A list of the tight ends the 49ers have met with as the NFL Combine continues
The tight ends and defensive backs will work out on Friday at the NFL Combine. Their workouts are scheduled for 12 p.m. PT.
The 2025 tight-end class is deep enough for the San Francisco 49ers to find George Kittle a sidekick turned heir apparent. Penn State’s tight end Tyler Warren is the unanimous No. 1 tight end after a season where he had 1,230 yards and eight touchdowns. I have my reservations about Warren’s top-end athleticism and potential to be a one-year wonder.
The 49ers have met with five tight ends, with the thought that Warren may not be available at No. 11 or too rich for them.
Mason Taylor – LSU – Tight end
The Niners had an informal meeting with Mason Taylor. He fits their profile at 6’5”, 255 pounds. Taylor played 251 snaps as an in-line tight end and 248 snaps in the slot. He also comes from an offense that asked Taylor to wear multiple hats. We will re-visit Taylor’s testing numbers, as he’s an intriguing prospect who is being buried in a deep class. Taylor ranks No. 93 on PFF’s big board.
Jake Briningstool – TE – Clemson
Briningstool said he has met with the Niners and the Miami Dolphins. He’s 6’6” and 240 pounds, so it’s no surprise that he spent more time in the slot than as an in-line tight end at that weight.
I don’t have a strong opinion on Briningstool, who checks in at No. 150 on PFF’s big board. Clemson’s offense was clunky and inconsistent. Briningstool said he’s been compared to Mike Geisicki. He catches and tracks the ball well and has similar ball skills. That comp makes a lot of sense.
Colston Loveland – TE – Michigan
Loveland had an official meeting with the 49ers. Loveland injured his shoulder in the tenth game of the season last year. He had surgery at the end of January. During his media availability, Loveland said, “So from the 29th, after three months, I am able to run around and catch balls, have the whole range. After six months, I can do contact.”
Teams must ask if Loveland is good enough to warrant a high pick, knowing he’ll miss all of training camp.
The answer, emphatically, is yes.
Loveland ranks No. 34 on PFF’s big board. That feels low. If you’re unfamiliar with college football, Michigan’s offensive production is on par with how the Tennesee Titans looked with Mason Rudolph.
Loveland had 582 receiving yards, which feels like a minor miracle. With J.J. McCarthy the season prior, Loveland averaged 14.4 yards per reception and caught 45 of his 62 targets. That still doesn’t do Loveland justice for how often he got Michigan’s offense out of bad situations.
Loveland has star potential to me and is the best tight end in the class. If he goes to an offense that is halfway competent, he will flourish as a rookie. He’s a player you can trust to get open when you need him the most.
Harold Fannin Jr. – Bowling Green – TE
Fannin Jr. is a personal favorite, which is why I took him in a mock draft earlier in the week. Fannin Jr. had a formal meeting with the 49ers.
He has YAC ability that few tight ends possess, can run by you before he gets the ball, and is football savvy enough to recognize a blitz and sit down in the soft spots of zone coverage. Fannin Jr. is a player who will easily outplay his draft slot.
The other tight end the 49ers met with is CJ Dippre, but that was an informal meeting. Dippre’s school, you ask? Alabama.
Here’s the list of defensive backs the 49ers had formal meetings with:
Andrew Mukuba – Texas – Safety
Quincy Riley – Louisville – Cornerback
Max Hairston – Kentucky – Cornerback
Cobee Bryant – Kansas – Cornerback
Will Johnson – Michigan – Cornerback
Jacob Parrish – Kansas State – Cornerback
Mukuba was a part of an outstanding secondary in Austin. He allowed the fourth-best passer rating in the class. Mukuba was listed at 5’11”, 186 pounds, but looks and plays like he’s 210-215 pounds. Mukuba finished with five interceptions but could have easily had eight. He has a nose for the football and the type of instincts you cannot teach at the position. It’s unclear where he’ll go in the draft. PFF has him No. 103. That would feel like a gift if you’re the 49ers.