The 49ers spent the offseason looking like a team that might add some extra protection behind George Kittle, but they never actually made the move. Instead, they stuck with Jake Tonges and undrafted free agent Khalil Dinkins and passed on a more established option.
That opened the door for the Chargers, who quietly landed a player San Francisco could have used: veteran tight end David Njoku, signed back in May. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel should have plenty of ways to work him into the offense.
Njoku has spent his entire career with the Cleveland Browns, and the résumé is solid. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2023, when he posted 882 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Across nine NFL seasons, he has more than 4,000 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns.
Injuries slowed him down over the last two years, with Njoku appearing in 12 games in 2024 and 11 last season. Even so, the former first-round pick has generally been available throughout his career.
The Chargers gave him $8 million, a price tag that may have been a little steep, but one the 49ers could have handled if they had decided Kittle needed a more proven safety net.
McDaniel has already shown he knows how to use tight ends. Last season in Miami, he got a strong return from Darren Waller, who caught six touchdowns in nine games. That makes Njoku a natural fit for Justin Herbert, too.
A big reason San Francisco may have stayed put is Kittle’s recovery from his Achilles tear. By the sound of it, he’s made a remarkable comeback, and there’s even a chance he could be ready for Week 1 in Australia. That would be a stunning turnaround after it once looked like he might miss most of the 2026 season.
Even with that progress, there’s still an argument that the 49ers should have brought in a more proven backup regardless. Kittle is 32, and he dealt with a hamstring issue early last season, so the possibility of missed time is real.
But he’s also the best tight end in football. If he returns looking like himself, nobody in San Francisco will care that the team passed on a bigger insurance policy.
If Kittle is limited and Njoku starts making plays for the Chargers, though, the regret will be hard to ignore.
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