured weapon on offense.
No. 2 tight end Ross Dwelley has just a single catch this season, but at least that reception went for a touchdown. That’s good.