Cutting bait on tight end McDonald
Underperformer dealt to Steelers for minimal return
at first you can’t trade Vance McDonald, try, try again.
Just ask the 49ers, who dealt their projected starting tight end to the Steelers on Tuesday four months after they initially attempted to deal McDonald during the NFL draft. ESPN reported the 49ers also gave the Steelers a 2018 fifth-round pick and they received a 2018 fourth-round selection in return.
McDonald, a 2013 secondround pick, never came close to realizing expectations that were fueled by Jim Harbaugh invoking Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka after McDon- ald was drafted. In four seasons, McDonald, who wore Ditka’s No. 89 that Harbaugh made sure he was issued as a rookie, has 64 catches, 866 yards and seven touchdowns. He has missed 16 games due to injury.
The 49ers gave McDonald a five-year extension with a
maximum value of $35 million in December, a move that was surprising given his modest production and then-general manager Trent Baalke’s shaky job status. McDonald was due to count $4.16 million against the salary cap this season.
The trade strongly suggests the 49ers are confident in rookie George Kittle, a fifthround pick from Iowa. They could also be envisioning an expanded role for fullback Kyle Juszczyk, whom general manager John Lynch has termed an “offensive weapon.” In March, the 49ers hailed Juszczyk’s versatility after making him the NFL’s highest-paid fullback.
Juszczyk has 97 career catches, which is more than any tight end on the 49ers roster, and splits his time with running backs and tight ends.
“We’ve been doing a lot already,” Juszczyk said when asked about seeing more time at tight end. “But we’ll see here in the next couple days what exactly (head coach Kyle Shanahan) has in store for me.”
The 49ers’ other tight ends include Logan Paulsen and Garrett Celek, who are better known for their blocking ability. Their other tight ends are Cole Hikutini, an undrafted rookie who had a quiet training camp, and Blake Bell, a 2015 fourthround pick with 19 career catches.
The 49ers drafted Kittle as they were attempting to trade McDonald in the spring. Kittle’s receiving ability was not emphasized at Iowa, where he had 48 career catches.
Kittle has dealt with a hamstring injury in the preseason and has three catches for 33 yards. His highlight was a catch-and-run, 29-yard touchdown reception against the Broncos.
“I’m just trying to make the most of every opportunity I have,” Kittle said. “If this (trade) gives me more opportunities, I’m just going to keep trying to take advantage of (them). I think it just puts a weight on every single tight end’s shoulders … because we have to take on a bigger load now that Vance is gone.”
McDonald has been dogged by dropped passes throughout his career, and the 49ers traded him after his hands remained unreliable this summer. Most notably, he dropped a 2nd-and-13 pass from Brian Hoyer during the first drive of the 49ers’ loss to the Broncos in their second preseason game.
McDonald’s exit is the latest move in a massive offseason housecleaning: Fifty-nine percent of the players on the roster (51 of 87) have been acquired since Lynch and Shanahan were hired.
During the overhaul, the 49ers have traded or released five 2016 starters: McDonald, wide receiver Torrey Smith, safety Antoine Bethea, outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks and cornerback Tramaine Brock, who was let go after he was arrested for felony domestic violence.