The San Francisco 49ers added another tight end behind George Kittle, officially announcing the signing of former Penn State playmaker Khalil Dinkins as part of their undrafted rookie class.
Dinkins is not arriving as a threat to Kittle’s role, but he gives San Francisco a developmental option with size, blocking experience and enough red-zone production to make him an interesting post-draft addition. The 49ers listed Dinkins at 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds in their April 26 announcement.
The hook is simple: Dinkins did not put up huge receiving numbers at Penn State, but he made a surprising number of his catches count. He finished his college career with 37 receptions and seven touchdowns, meaning nearly 19% of his catches went for scores.
For a 49ers team that asks tight ends to block, cover kicks and fit into a physical offensive identity, Dinkins has a clearer path than his modest stats might suggest.
Khalil Dinkins Gives the 49ers a Blocking-First Tight End
Dinkins’ best season came in 2025, when Penn State credited him with 14 catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns. He also started seven games and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention from both the coaches and media.
That résumé points more toward a depth tight end than a future receiving centerpiece. Dinkins was not a featured weapon in Penn State’s passing game, but he was trusted enough to play real snaps in a major-conference offense.
His production was also efficient near the goal line. Dinkins had two touchdown catches in each of his final three college seasons after scoring on his first career reception in 2022.
That matters because undrafted tight ends usually need a defined calling card. For Dinkins, the first one is blocking. The second is making the most of limited chances.
Steelers Depot draft analyst Alex Kozora described Dinkins as a true in-line tight end with good effort as a blocker, soft hands and pass-protection value, while noting that he is not a dynamic route runner or high-end athlete.
That scouting snapshot fits the 49ers’ needs. San Francisco does not need Dinkins to become a volume target. The more realistic question is whether he can handle physical assignments, contribute on special teams and become dependable enough to keep around as a developmental TE3 or practice-squad piece.
49ers Showed Real Interest With Dinkins’ UDFA Deal
The 49ers did more than toss Dinkins a camp invite. Niners Nation reported that San Francisco gave Dinkins $275,000 guaranteed as part of his undrafted free agent deal.
That does not lock him onto the 53-man roster, but it is meaningful for a UDFA. Guarantees often signal that a team had competition for the player and viewed him as a priority signing after the draft.
Dinkins also had respectable testing numbers during the pre-draft process. The Ringer’s Todd McShay listed him at 6-foot-4 1/4 and 251 pounds with a 4.72-second 40-yard dash, a 4.33-second short shuttle and a 9-foot-11 broad jump. McShay ranked Dinkins as the No. 12 tight end and No. 205 overall prospect in the class.
Those measurables are solid rather than spectacular, which is why the framing should stay grounded. Dinkins is not a hidden superstar. He is a big, experienced tight end with a believable special teams and blocking pathway.
Dinkins Has a Narrow but Real Path Behind George Kittle
Kittle remains the clear centerpiece of the 49ers’ tight end room. Any undrafted rookie tight end in San Francisco is competing around the edges, not for the spotlight.
That is why Dinkins’ experience helps. McShay credited him with 48 career games and 15 starts at Penn State, which gives him more seasoning than many undrafted rookies.
The 49ers have also had success finding contributors after the draft, including players such as Jordan Mason, Matt Breida and Emmanuel Moseley. Dinkins should not be compared directly to those success stories yet, but San Francisco’s track record makes its priority undrafted signings worth monitoring.
For now, Dinkins is a sensible addition: a 7-touchdown college tight end with enough size, blocking background and guaranteed money to make him one of the more interesting names in the 49ers’ rookie free agent class.
49ers Announce Signing of 7-TD Penn State Playmaker Behind George Kittle