Just over a week on from the end of an impressive 2025 season in which they exceeded most people’s expectations, the 49ers will have quickly internally turned their attention to planning for the 2026 campaign.
With college All-Star games taking place this week, those preparations are set to step up as the Niners take steps towards finalizing their board for the 2026 NFL Draft.
A clear sign that draft season is off and running comes with the release of the first mock draft by NFL Media’s foremost draft analyst,
Daniel Jeremiah.
That came on Monday and, with Pick 27 in the first round, Jeremiah has the 49ers settling on a succession plan for one of their best players.
In his mock, the 49ers get an heir apparent for George Kittle and select Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
Jeremiah writes:
“Sadiq could go much higher than 27th overall. 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.”
The 49ers have struggled to find a TE2 who can provide an impact as a receiver and a blocker when Kittle is off the field — though Jake Tonges impressed as a pass-catcher this season —and, after tearing his Achilles in the wild-card round, Kittle is likely to be off the field to start the 2026 season.
Sadiq is a prospect with tremendous versatility. He played 314 snaps as an in-line tight end for Oregon in 2025, while playing 331 in the slot, 69 out wide and 23 in the backfield.
That is why Jeremiah referred to him as a chess piece, and there has been plenty of evidence over his final two seasons in college that he could blossom into a big-time playmaker in the NFL, having averaged 11.2 yards per reception over the course of 2024 and 2025. Sadiq scored eight touchdowns for the Ducks this past season.
Still only 20, Sadiq would help the 49ers get younger on offense and potentially open more possibilities for San Francisco throwing the ball out of heavy personnel sets with his versatility in where he can line up.
The 49ers have many needs this offseason despite their 12-5 record. Tight end might not be at the top of the list but, after passing on Tyler Warren last year, there’s a case for setting themselves up for the long term at the position and taking Sadiq.
