The Seattle Seahawks don't have a ton of roster needs as they head into the offseason after winning Super Bowl 60 on the San Francisco 49ers' home turf at Levi's Stadium.
But, after hiring former Niners tight ends coach Brian Fleury to replace Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator, it wouldn't be a shock if Fleury tried bringing some of his now-former players in San Francisco with him to the Pacific Northwest.
Especially those whom he coached directly.
A possible name to watch here is backup tight end Jake Tonges, a No. 2 on the 49ers depth chart who filled in admirably for All-Pro George Kittle over the first half of the season when the latter was dealing with a serious hamstring injury.
Coming out of nowhere, the undrafted Tonges recorded 34 catches for 293 yards and five touchdowns over the course of the regular season.
A restricted free agent, Tonges is either someone whom the Niners opt to sign to an extension, tag (albeit at a cost higher than he's likely worth) or let hit the open market.
And Fleury might ultimately force San Francisco's decision, should he see fit.
Brian Fleury's Seahawks might try prying Jake Tonges away from 49ers
Tonges has value for the 49ers entering 2026, especially with Kittle possibly missing a significant chunk of the regular season after tearing his Achilles in the Wild Card round last January. Even if Kittle returns, the Los Gatos, California, native showcased his value as a backup throughout last season.
The Niners likely wouldn't want to slap a first- or even a second-round tender on Tonges, which would cost over $8 million or $5 million, respectively. But a "right of first refusal" tender might block any attempt by Fleury and the Hawks to add to their own tight end depth chart.
As for Seattle, it might aim to bolster its tight end room if Fleury doesn't see 2025 rookie Elijah Arroyo as a key cog in his offense behind the veteran, A.J. Barner. And with backup tight end Brady Russell, too, a restricted free agent, aiming for someone like Tonges could be in the Seahawks' plans.
It might ultimately come down to San Francisco calling the Hawks' bluff, ultimately letting Tonges hit the open market and seeing whether or not Seattle makes a quick move.
Or, just as easily, the 49ers may opt to sign Tonges on a longer-term deal that'd be annually cheaper than a one-year tender.
Either way, Fleury's departure makes this a case study to watch, and the Niners certainly don't want one of their unsung heroes from 2025 heading to an NFC West rival as part of the fallout.