Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Seahawks GM admits 49ers TE George Kittle factored into decision to trade for Jamal Adams
Jul 30, 2020 at 5:37 PM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle can be a handful for opposing defenses. The first-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl selection has recorded back-to-back seasons of over 1,000 receiving yards and highlights of him carrying New Orleans Saints defenders downfield may just be a preview of things to come.
Kittle will likely sign a long-term deal sometime soon, meaning NFC West defenses will have to contend with him for the foreseeable future.
The Seattle Seahawks gave up a haul for former New York Jets safety Jamal Adams. Some would criticize that they gave up too much. But in a division with Kittle lining up across from you twice a year, maybe Seattle felt it had to do something to close the gap on the defending NFC champions.
Did it close the gap? Maybe. Although, the overwhelming belief is that San Francisco remains the best in the NFC West.
Kittle, along with other offensive weapons in the division, factored into Seahawks general manager John Schneider's decision to pull the trigger on sending two first-round picks, another selection, and a player to the Jets to acquire one of the league's best defenders.
"But you have to have so much speed on the back, especially when we're playing against
Kyler Murray and George Kittle and Robert Woods and all these guys that seem like they are just running all over the place," Schneider told Peter King on the NBC Sports writer's podcast (h/t to
Josh Schrock of NBC Sports). "You've got to have as much speed on the field. So adding a guy like Jamal who has that versatility to play down in the box and play in the hole and play man coverage is really important to us."
The Seahawks came close to winning the division last season, falling short at CenturyLink Field thanks to a goal-line tackle by 49ers linebacker
Dre Greenlaw. San Francisco went on to take the NFC West crown and embarked on a playoff journey that ended with a Super Bowl appearance.
The two teams split their regular-season series with each squad winning once on the road.
Added Schneider: "If you look at the National Football League now, especially our division, with all the crossers and talented tight ends that we have, it's important Ugo [Amadi] and [Marquise] Blair and [Quandre] Diggs and now Jamal, it's a really good group. We also have Lano Hill, who two years ago was playing ... at a very, very high level three games in a row and then had a very serious hip injury. He's had a really nice offseason, so we're looking forward to seeing him as well."
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Insider provides clarity on 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors
A questionable rumor surfaced on Wednesday regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers' interest in San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Sports Illustrated contributor Noah Strackbein reported that the AFC team was seemingly confident they could pull off a trade for Aiyuk.
However, the credibility of this report comes into question due to the assertion that the Steelers believe they could acquire Aiyuk at a bargain price, possibly in exchange for a second-round draft pick and a late-round selection.
RELATED: Steelers believe they can acquire Aiyuk at a
Why one analyst is worried for Brock Purdy if 49ers trade Brandon Aiyuk
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy achieved a remarkable feat in 2023, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards. This accomplishment is noteworthy, considering the illustrious quarterbacks who have graced the organization's history.
A significant portion of those yards came from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who amassed a career-high and team-leading 1,342 receiving yards. Most of his 75 catches originated from passes thrown by Purdy.
Amidst significant offseason chatter surrounding the 49ers' star receiver, including several unsubstantiated trade rumors, Aiyuk's future remains uncertain. Former NFL player James Jones, now an analyst, expressed concern for Purdy should Aiyuk's tenure in the Bay Area come to an end.
"I
7-round mock draft: 49ers trade up to fortify secondary
The San Francisco 49ers first selection in next week's draft comes at No. 31 overall. However, NFL Media analyst Chad Reuter doesn't have the Bay Area team remaining at that spot in the first round. In his seven-round mock draft, he envisions the 49ers striking a deal with the Green Bay Packers to move up six spots to No. 25 overall, where they select former Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Reuter notes, "Whether it's for a cornerback like McKinstry, an offensive lineman or a receiver, the 49ers could very well give up a mid-round pick to acquire one of the few missing pieces on an otherwise potent roster."
The rest of the mock draft reveals at least part of the
49ers trade up for offensive lineman in mock draft
The San Francisco 49ers hold the No. 31 overall pick, but speculation abounds that they may seek to move before or during the first round of next week's NFL Draft. With the offensive line as a prime target for improvement and the position going mostly ignored in free agency, a strategic trade-up to acquire an impact player could be in the cards.
Alyssa Barbieri proposes such a scenario in her latest mock draft for USA Today's Touchdown Wire. Barbieri envisions the 49ers trading with the Miami Dolphins to move up 10 spots, selecting former Alabama offensive lineman JC Latham.
Latham started 27 games
