There’s a couple of local players I’d like the 49ers to work out or take a long look at leading up to the draft:

Zack Follett, OLB, Cal
Adequate size, and runs very well. Had 11.5 sacks as a senior in Cal’s 3-4 defense; and is a general badass! Watch this Emerald Bowl highlight video to see the “pain train” in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjAdBV6v44A&feature=channel_page

Alex Mack, C, Cal
3 year starter and 2 time all-american. Fine pass protector and an even better run-blocker. Could play some guard early and replace Heitmann.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8xCkToEnJ8

Will Tau’fo’ou, FB, Cal
Besides the obvious need for a good blocking FB, he is a SF native and will knock you into tommorrow if he gets the chance.

any chance of getting in on a later mock?

It looks like Raji is dominating in senior bowl practices, might not be a stretch at 10 anymore

Given that the Niners are drafting 10, we should develop a list of our top 10 players for the Niners. I.e. if our number 2 guy is available, that’s who we take. Here is my first crack at it – with reasoning. I’m VERY open to suggestions on modifying this list.

Matt Stafford (QB) – Cannon for an arm, 3 year starter in the SEC where he faced more speed than most prospects, and didn’t have a dominate offensive line to keep his jersey clean (which forced him, unlike a guy like Sam Bradford, to lean to play with pressure). If he falls to us at 10 (unlikely) we should forget the pain of the Alex Smith experience and pull the trigger
Andre Smith (OT) – Huge OT who would be a perfect roadgradder across from Staley. Probably long gone.
Michael Crabtree (WR) – Stud WR would step in immediately and make an impact. Again, if he falls to 10 (unlikely to last past Hawks), we cannot pass on a guy this talented.
Malcom Jenkins (CB) – The #1 rated CB for the past couple of years. Can probably start immediately. Provides insurance for an aging Walt Harris.
Eugene Monroe (OT) – Another very solid and very big OT to pair with Staley and solidify the offensive line for the next 5 years.
Aaron Maybin (OLB) – Stud pass rusher to give us the push we need on the outside.
Michael Oher (OT) – Probably the most athletically gifted tackle prospect. But dumb as a rock and inconsistent. Still, he has the talent to be a beast on the right side and pave the way for the power running game Singletary wants to install.
BJ Raji (DT) – Talented NT prospect has been dominating senior bowl practices. Was projected to be a mid first rounder, but it looks like he’s going to be moving up draft boards. That will make him not so much of a reach at 10. Also, he fills a glaring need at NT, notwithstanding Franklin’s improved play toward the end of last year.
Everette Brown (DE/OLB) – Another OLB pass rush prospect to provide push. This is the guy we’ll probably actually end up with.
Aaron Curry (OLB) – He should be long gone before we pick, but I have him ranked lower because he would be an inside backer for us and we already have a great one. That said, while he doesn’t fit a big need, he’s reputedly on of the top 5 players available regardless of position.

For the record, Orakpo’s reputation as a weight room wonder, the huge improvement in his stats between his sophmore and junior seasons, and his struggles against NFL caliber lineman in his bowl game have me terrified that this guy is going to go down as another physical freak/combine bust. The rest of the guys on the above list performed at a high level, consistently during college. Finally, I question whether he’s good enough in space to play OLB in a 3-4.

in college

… dont like handing these OLB’s all this #10 money… they could be the next manny lawson and that would be terrible…. These guys that are mentioned will most likely be targeted by 3-4 teams… one might slip through the cracks…

I think if Stafford and your pick of OLB’s are there we have to take stafford… I know there is a better crop coming out next year but stafford would still be at the top of their class… and by then he already has a year under his belt…. To me, stafford is a steal at 10. The lions might go O-Line and then Freeman in the 2nd. If the lions dont take stafford he could easily make it to us depending on the faith the chiefs but in Thigpen. Or Maybe they take sanchez.

If the draft goes anything like our mock and their are no tackles left to even consider i’m going to be scared.

We need a trade down in the worst way.

The more I read about him, the more I think he would be a great fit. He’s pretty much the same size as Balmer, ( at 6-5, 293 lbs), however, he’s a true DE and has experience getting to the quarterback and creating pressure. I’m not saying we pick him at #10, but trading down is an option and collecting more picks in the 2nd and third rounds.

Here’s an alternative scenario to the idea of picking guys like Orakpo and Brown at #10 to create more of a pass rush.

Trade down and pick Tyson Jackson later, which would give us atleast another 2nd rounder in return. Have him groomed at DE or play in a rotation (with McDonald, Balmer, Sopoaga)opposite Smith at DE or have Smith drop back and play more OLB and with the extra second round pick, we can always go after an OLB, with quite a few 3-4 prospects projected there.

I’m not going to advocate a name to take but I will just spell out what the 49ers should be looking for. When drafting you really need to consider the needs of the team 2-3 years out and not next season. Also, watching the NFL draft, there really isn’t much difference picking between 1-32 except for cap money. The teams picking the right guys for their system, that they can develop are the continual draft winners.

I think the 49ers to consider drafting:

1. LB, because they cleaned house on everything that was in development and went with Spikes this year. Good LB are traditionally easy to pick out so the good ones get drafted 1st or 2nd round.
2. RT, Ok everyone knows this. If there is good tackle available they should snag one. Another OL later in the draft too. In smash mouth football you can never have enough good linemen.
3. CB, Walt Harris cannot hold that post forever. They need to be grooming an heir.
4. RB, anyone else notice that Frank gets tired by the 4th Quarter trying carry the entire load. It’s so easy to see, he doesn’t bend down in his stance and his hands are across his knees . . . oh and his production grinds to a halt. The 2 RB backfield is badly needed.
5. FS, only if a top notch ball hawk is available. I can live with Roman if these other pieces are being put together.
6. DL, I like what the 49ers have now. A huge nose tackle would be nice but doubt one will be around. DE has become the NFL draft equivalent of RB in fantasy football. Everyone picks them 1st round but you take a survey around the league rarely are they reaching the QB, it’s the blitzing LB’s getting the turnover’s and sacks. The D-line stopping the run on 1st and 2nd down are the ones creating the top defenses by creating 3rd and long situations.

I like what they have at WR. The have a roster full of guys who haul in the 3rd down catches. That’s what they need for their system, a Hines Ward and not a Bernard Berriman. They would waist the talents of a guy like Crabtree.