Anyone who watched the 49ers saw how valuable Delanie Walker was to that team. Walker was used in so many different ways. He was a key player on special teams specifically the coverage unit. At one point, he even was a kick returner. More importantly, he teamed with Vernon Davis to form a dangerous 12 personnel package. Walker was the “move tight end” for the 49ers. They were able to create mismatches by having Delanie Walker catch balls out of the backfield and also lining him up out wide. Who will the 49ers use to fill the void that was left when Walker signed a new deal with the Tennessee Titans? Garrett Celek is an option and he did play a bit more as the season the season went on.

The better option will be via the draft.

Here are three tight ends that would be good selections:

Jordan Reed TE Florida

Watch Jordan Reed vs Texas A & M

Jordan Reed is the most athletic of the trio. He is 6’2” 236 lbs. Reed played a variety of positions at Florida. He was used as an inline tight end, detached tight end and as an H – back. Reed is best utilized when he gets the ball in space which is why he did play some running back at Florida. He isn’t as physical of a player as Travis Kelce but he is an adequate blocker. He projects as a move tight end in the NFL. Some scouts compare him to Aaron Hernandez. His primary weakness is his footwork in blocking. This is something that can be corrected with coaching. Jordan Reed is a likely third round selection in the draft. The 49ers do have two selections in the third round so there could be a match there.

Gavin Escobar TE San Diego State

Watch Gavin Escobar vs Boise State

Gavin Escobar is a former high school basketball player. At 6’6” 254 lbs he will be a very dangerous receiving option on seam routes. He is a natural hands catcher and can easily track the ball over his shoulders. A tall athlete like Escobar usually has long strides. This allows him to run the seam route like a wide receiver and eats up a lot of ground quickly. Escobar was often used in pre snap motion similar to how the 49ers used Delanie Walker. He is able to hold his blocks on running plays but is not consistent. Blocking is definitely not his best attribute but the mismatches that his 6’6” frame creates in the passing game make him an intriguing prospect. Watching him will make many think of Jimmy Graham. They have a very similar body type. The recent dominance of tight ends such as Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham will make a team covet Escobar and draft him earlier than most people think. He could also be a third round selection for the 49ers.

Travis Kelce TE Cincinnati

Watch Travis Kelce vs Duke

Travis Kelce is a bully on offense which would fit right in with the hard nose mentality that is prevalent on the 49ers. He is 6’5” 255 lbs and uses every bit of that to block by moving players off of the ball. The blood lines are definitely there, his older brother Jason plays center for the Philadelphia Eagles. Kelce is very athletic and is surprisingly able to stretch the field vertically. He did a lot of damage out of the slot and offers a very wide catching radius that will appeal to quarterbacks. His physical style of play makes him harder to bring down after the catch. If you look at Kelce’s size and toughness you will see that he is very similar to Heath Miller. Both of these players are 6’5” and Miller only outweighs Kelce by a single pound (256 lbs to 255 lbs). Neither of these players are very explosive fast twitch athletes but somehow they many to get open often. Heath Miller is known as one of the better run blocking tight ends today. Kelce is a tight end that can develop into one of the more complete players in the NFL and would be a really good selection for the 49ers in the mid rounds.