The 49ers have been on the hunt for a tight end who offers some pass catching upside next to George Kittle. Previous attempts to find that player have come via undrafted rookies, late-round draft picks and journeyman free agents. Now they’ve invested a third-round pick in Alabama TE Cameron Latu in hopes that he can be the player they’ve been searching for.
While blocking is key to getting on the field as a TE for San Francisco, the ability to affect the game as a pass catcher would add a new dimension to an offense that already throws a ton of layers at defenses.
Latu over his last two seasons with the Crimson Tide posted 56 catches for 787 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 49ers the last two seasons got a combined 16 receptions, 265 receiving yards and two touchdowns from tight ends Ross Dwelley, Charlie Woerner and Tyler Kroft. They need help in that area for a couple reasons.
First is the versatility the 49ers’ offense can throw at defense. Two tight-end sets in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s scheme could be extremely difficult to stop if Latu develops as a legitimate pass-catching threat.
The other issue is George Kittle’s availability and importance to the offense. San Francisco really struggles when Kittle is out in part because they miss him in the passing game. Latu isn’t going to be Kittle, but if he can at least be a viable option it helps buoy the offense in ways Dwelley and Woerner can’t.
Kittle is also turning 30 early in this season and the 49ers have to at least start thinking about what life at TE looks like post-Kittle. Finding a TE in Round 3 who can potentially develop into a starting-caliber player at that spot was a priority for San Francisco.
Latu isn’t a great blocker yet, but he can play in line or on the move, and that ability to line up all over the field is a good starting point. Some coaching and playing alongside Kittle should help him in the blocking department. If he continues ascending as a pass catcher (he had zero catches through his first three seasons at Alabama) he should be the 49ers’ No. 2 TE right away.
