49ers 7-round mock 2022 NFL Draft using only Pac-12 players

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Washington Huskies tight end Cade Otton (87) Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Huskies . Cade Otton. 105. player. 818. . Tight End

Round 3, Pick No. 105 Overall (Compensatory): 49ers select TE Cade Otton, Washington

It’s no secret Kyle Shanahan has sought a complementary tight end to pair with All-Pro George Kittle over the years, the only somewhat-likable option since 2017 being Jordan Reed back in 2020, yet the pairing never truly surfaced to its full potential because of varying respective injuries to the two.

For now, the Niners appear poised to have No. 2 tight end Ross Dwelley back up Kittle at the position, but that only suggests Shanahan won’t be interested in using a draft pick to find an upgrade over Dwelley.

With its first compensatory selection of this year’s NFL Draft, San Francisco grabs Washington tight end Cade Otton, a 6-foot-5 and 247-pound prospect whose sheer receiving stats don’t jump off the table but someone who nevertheless has a quality route tree and reliable hands to be an above-average pass-catching target.

Cade Otton Receiving & Rushing Table
		Receiving	Rushing	Scrimmage
Year	School	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Plays	Yds	Avg	TD
*2018	Washington	Pac-12	FR	TE	8	13	174	13.4	3	0	0		0	13	174	13.4	3
*2019	Washington	Pac-12	SO	TE	11	32	344	10.8	2	0	0		0	32	344	10.8	2
2020	Washington	Pac-12	JR	TE	4	18	258	14.3	3	0	0		0	18	258	14.3	3
2021	Washington	Pac-12	JR	TE	8	28	250	8.9	1	0	0		0	28	250	8.9	1
Career	Washington					91	1026	11.3	9	0	0		0	91	1026	11.3	9

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference
Generated 4/4/2022.

Otton’s presence wouldn’t be good news for Dwelley, of course. But with the 49ers seeking to find as many weapons for quarterback Trey Lance, adding someone like Otton would help in a lot of different ways.