Tight end pursuit shows 49ers need to prepare for life after Kittle

The 49ers took the unique measure a year ago to select tight ends in the third- and seventh rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. But the 49ers' unsuccessful pursuit of restricted free-agent tight end Brock Wright indicates they do not believe they have a suitable backup for George Kittle currently on their roster. But it might go even further than that. As sacrilegious as it might seem, the 49ers need to prepare for life after Kittle — even if he showed no signs of slowing down in his seventh NFL season. This is the harsh reality of professional football. And the 49ers dealt with this issue last month. The team proposed significant paycuts for their two longest-tenured players: Defensive tackle Arik Armstead and fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Armstead declined and the 49ers released him. He made the right decision, as he quickly signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars that pays him more than twice what the 49ers had offered. Juszczyk opted to remain with the 49ers on a new deal that created $4 million in salary cap savings but keeps him atop the NFL's pay scale at his position. Guess who is the next longest-tenured 49ers player? That's Kittle. Kittle, 30, is...