Jake Tonges

TE·

San Francisco 49ers·#88·6'4"·240 lb·4th year·California

Tier 1Undrafted in 2022

Updated November 6, 2026

76.6

Model Score

Resting on limited playing time

Trade value ·a 5th

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Jake Tonges is a TE for the San Francisco 49ers on a deal paying $4M a year through 2027, a $2.1M cap hit in 2026 (updated November 6, 2026).

STM Take

A depth tight end who produces only when the starter sits.

The case for

Three Wks 4-6 2025 produced 14.8, 17.1, and 11.8 PPR plus a Wk 17 19 PPR spike. UDFA who held an active-roster role through 2025 is meaningful per-snap value.
California TE pedigree plus three years of practice-squad survival means above-average football IQ and pass-protection acumen for a depth piece.

The worry

Tier 8 (#30) first ranking at age 27 means there is no meaningful development arc ahead of him.
George Kittle's role plus the 49ers' typical TE2 investments (multiple draftees over the past three seasons) means the 2026 role depends entirely on Kittle's health.

What to watch: Whether the 49ers retain him through 2026 final cuts behind George Kittle or move on for a younger TE2 addition.

Full take and bio

First STTM ranking at age 27 confirms the role: defined practice-squad survivor who got a meaningful 2025 stretch when injuries hit. Wks 4-6 (14.8, 17.1, 11.8 PPR) plus a Wk 17 19 PPR spike show the ceiling when George Kittle is limited, but the surrounding weeks (Wks 11 0, 16 1.7, 19 2.4) confirm the depth-piece floor. He is a UDFA whose 2025 sample was injury-driven.

Tonges came out of California as an undrafted free agent in 2022 with Chicago. He bounced between practice squads (Chicago, San Francisco) for three seasons before earning meaningful 2025 reps with the 49ers as George Kittle's blocking complement and emergency receiving piece. His 2025 #30 (tier 8) is his first career STTM ranking, anchored by a Wks 4-6 stretch (14.8, 17.1, 11.8 PPR) when injuries opened the room.

Comps

The players whose size, testing and production looked most like his at the same point in their careers. The percent is how close.

Bubba Franks ’0283%

Dawson Knox ’2281%Randy McMichael ’0674%Dennis Pitta ’1273%Bo Scaife ’0870%

Plays like: Pat Freiermuth, Kyle Rudolph, Hunter Henry. Coming out: Jerell Adams, Stephen Sullivan, Ryan Izzo.

Of his 20 closest coming out: 1 star, 5 starters, 10 backups, 4 didn't stick.

Jake Tonges Injury StatusIR

Jake Tonges is listed on injured reserve (Knee - MCL), reported Sep 16, with a return date of Feb 15. Source: the official NFL injury report, refreshed daily.