San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle played 30 snaps last week against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. The All-Pro recorded two receptions for 12 yards on five targets in his return from an Achilles injury suffered in January.
With just one week of NFL action in the books, it may be too early to look beyond the 2026 season. That didn't stop CBS Sports contributor Josh Edwards from releasing his latest 2027 NFL mock draft.
Edwards has Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who helped engineer an impressive comeback against top-ranked Ohio State over the weekend, going No. 1 overall to the Miami Dolphins, with the draft order based on the current Super Bowl odds.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are selecting at No. 22 overall. With that pick, Edwards has San Francisco acquiring Kittle's potential successor in Oregon tight end Jamari Johnson.
"George Kittle has tapped into the Fountain of Youth but, given San Francisco's prolonged injury issues, it would behoove the 49ers to have depth in that role," Edwards wrote. "I have learned my lesson not to give the team an offensive lineman in the first round."
With Trent Williams nearing the end of his Hall of Fame-worthy career, many projected the 49ers to select an offensive tackle in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. San Francisco didn't address the offensive line until the fourth round, when it selected Carver Willis. The team didn't select an offensive tackle until the fifth round, using its final pick on Enrique Cruz.
As for Johnson, the 6-foot-5, 257-pound tight end is in his second season at Oregon after transferring from Louisville. In 2025, he appeared in 15 games, recording 32 receptions for 510 yards and three touchdowns.
Johnson has already made an impact this season. In one game against Boise State, he hauled in four passes for 57 yards and a touchdown.
While Edwards believes Johnson could provide a long-term option at a position that has become an important part of San Francisco's offense, there is a long way to go before the 2027 NFL Draft, and plenty can change between now and then.
For now, Johnson is simply one potential future option at a position where the 49ers may eventually need to plan for life after Kittle.
More info on: Enrique Cruz, George Kittle, Trent Williams, Carver Willis
Comments