With George Kittle expected to miss time early in the 2026 season as he rehabs from a significant injury, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Kittle has long been the emotional and tactical centerpiece of Kyle Shanahan’s offense - a tone-setter in both the run and pass game - and his absence isn’t something this team can just shrug off.
But this is a franchise with Super Bowl aspirations, and standing still isn’t an option. If San Francisco wants to keep its offense humming while Kittle gets right, adding a proven tight end through free agency could be the move that keeps them on track. The 2026 free agent class offers a few intriguing options - each with a different skill set, but all capable of holding down the fort until No. 85 is back in uniform.
Let’s break down three names who could step in and make an impact.
Kyle Pitts: The Splash Move
If the 49ers want to go bold, Kyle Pitts is the name that jumps off the board. He’s not your traditional hand-in-the-dirt tight end - he’s a hybrid weapon, a 6-foot-6 matchup nightmare who can line up just about anywhere. Pitts has the speed to stretch defenses vertically and the frame to win contested catches, making him a headache for linebackers and safeties alike.
In Shanahan’s offense, Pitts wouldn’t just be a fill-in for Kittle - he’d be a dynamic chess piece. Imagine him lining up in the slot or out wide, drawing coverage away from Christian McCaffrey and Ricky Pearsall. He opens up the field in ways few tight ends can, and once Kittle returns, the potential for two-tight-end sets with both on the field is downright scary.
Of course, Pitts won’t come cheap. But if the 49ers are serious about maintaining an elite passing attack and not missing a beat while Kittle heals, this is the kind of move that could pay major dividends.
Isaiah Likely: The Underrated Fit
If San Francisco opts for a more economical route, Isaiah Likely makes a lot of sense. He’s not as flashy as Pitts, but he’s quietly become one of the more reliable pass-catching tight ends in the league. Likely has a knack for finding soft spots in zone coverage and consistently moves the chains on third down - traits that fit beautifully in Shanahan’s timing-based system.
He’s not going to bulldoze defenders like Kittle or dominate in-line blocking assignments, but that’s not why you bring in Isaiah Likely. You bring him in because he gives your quarterback a dependable target over the middle and keeps the playbook wide open. His ability to work the seams and operate in motion-heavy sets gives Shanahan the flexibility he craves.
Likely wouldn’t replace Kittle’s physical edge, but he could keep the offense rhythmically intact - and that’s no small thing.
David Njoku: The Physical Presence
Then there’s David Njoku - a player who brings a different kind of impact. Njoku is a physical specimen with the kind of size, strength, and athleticism that makes defensive coordinators sweat. He’s a legitimate red-zone threat, a strong route-runner in the intermediate game, and a willing blocker who’s held up well in multiple offensive systems.
Njoku’s versatility would give the 49ers a more traditional tight end presence while still offering explosive upside. He’s not going to replicate Kittle’s all-around dominance - few can - but he’d bring a level of consistency and toughness that fits right in with the 49ers’ offensive DNA. And when Kittle returns, Njoku could still carve out a meaningful role in multi-tight-end sets or as a red-zone specialist.
The Bottom Line
Replacing George Kittle? That’s not realistic.
He’s a one-of-one - a tone-setter, a culture guy, and one of the most complete tight ends the game has seen in years. But finding a short-term solution who can keep the offense on schedule while he recovers?
That’s a must.
Whether San Francisco swings big with Kyle Pitts, plays it smart with Isaiah Likely, or leans into physicality with David Njoku, there are viable paths to bridging the gap. And with the right move, the 49ers can stay firmly in the Super Bowl mix - even without their star tight end on the field.