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PFF’s Mike Renner did an exercise examined the best Day-3 draft picks since PFF started grading college football and what scouting takeaways can be gleaned from their success. This exercise wouldn’t be complete without including San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle. Here is Renner’s blurb on the Niners star tight end:
146. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – IOWA TE GEORGE KITTLE (2017)
Reason He Fell: Kittle had 43 catches during his entire college career and 22 for 309 yards his final season. It’s simply difficult to be too high on a player you’ve barely seen catch the football. Kittle also missed seven games his final two seasons at Iowa with injury.
PFF’s Take at the Time: We were fans of Kittle’s game, as he checked in 70th on our draft board, but that obviously wasn’t nearly high enough. He earned a 93.8 overall grade in 2015 and 78.6 in 2016 with eight broken tackles on 42 catches over that span.
What We Learned: Athleticism matters at tight end. To produce like a wide receiver in the NFL, you have to move like one. Kittle’s 4.52 40, 7.00 3-cone, and 11-foot broad jump were all exceptional numbers for the position. The tight ends who have the juice to get open down the field are the true needle movers at the position.
Much is made about Kittle’s college stats. I was in Iowa City during his college career. Injuries and Iowa’s offense are
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