The San Francisco 49ers are rumored to be considering a daring move before the 2025 NFL Draft—possibly trading All-Pro tight end George Kittle for a top 10 draft pick.

The reason? To acquire Penn State standout Tyler Warren, a highly regarded tight end who might become the franchise's next face.

George Kittle Trade Rumors Are Spreading

NFL Trade Rumors: 49ers Could Trade George Kittle If They NFL Trade Rumors: 49ers Could Trade George Kittle If They
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With George Kittle looking for a record-breaking contract extension, the 49ers front office is in a difficult financial bind. The team is having trouble staying under the salary cap, and bringing back both quarterback Brock Purdy and Kittle might not be feasible, per Athlon Sports.

This has caused rumblings that San Francisco might trade Kittle to clear cap space while also reloading with youth.

Insiders are proposing the Jacksonville Jaguars as a premier trade partner. The Jaguars have the cap room to absorb Kittle's next contract and lost tight end Evan Engram to free agency. That's a big void left in Jacksonville's offense: one Kittle might fill comfortably in Liam Coen's recently installed system.

Why Tyler Warren is Worth the Gamble

Tyler Warren is likely to be a top 10 selection in this year's NFL Draft, prized for his physical playing style and world-class athleticism. His on-field style of play has already been likened to Kittle himself.

To bring Warren aboard, the 49ers will have to trade up into the top five to bypass other interested teams, Sports Illustrated reports.

One possible scenario that has been bandied about by draft gurus involves the Niners trading Kittle and other draft capital to the Jaguars in exchange for the No. 5 overall pick.

In that case, Warren would likely become San Francisco's next starting tight end—and could be shaped in the wake of Kittle's shadow. He would be a great support for Brock Purdy, who is also caught in the rumor mill.

Can the 49ers Afford to Hold Both?

While it would be nice to match Kittle with his probable replacement, it's not financially likely. The 49ers already have several stars on high-priced deals, and tacking on a large extension for the 2024 Salute to Service awardee on top of a rookie contract for Warren might push their budget too far.

The 49ers' front office will have to make a difficult decision: hold on to their aging star and risk cap constraints or ship him out when his value is at its highest and reload with a talented rookie.

The 2025 NFL Draft is coming closer, and fans need to wait until April 24 to see if the 49ers will make a huge trade with Warren's signing or sign Kittle long-term.