Day 3 of the NFL Draft is where the San Francisco 49ers have targeted needs on offense.
After trading for running back Kapri Bibbs and drafting running back Joe Williams, John Lynch drafted Iowa tight end George Kittles in the second round.
On Friday, I reported the 49ers would target a tight end on Day 2, but it ended up being Day 3. Kittle is a shifty athlete who has been compared to both Chris Cooley and Charles Clay. He is an H-back type of chess piece. The 6-foot-4, 247-pounder caught 22 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns last season but was limited with a foot injury in the second half of the season. Kittle was obviously teammates with C.J. Beathard, who the 49ers took in round three Friday night.
There’s also a report the 49ers are shopping tight end Vance McDonald, who just received a lucrative contract extension in December from Trent Baalke. Garrett Celek, Blake Bell, Logan Paulsen and Je’Ron Hamm are the other tight ends in San Francisco.
Here are the strengths and weaknesses from NFL.com
STRENGTHS
Has broad shoulders and waist with a durable frame. Plays in pro-style attack and approaches blocking like an offensive lineman. Comes off the ball with good pad level and strikes with leverage and hands inside opponent’s frame. Blocks with good technique and has footwork to get to reach blocks and combos. Hands are confident and sure with just one drop against 48 catches. Able to make sudden body adjustments to poorly thrown balls. Flashes vertical speed to become a seam worker. Physical runner after the catch with more wiggle than you would expect.
WEAKNESSES
Patterns are inconsistent and he rarely tilts defenders at the top of his routes. Could generate better separation with improved route leverage. Route breaks can be too easy to decipher. Plays fast but seems to be missing separation burst coming out of his breaks. Needs to work back to the ball harder in space. Allows defenders a pathway to the throw rather than sealing them out of the passing lane. Has tendency to keep weight too far forward as run blocker creating opportunity for defender to pull him off-balance.