The San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to have 28 players hit free agency this offseason, but NFL Media contributor Kevin Patra believes one offensive playmaker stands out as a clear priority to retain given the current circumstances.
With All-Pro tight end George Kittle recovering from a torn Achilles suffered during San Francisco's playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles, his availability for the start of the 2026 NFL season remains uncertain. Kittle also missed six games during the 2025 season due to injury, opening the door for backup tight end Jake Tonges to step into a larger role.
Tonges capitalized on the opportunity, emerging as a reliable complementary weapon for quarterback Brock Purdy. He finished the 2025 season with 34 receptions for 293 yards and five touchdowns, a performance that earned him recognition from Patra as San Francisco's unsung hero of the season.
The tight end is set to become a restricted free agent, and Patra views re-signing Tonges as an easy decision for the 49ers entering 2026.
"With injuries riddling San Francisco's roster, Kyle Shanahan's offense needed to unearth production from unexpected places," Patra wrote. "He found it in Tonges. The backup tight end's regular-season numbers don't pop off the screen: 34 catches on 46 targets for 293 yards and five touchdowns. That will happen when George Kittle is the top target on the depth chart. But this was a serious uptick in usage for a player who'd caught zero passes in his career after going undrafted in 2022, with much of his production (29 catches, 269 yards, three TDs) coming in games Kittle missed during the regular season."
Tonges originally joined the 49ers' practice squad in September 2023 after spending the 2022 season with the Chicago Bears. He signed a reserve/future contract in February 2024 and re-signed with the team on April 17, 2025.
His first career touchdown came in dramatic fashion—a game-winning score against the Seattle Seahawks in San Francisco's regular-season opener on September 7, 2025.
"Niners QBs had a 126.4 passer rating when targeting Tonges in 2025, sixth-best among all TEs with at least 40 targets, per NGS (Next Generation Stats)," Patra wrote. "Given that Kittle is questionable to start the 2026 campaign after suffering a torn Achilles, keeping the restricted free agent around seems like a no-brainer for San Francisco."
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