The San Francisco 49ers are hopeful that star tight end George Kittle will not miss too much of the 2026 NFL season. Some reports suggest he may even be ready by Week 1 as he rehabs his torn Achilles suffered in the playoffs.
That would be insane, but the Niners have to be cautious with their eccentric star. If he is not fully healthy, then they should not have him playing. And to be extra cautious, they should even consider getting some insurance for Kittle if he has a setback or has to miss the first few weeks of the season or more.
While San Francisco has clear needs at wide receiver and edge rusher, it'd be wise to think about the present and future of the tight end position.
That is why they should consider drafting Kenyon Sadiq in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Last season with the Oregon Ducks, Sadiq had 51 receptions for 560 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He is just 20 years old, but he is 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds. His scouting report also says that he is an elite blocker and he has even drawn comparisons to Kittle.
Kittle is probably not done after his injury. It would surprise no one if he came back and was the exact same guy after returning from injury. But he is 32 years old now, so it seems inevitable that he will decline at some point.
That is why it may be essential to get his future replacement now.
Imagine Kittle and Sadiq on the field at the same time. That would make the Niners better in the run game since both excel at blocking, and it would also improve the passing game as both can be threats down the field.
The 49ers will have Luke Farrell on the roster next season and Jake Tonges is a restricted free agent, so he may not be back in the red and gold in 2026. The Niners would be wise to retain both just in case, since Farrell is a decent blocker and Tonges showed he can be a reliable pass-catcher.
But adding Sadiq into the mix would give the Niners more of a premium insurance policy if Kittle is unable to go at the start of the season.
It's not fun to think about a day when Kittle may no longer be with the 49ers, but that day will inevitably come.
And when it does, having Sadiq would make the transition a lot smoother.