INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 08: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a game tying touchdown in the fourth quarter during the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)

5 stats where the 49ers actually performed well in 2017

5 stats where the 49ers actually performed well in 2017 by Peter Panacy

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle had more receptions and more receiving yards than any tight end drafted in the fifth round or later, in the history of the NFL.

Although it’s difficult to assess a draft class after just one season, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch’s first NFL Draft appears to be a gem. By season’s end, six of his 10 selections were starters — but which was his best pick?

First-rounder Reuben Foster was Pro Football Focus’ fourth-highest-rated linebacker.

Only eight players in the NFL had more third-down conversion receptions than fifth-round wide receiver Trent Taylor.

Arguments can be made for third-round cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon — the team’s top corner — or seventh-round safety Adrian Colbert, who excelled when thrust into the important single-safety role.

But only one of Lynch’s draft picks had a truly historic rookie season.

Tight end George Kittle — whom Lynch selected with the 146th overall selection — had the best rookie season of any tight end selected in the fifth round or later, in the history of the modern NFL.

From 1970 — the year of the AFL-NFL merger — to 2016, NFL teams didn’t have a lot of luck drafting tight ends late in the draft, and immediately placing them into prominent roles.

Eric Johnson caught 40 passes in his 2001 rookie season for the 49ers. Mychal Rivera tallied over 400 receiving yards for the Oakland Raiders in 2013. The only other late-round tight end to reach those rookie milestones was the Minnesota Vikings’ Joe Senser, back in 1980.

Kittle finished the 2017 season with 43 receptions and 515 receiving yards — more than any tight end, drafted in the fifth round or later, in the history of the league.

Many proclaimed the 2017 NFL Draft to have the best tight end class in the history of the NFL, with three tight ends selected in the first round, and two more in the second. A total of eight tight ends were selected before Kittle, yet Kittle ended the season with more receptions and receiving yards than all but one of them.

Who do you think was Lynch’s best draft pick in 2017? Sound off in the comments section, or on Twitter — @cgawilson.