In hindsight, 49ers went with the wrong tight end

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At the time, it seemed like the only decision to be made. And even one season later, nobody was second-guessing the 49ers' call to go with Vernon Davis over Delanie Walker.

But, now, it is obvious the 49ers held onto the wrong tight end after the 2012 season.

The Tennessee Titans signed Walker to a four-year, $17.5 million contract as a free agent in March 2013. Last week, the Titans extended him another two years for a reported $14.7 million, including $8.2 million guaranteed.

Davis is with his third team in seven months after his production with the 49ers reached alarming lows and he was traded to the Denver Broncos in November.

Davis is only 6½ months older than Walker, a converted wide receiver who was mostly a blocker with the 49ers. During the Super Bowl season, Walker was a big factor in the run game. He caught just 21 passes for 344 yards and three touchdowns.

In 2013, Davis had one of his best seasons while Walker was in Tennessee. Davis caught 53 passes for 850 yards and matched his career-high with 13 touchdowns. But for the past two seasons, the 49ers have gotten inconsistent blocking and virtually no production in the pass game from their tight ends.

After skipping the team’s offseason program in 2014 as he attempted to leverage for a better contract, Davis disappeared from the 49ers’ offense. In his final 20 games with the 49ers, Davis caught 44 passes for 439 yards and two touchdowns.

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Meanwhile, Walker is enjoying the most success of any of the players who left the 49ers in recent seasons.

In Walker’s past two seasons with the Titans, he has 157 catches for 1,978 yards and 10 touchdowns in becoming one of the best all-around tight ends in the NFL.

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