49ers 1995 and 1997 Drafts: Worst Draft(s) Ever?

by Fooch on Apr 9, 2008 11:23 PM PDT in News Comment 11 comments

So I thought I'd begin a feature where we look back at 49ers draft of the past. Hindsight is 20/20 and it's always fun to see how good or bad things turn out. After doing a little digging at the NFL's Draft History section, I think it's safe to say that the 1995 and 1997 drafts were two of the worst in 49ers history for a variety of reasons. I don't have a lot of the details from those drafts beyond statistics and what I remember, so if anybody can provide any other details, feel free to let me know.

1995
Rd. 1, #10 J.J. Stokes, WR, UCLA
Rd. 4, #127 Tim Hanshaw, G, Brigham Young
Rd. 6, #201 Antonio Armstrong, LB, Texas A&M
Rd. 7, #238 Herb Coleman, N/A, Trinity (Tex.)

I'll get to the latter 3 picks, but first let's briefly discuss Jerel Jamal Stokes. While there have been worse receivers in NFL history and worse trades, this particular pick leaves a sour taste in everyone's mouth considering the 49ers could have had Warren Sapp, Ty Law or Derrick Brooks among others. Additionally, one of the picks dealt for what became Stokes was used on Ray Lewis. Good times indeed. I don't think much more needs to be said on that.

I did a little research and found little to nothing on the other three. Tim Hanshaw spent three seasons with the 49ers, starting a total of 3 games in that time. Antonio Armstrong actually ended up in Miami although I lack the motivation to find out how he got there. As for Herb Coleman? Well all I found was something indicating the 49ers signed him to a contract in January 1997 and released him in August of 1997. I'm sensing he spent a good deal of time on the practice squad.

1997
Rd. 1, #26 Jim Druckenmiller, QB, Virginia Tech
Rd. 2, #55 Marc Edwards, RB, Notre Dame
Rd. 3, #77 Greg Clark, TE, Stanford

Two words: Drunken Miller. Factor in only 3 total picks and the other two were not exactly world beaters and this one is a stinker. While not wildly productive, Marc Edwards actually had a nice little 9 year career, mostly with other teams. Greg Clark spent 4 years in the NFL with the 49ers and never really amounted to much.

Aside from the train wrecks that were JJ Stokes and Jim Druckenmiller, these drafts were more boring than anything. Every other 49ers draft has seen at least one decent talent arrive. 1996 would be one of the worst drafts ever if not for the selection of Terrell Owens in the 3rd round (and that still could be viewed as a bad thing).

So, let's be honest, it's always fun to look back at a team's great drafts. The question now becomes, what is the worst draft in 49ers history? Would '95 or '97 do the trick, or do they pale in comparison to your own personal horror draft?

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I hate 97

I have to say, 1997 was a great year for graduation and a horrid year from the draft. I mean, can you think of a bigger bust at quarterback for the 49ers than Giavani Carmazzi. Druckenmiller wasn't our qb type, he wasn't anyones qb type. We could have had J. Plummer, and that is history since Plummer had an adequate career at the Cars and Denver, what could he have done at a team with talent under Mooch.
Stokes was a bad pick, but he attempted to succeed and just never panned out. I remember them resigning him to a contract, so he wansn't the worst WR we ever drafted in the first.
Damn Druckenbeater (that goes out to girlfriends), all he did was suck and then leave. We could have had Plummer, possibly cementing our QB situation and then not having to worry for 12 years.

by Gailikk on Apr 10, 2008 4:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Plummer

The thing about Plummer is that he also had the Bill Walsh endorsement. If I remember correctly, Walsh really liked Plummer and thought he could be really good under the right system (aka the 49ers'). It must have made him mad the 49ers went after Druckenmiller instead, hindsight or not.

I also agree that while Stokes never lived up to his first round billing, he wasn't as bad as many other first round WRs have been in the past (even the recent past). Poor guy just could never get ahead.

by sfgfan on Apr 10, 2008 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plummer

Jake Plummer was one of my favorite players early in his career, and I always had a soft spot for him through the bitter end. He's probably the clearest case, in my memory, of a true talent having the talent just beaten out of him by an awful team. Much more than two easy modern comparables: Harrington and Carr - Harrington who would flash his talent but never started to put it together, and Carr who managed to demonstrate, remarkably, total adequacy in a craptastic system, though never with any flash. plummer was a singular case of a guy who came in and actually developed, who flashed his potential and despite an uphill battle started to really put things together (let's not forget the Cardinal's PLAYOFF appearance under Plummer!) before the weight of the crap around him finally just crushed his ability to keep it going.

In Denver, it was almost a tragic case. You could see that he still had all the talent that was going to make him a great QB before he lost it, but he had been so severely damaged by his time in Arizona that he couldn't return to a place where he could access it freely.

I seem to remember him being a little bit of a jerk in Denver, too, which is too bad if I'm remembering correctly. It's hard to watch players you want to like act like asses.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over....

by howtheyscored on Apr 10, 2008 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I <3 Druckenmiller

How can you not love a guy who pulls stationwagons around their campus for fun. I won't fault the Niners too much for drafting Druckenmiller just because his measurables were rediculous. He was a hell of an athlete it's too bad he couldn't get it together.

Here's to hoping Albert Hanyesworth stomps on Alex Smith's head.

by methodrampage on Apr 10, 2008 8:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

WTF???

Look, I get the idea of bashing Stokes. I mean, I don't see anyone on this site with that name... BUT YOU LEAVE DRUNKEN MILLER ALONE, DAMMIT!!!

After all, what he lacked in performance on the field, he more than made up for with crappy posts on the NN website.

Thinking of giving up sports and taking up heavy drinking.

by Drunken Miller on Apr 10, 2008 11:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Plus

He easily had one of the awesomest names ever.

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Apr 10, 2008 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's all in the name

His name pretty much gave him a free pass to get drunk, hammered, and maybe even become an alcoholic if he so chose. One must always respect that.

Thinking of giving up sports and taking up heavy drinking.

by Drunken Miller on Apr 10, 2008 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Still, his name was also fairly limiting.

For example, it only ever gave him the right to get drunk on Miller, which is fine as the Bud, Miller, and Coors beer choice goes, but sucks if you actually want to drink something decent.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over....

by howtheyscored on Apr 10, 2008 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now

Now say his name was Don Julio Drunkenguinness. Then this would be a different story.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over....

by howtheyscored on Apr 10, 2008 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perfect

Sounds like the name for your first born has already been decided.

We are not who I thought we were.

by marcello on Apr 10, 2008 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The WORST 1st Rd pick of all time

RASHAUN WOODS is a possesion receiver in the CFL right now great going Donahue. In my books he takes much more blame then the Yorks for the horrible situation the franchise was in the middle part of this decade.

The 07 SPYtriots would be 13 point DOGS vs the 89 NINERS,,,and SF would still cover by 10 points!!!

by 49er BOMBERO on Apr 11, 2008 5:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs