With Kittle set to turn 33 during the 2026 season, it may finally be time for the 49ers to consider a long-term contingency plan at tight end, and potentially begin preparing for life after one of the franchise's cornerstone players.
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah appears to agree. In his first mock draft of the year, Jeremiah projects head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch selecting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq with the No. 27 overall pick as a possible successor to Kittle.
"Sadiq could go much higher than 27th overall," Jeremiah wrote. "He's undersized, but he has outstanding speed and is a competitive blocker. He would be [the] ultimate chess piece for Kyle Shanahan, giving the coach a hybrid of George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk."
Sadiq (6-3, 245) arrived at Oregon as a four-star recruit and played three seasons with the Ducks. During the 2025 season, he recorded 51 receptions for 560 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns. His breakout campaign earned him Big Ten Tight End of the Year honors and first-team All-Big Ten recognition.
Over his three-year collegiate career, Sadiq totaled 80 catches for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also adding nine rushing attempts for 42 yards.
Meanwhile, Kittle is coming off his ninth NFL season, appearing in just 11 regular-season games and finishing with 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns. His 8,008 career receiving yards rank third in 49ers franchise history, behind Jerry Rice (19,247) and Terrell Owens (8,572), while his 595 career receptions rank second, trailing only Rice (1,281).
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