5 free agents 49ers should bring in for training camp tryouts

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Kyle Rudolph, George Kittle, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers

Tight ends George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers and Kyle Rudolph #82 of the Minnesota Vikings (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

49ers free-agent target No. 3: Tight end Kyle Rudolph

Kyle Shanahan has long sought a good-quality No. 2 tight end to pair with the All-Pro, George Kittle, but arguably the closest he ever came to having this was in 2020 when now-retired tight end Jordan Reed was on the roster.

Yet both players dealt with multiple injuries throughout that season, and those prevented them from frequently lining up alongside each other.

As is the case with Nate Solder, the best playing days from former Vikings and Giants tight end Kyle Rudolph are likely in the past, his most-recent best-performing season coming in 2018 when he had 634 receiving yards and four touchdowns for Minnesota.

Of course, Rudolph’s one-year stint with the G-Men was horrendous, him achieving a mere 257 yards on 26 catches with a touchdown, although it’s important to admit just how anemic New York’s offense was.

Turning 33 years old this upcoming season, Rudolph still likely has a couple of quality years left in his body, though, and one should surely look at his upside as greater than the two veteran tight ends currently competing for a spot on the 49ers depth chart behind Kittle, Tyler Kroft and Tanner Hudson.

Having played in a Niners-like offense before with the Vikings, Rudolph could feasibly be a seamless fit if San Francisco gives him a chance.