The staff at The Athletic recently conducted a joint mock draft, with one reporter selecting for each team. By the time the San Francisco 49ers were on the hypothetical clock at No. 11, three defensive linemen and two offensive linemen—the two positions widely considered the team's most significant needs—had already been taken.
So, who did 49ers beat writer Matt Barrows select when it was his turn to pick? He threw a curveball, selecting Penn State tight end Tyler Warren for San Francisco.
"Yes, there are bigger needs along San Francisco's offensive and defensive lines, but Kyle Shanahan would have a hard time turning down a chess piece like Warren," Barrows explained. "With one versatile weapon, Deebo Samuel, likely on his way out and another, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, approaching his 33rd birthday, Shanahan could be craving someone he can line up all over the field."
Tight end is undoubtedly a position of need this offseason, though many believe the 49ers may address it in the later rounds of the draft or through free agency. The 49ers have long sought a complementary piece to George Kittle, who led the team with 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns last season. However, Kittle will turn 32 during the 2025 season, his ninth in the league.
Warren was a standout playmaker for Penn State in 2024, hauling in 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. He also added 26 carries for 218 yards and four rushing touchdowns, showcasing his versatility and creating matchup nightmares for opposing defenses.
"That Warren is big and physical enough to play inline also could save George Kittle some of those snaps and prolong his career," Barrows added. "For years, the 49ers have been eying an Aaron Hernandez-Rob Gronkowski-like personnel group. A Kittle-Warren duo? That would drive defensive coordinators mad."
Barrows isn't the only one who believes the 49ers could target the Penn State tight end. Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area also projected the team selecting Warren in a recent mock draft.
"Yes, the 49ers might have bigger needs on the offensive and defensive lines," Maiocco wrote. "But there is not another game-changer they can take here that compares to the ultra-versatile Warren."