Round 5
TE George Kittle | Pick 146 | 2017
Finding a starter in the fifth round is nice. Finding an All-Pro, future Hall of Famer is how teams go from bottom feeder to the Super Bowl in three seasons. Kittle is already considered the best tight end in the league, and in 2019 was voted by Pro Football Focus as the best overall player in football. He’s a dynamite run blocker and a monster as a pass catcher. Getting Kittle’s talent in Round 1 would’ve been great. Getting it in Round 5 is exceedingly rare.
WR Trent Taylor | Pick 177 | 2017
Injuries have kept Taylor from building on a strong rookie year where he caught 43 passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns. However, he was arguably the team’s best receiver in camp prior to a season-ending foot injury in 2019. Now he has a chance going into Year 4 to re-emerge as a significant player in the 49ers’ passing attack. If he gets there, the 2017 fifth round could be one of the best Lynch puts together as a GM.
LB Dre Greenlaw | Pick 148 | 2019
It looked like the Arkansas product was going to be relegated to special teams when he was first drafted, but Greenlaw quickly worked his way onto the starting unit in the offseason and grabbed the starting Sam linebacker spot to start the year. He eventually filled in for the injured Kwon Alexander at Will linebacker and turned in an excellent rookie campaign. Greenlaw is excellent at getting sideline-to-sideline and playing in coverage. He fits in well with the 49ers’ exceptionally athletic linebacking corps and should emerge as a long-term starter in San Francisco.
Other Round 5 picks by Lynch: DB DJ Reed (2018)