Why the 49ers Signed TE Mason Pline as a UDFA

One of the 49ers' most intriguing undrafted free agents this year is tight end Mason Pline.

You probably hadn't heard of him until the 49ers signed him. He spent his first three years of college at Ferris State playing basketball. Then he transferred to Furham where he became a tight end. Last year, he caught 31 passes and scored four touchdowns. Then he declared for the NFL Draft, and at his Pro Day he ran a 4.81 40-yard dash, so he's not exactly blazing fast.

But he's tall -- nearly 6'7". And he was athletic enough to play college basketball, which means he should have a good feel for boxing out and creating space. Those abilities should help him get open and catch passes even though he's not fast. Remember, Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham all were collegiate basketball players, too.

I'm not saying Pline will be the next Jimmy Graham -- he ran 4.56 at the Combine in 2010. He was extremely fast. But Pline could be the next Ross Dwelley, who spent six seasons on the 49ers as a backup tight end and special teams player.

Like Pline, Dwelley is a slow pass-catching specialist who isn't a great blocker. Pline could become a great blocker one day, but he doesn't have much experience, and he's so tall that leverage could be an issue for him. But if he gives as good of an effort as Dwelley did, Pline could make the team one day as a Dwelley replacement.

You can't have enough Ross Dwelleys on your team.