On the Recent 49ers Drafts
A few years back, I did a long ... LONG writeup of the drafts by the 49ers and what I graded them out to be. I wrote about that here, but thought I'd pick up where I left off there (2008) as well as regrade a few of those more recent years... Indulge me, if you will.
Year1st Round Pick Other Notable PicksThoughts2012A.J. Jenkins, WRLaMichael James, RB; Joe Looney, OGAs I did last time, the most recent draft class remains an incomplete grade. In this case, LMJ showed some great signs at the end of the year - Jenkins didn't catch a single pass and has to be viewed with extreme suspicion. Looney could eventually replace Jonathan Goodwin at C. Grade: Incomplete2011Aldon Smith, DLColin Kaepernick, QB; Chris Culliver, CB; Kendall Hunter, RB; Bruce Miller, FBRight now, this looks like an amazing draft. Aldon Smith has more sacks in his first two years than any player in NFL history. Kaepernick has started just ten games but seems like the wave of the future for the team and league. Culliver provided strong nickel play and could start, while Miller is a fantastic FB (who played LB in college). Hunter has a lot of potential to be Frank Gore's replacement. Grade: A-2010Anthony Davis, OT; Mike Iuapati, OGNavarro Bowman,LB; Anthony Dixon,RB; Kyle Williams,WREven accounting for the fact that Taylor Mays was taken in the 2nd round, this is a great draft. Davis and Iupati are rocks on the line, and Bowman (in the third round) has emerged as one of the best LB in football, and plays next to Patrick Willis. Dixon and Williams have provided good depth and special teams help. Grade: A-2009Michael Crabtree,WRScott McKillop, LB; Ricky Jean-Francois, DT Crabtree finally emerged last season and showed what he can be. It has taken a bit longer than most hoped or expected, but Crabtree is a dangerous threat other teams need to focus on. The rest of the draft was kind of a whiff, including Glen Coffee, who retired, and Nate Davis who showed huge QB potential and did nothing. RJF provided good depth and just got rich from the Colts. Grade: B-.2008Kentwan Balmer, DL Chilo Rachal, OL; Josh Morgan, WRMorgan showed a lot of potential his rookie year; Rachal a bit, and Balmer barely played.Grade: Incomplete
Regraded: D. Morgan gotll hasn't done much of anything in the league. Larry Grant provided de r and Rachal wiped out with the 49ers and are dragging other rosters down in the NFL now.2007Patrick Willis, LBJoe Staley, TWillis is one of the premier linebackers in the game and the best pick the Niners have made in ten years. Staley looks like he can be a force on the line as well. Grade: A- Regraded: A+. This well may go down as THE best draft of the 49ers since 1986. Take Patrick Willis and Joe Staley - and add THREE guys I didn't know in 2008 would be so good: Ray McDonald, Dashon Goldson and Tarell Brown. Just a complete ace of a draft.2006Vernon Davis, TEManny Lawson, DE; Michael Robinson, RBWe’re at the point where these guys still have a chance to prove something, but this is it for Davis who is way more hype than talent. Lawson also needs to stay healthy and provide a pass rush the Niners really need.  Grade: C+ Regraded: C-. Davis has been very good and still can be GREAT. Lawson is capable (but gone), and Robinson is a Seahawk and slight contributor. Parys Haralson emerged, but isn't enough to edge this up.2005Alex Smith, QBDavid Baas, G; Frank Gore, RB; Adam Snyder, TThe Smith pick is ready to be called a huge, huge bust, but Gore’s emergence as one of the top backs in the league certainly balances that out. Grade: B Regraded: B-. The first four picks are still NFL starters eight years later, but every other draft pick (and there were a lot) never did squat. Smith is a top-20 QB, while Gore is a top shelf RB. A pretty good draft, but not the homerun the team hoped it would be.
So, that's that. I'm definitely looking forward to the 2013 draft, where the 49ers have a virtually unprecedented 14 picks. FOURTEEN! It should be fun to see what Baalke and Harbaugh have up their sleeves.