While George Kittle might not appreciate the 49ers investing early on another tight end, one late-round prospect would surely net the All-Pro's love.
A tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, especially early in the 2025 NFL Draft, would certainly be a luxury pick.
After all, the Niners have a flurry of other more-pressing needs, mainly on defense, and the fact All-Pro George Kittle is still playing at an elite level despite being on the wrong side of 30 years old almost crosses off the position from San Francisco's big board.
That said, it's not too hard to find suggestions out there about the 49ers targeting another tight end, especially with such a deep positional class. Even Penn State's Tyler Warren, a likely top-10 target, has been suggested as a darkhorse possibility.
The Niners may wait, though, taking full advantage of the deep class in an attempt to bolster what's been a lackluster depth chart behind Kittle in recent years.
Should they take this approach, another former Iowa product might soon call the Bay Area home.
Luke Lachey is the ideal pairing mate for George Kittle on 49ers roster
There are plenty of tight end prospects who'd likely fit the bill as TE2 behind the All-Pro.
One, however, would certainly warrant a bit more love from Kittle than the rest, Iowa's Luke Lachey.
Lachey, 6-foot-6 and 251 pounds, might be the ideal kind of developmental tight end in a rich class who wouldn't be under pressure to deliver in a Kittle-like manner right away. A willing blocker, Lachey still needs a lot of refinement in this area, and his route-running skills are far from what the 2017 rookie managed to display during his own rookie season.
That said, like Kittle, Lachey is versatile enough to suggest a high upside of being a good No. 2 tight end early in his career and a modest depth option at his floor.
But, the Hawkeye connection from Kittle's own alma mater moniker, "Tight End University," is enough to suggest the would-be pairing is an intriguing one to watch.
Lachey is widely seen as a late-round prospect, perhaps someone who'd go no sooner than Round 5 (when Kittle was selected) or even in the seventh and final round. For what it's worth, NFL.com's Chad Reuter pegged Lachey to San Francisco in Round 5 at No. 147 overall in a seven-round mock draft recently.
Perhaps two fifth-round tight ends, both from Iowa, would be preferential for the 49ers.
Kittle, too.