Three tight ends 49ers could target in 2023 NFL Draft

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The 49ers have just three tight ends on their roster, including All-Pro George Kittle, and likely will add depth in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

The team doesn’t have a draft selection until the third round at No. 99 overall, but this class is rich with prospects that 49ers general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan could target with one of their 11 choices.

Here are three tight ends who could seamlessly fit in the Bay alongside Kittle, Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley.

Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan

Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 251 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.63 seconds
Age: 24

Schoonmaker caught 35 of 45 targets for 418 yards and three touchdowns in his final season at Michigan, enough to earn him an All-Big Ten third team nod. He is athletic and known as a good route runner.

One area where Schoonmaker could improve is his run-blocking abilities. As a former high school quarterback, the 24-year old sees the field differently than most at his position, which might explain his strength in efficiency as a receiver.

Schoonmaker is slated as a third-round pick in most mock drafts, and the 49ers own three selections there, at Nos. 99, 101 and 102 overall. Schoonmaker could thrive learning from Kittle and Co. while developing into a solid option down the stretch.

Davis Allen, Clemson

Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 245 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.84 seconds
Age: 22 

Allen, a team captain in his final season at Clemson, caught 39 of 51 targets for 443 yards and five touchdowns as a senior to earn All-ACC third team honors. Eleven of the his catches were contested, which ties him for the third most of all tight ends entering the draft, per Pro Football Focus

Allen is a solid prospect who could be available deep in the third round or later, making him a potential 49ers selection. He not only is a solid route runner, but he's also a positional blocker who didn't miss a single game in college.

What might make Allen even more attractive to Lynch and Shanahan is his experience on both kick returns and punt coverages. That well-rounded résumé could make him an attractive option on Day 2 of the draft. 

Payne Durham, Purdue

Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 253 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.87 seconds
Age: 22

If the 49ers decide to pick a tight end later in the draft, they own three fifth-round selections -- Nos. 155, 164 and 173 overall. Durham would be a solid option at one of those picks, as he caught 56 of 77 targets for 560 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022, his fourth and final season at Purdue.

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Durham has a nice catch radius but also is a bit slower than his peers, with a 40-yard dash time of 4.87 seconds. What makes him attractive, though, is his leadership and his willingness to take on defenders. He was voted team captain by his Boilermaker teammates.

While Durham might be a little raw, he has potential to develop into a solid option behind Kittle in Shanahan's offense.

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