Heading into the 2017 NFL Draft, analysts raved over the tight end class as being one of the best in recent memory. The common names that were tossed out were Alabama’s O.J. Howard, Ole Miss’ Evan Engram, Miami’s David Njoku, Virginia Tech’s Bucky Hodges and Michigan’s Jake Butt.
Yet, the ninth tight end that was selected during draft weekend looks to become the best of his class. Iowa’s TE George Kittle was selected 146th in 2017, but looks to one of the 49ers’ best draft picks in the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan era.