San Francisco 49ers: Who Is The Answer At Tight End?

Overall

December 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers fans before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi

Overall, the team’s tight end position is not as cluttered as it seems. Most likely, Vernon Davis will return as the starter, with either Derek Carrier or Vance McDonald as the backup.

Guys like Grimble and Cleveland are mainly practice squad guys. They will have to battle for their roster spot, and with the team investing so much in tight end probably won’t make it in the end. They are good in terms of depth, but probably won’t see the field.

Bell and Anderson are great additions and will help the 49ers in the future. As for their rookie years, neither of them will make too much of an impact.

Carrier and McDonald both seem to have some fans within the organization; at least for this year. Both of them will most likely make the roster due to contractual means. They both are big bodied tight ends, but they need to produce to stay on the roster. With Bell and Anderson looming, both players need to watch their tails, and roster spots. As for 2015, Carrier and McDonald are pretty safe.

Davis remains the without a doubt starter going into the 2015 season. Management and fans alike hope that 2014 was an outlier and Davis will return to his former glory. If Davis were to return to his All Pro self, then the tight end issue then wouldn’t be an issue. With Boldin and Smith leading the receiving corps, Davis will be counted on heavily to contribute to the offense.

The 49ers’ management has clearly seen the hole at the tight end position and are trying to improve it, using two draft picks on tight ends. This season they will rely on three guys who were already on the roster, but going forward, the 49ers’ tight end position seems as if it will be a weapon to be reckoned with in the NFC.

Next: San Francisco 49ers: Signing Lance Briggs Would be the Wrong Move