NFL Combine Preview: Tight Ends on the 49ers Draft Radar

The 49ers desperately need to draft a tight end to complement George Kittle next season and eventually replace him.

Sure, the 49ers have George Kittle, who's terrific, but they don't have a quality No. 2 tight end, and haven't had one since Delanie Walker left 10 years ago.

The 49ers overuse Kittle. He's almost 30, and yet he still plays 90 percent of the 49ers' offensive snaps, which is a big reason he has missed at least two games in each of the past four seasons.

Since the 49ers drafted Kittle in Round 5 of the 2017 draft, they have picked just two tight ends in five years: Kaden Smith in Round 6 of the 2019 draft, and Charlie Woerner in Round 6 of the 2020 draft. Smith never played a game with the 49ers, and Woerner mostly plays special teams.

The 49ers desperately need to draft a tight end to complement Kittle next season and eventually replace him. Fortunately for them, the upcoming draft is loaded with talented tight ends, who will work out this week at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Here are three tight ends who should be on the 49ers radar

Darnell Washington, (Georgia)

Pros: Best blocking tight end in the draft. Large catch radius. Extremely tough to tackle when he hits his top speed. Fast. Hurdles defenders.

Cons: Not a great route runner.

Draft stock: Rounds 2-3. The 49ers would have to trade up to get him.

Tucker Kraft (South Dakota State)

Pros: Sells his routes and separates from man-to-man coverage. Excellent hand-eye coordination. Made nine contested catches in 12 opportunities. Forced 9 missed tackles in five games.

Cons: Not a great blocker. Not explosive. Missed eight games with a right ankle injury.

Draft stock: Rounds 3-4. There's a chance he'll fall to the 49ers, who own pick No. 99.

Payne Durham (Purdue)

Pros: Runs through defenders. Broke 10 tackles. Good blocker. Tough. Physical.

Cons: Not a particularly fluid athlete.

Draft stock: Rounds 3-5.

BONUS: Brayden Willis (Oklahoma)

Pros: Versatile. Could be an H-back or a fullback. Slightly undersized but athletic. Good running after the catch (forced 50 missed tackles). Good blocker. Can line up in the slot. A nice mismatch piece for Kyle Shanahan.

Cons: Dropped 7 percent of his targets.

Draft stock: Rounds 4-6.