Mocking the Draft: 49ers Draft History/Future

by David Fucillo on Mar 3, 2009 11:00 AM PST in NFL Draft

So, for people who don't know, Mocking the Draft is the SB Nation draft blog. It started and stopped a couple times but its current incarnation includes a variety of SB Nation writers contributing. The NFC/AFC West writer is styg50, a co-author over at Mile High Report.

He recently got in touch with me to ask some questions about the 49ers Draft History and Draft Future. I thought it would be fun to open this up to everybody here. He passed along six questions covering various aspects of the 49ers Draft. Here the questions with my answers and I'd hope that other folks will throw out their own answers for the questions. Answer all six, answer one, whatever works for; although I encourage you to answer all 6 if possible.

1. #1 Draft move/pick in the past three years?

It has to be 2007 first round pick Patrick Willis. If Josh Morgan had been healthy this year, he might have been an option. Parys Haralson might be rounding into one of the best picks of the last three years (we'll see if he's consistent in 2009). Joe Staley is certainly a solid choice as well. However, none of these guys can hold a candle to ILB Patrick Willis. As a first round pick, success is expected. And yet as much as fans expected, Willis has exceeded expectations. Although he might not be the best yet (don't tell him I said that), he's certainly entering into the discussion.

2. Top player in team draft history?

It's not creative, but sometimes the truth can be dull: Jerry Rice. How can you go against the greatest wide receiver of all time? One guy who is very much in the ballpark would be Joe Montana, a third round pick who turned into one of the most clutch QBs of all time. I think he's a close but clear second. Frank Gore should get some love because of the fact that he came out of college having had several major surgeries, and now, if he stays healthy and gets a decent line in front of him, could challenge Roger Craig as one of the best running backs in 49ers history. But for now I'll stick with G.O.A.T.

3. Most surprising move the team has ever pulled off in the draft?

It's hard to assess the most surprising move. In retrospect, one option would have to be the acquisition of Steve Young from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987 for a 2nd and 4th round pick? The trade happened on April 24, 1987, which I'd imagine was right before the draft. Anybody have anything better?

4. What is you most anticipated move/pick for the 2009 draft?

Everyone wants to know what happens with the 10th overall pick, but I find myself more curious about when/if they draft a QB. There are some interesting talents that will be available in the middle rounds and I'm anxious to see what route they'll take. Some mocks have suggested they'll go QB in the first round, which I really don't want to happen. Really I just want to get through the first round without a QB.

5. Who is the best player/fit regardless of liklihood in the 2009 draft?

This is a tough one, but it's a toss-up between a guy like nose tackle B.J. Raji and either offensive tackles Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe. There are probably better players out there (see Curry, Aaron), but just given the needs of the 49ers, I think Raji, Smith or Monroe would be the right fit.

The team needs to solidify the right tackle position in a bit way and they could use a long term answer at nose tackle if they're going to stick with the 3-4. I wonder if the team is willing to spend first round money on the "lesser tackle" position, but if that's not a concern (and they'd be there), I'd love to see Monroe or Smith on the line. Raji has had some questions about his motor, but he just seems like such a behemoth that would be perfect in the nose tackle role of the 49ers 3-4.

6. What is the biggest draft-day shocker that you can picture for your team in the 2009 draft (that has at least a remote chance of happening)?

I'd have to go with drafting a QB with the #10 pick. People have projected it in mocks, although that's been decreasing lately. I like to tell myself there's absolutely no way that would happen, but it's a slim possibility. And for me, it's a bit of a frightening possibility.

So there you have it...my brief thoughts on the 49ers draft past and the upcoming draft. My plan is to go through all the submitted answers and try and come up with a general community consensus to send to styg50 for his discussion of the 49ers.

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Comments

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1. Agreed
2. Considering we got Joe in the third and Jerry in the first, I would say it’s an even tie.
3. Alex Smith
4. Who gets Crabtree
5. Crabtree
6. Crabtree falling to #10

by Josh G and the Shaun Hill band wagon on Mar 3, 2009 11:35 AM PST reply actions

3. Most surprising move the team has ever pulled off in the draft?

Balmer, Kentwan

Still defending Rich Aurilia, and the Niners' classic unis

by wjackalope on Mar 3, 2009 11:55 AM PST reply actions

Balmer's not a bust yet...

…but he is on that path. We’ll see. Is he a DT or a DE? No idea.

Speaking of DEs – I heard we might get Marques Dougles back. He’s obviously not a long term solution given his age but I’d love to have him back. He plays hard and he’s a beast against the run.

by Neon on Mar 3, 2009 12:46 PM PST up reply actions

yeah I was (mostly) kidding

but let’s face it, we were all pretty surprised. and by surprised I mean disgusted.

Still defending Rich Aurilia, and the Niners' classic unis

by wjackalope on Mar 3, 2009 3:19 PM PST up reply actions

I was ripping Balmer

I was ripping on Balmer with my buddies the night before the draft. A friend had a “Balmer’s Lawn Care” flyer on his coffee table and I was joking “Hey, looks like that Balmer kid in the draft is already setting up for his career after he’s a bust.”

The stunned look on my face when the Niners called his name of draft day said it all. My friends rolled on the floor laughing, and I could do nothing to defend the pick (or my childish antics the previous evening).

by Andrew Davidson on Mar 3, 2009 3:25 PM PST up reply actions

#3 Drunkenmiller... who agreed to this first round bust???

Joe and Steve were under the same system for years... don't expect Smith to be super so soon.

by bayboy on Mar 3, 2009 12:50 PM PST reply actions

Rashaun Woods, anyone?

I nominate the 2004 1st round trades the Niners pulled off. First, they sent their 1st rounder to the Eagles for their 1st and 2nd rounders. Then they sent their newly acquired Eagles 1st round pick to the Panthers for their 1st and 4th rounders. Now one might think the Niners did a hell of a job wheeling and dealing by picking up an extra 2nd and 4th round pick while retaining a pick in the 1st round. Well, no so fast, with those 3 picks the Niners netted Rashaun Woods, Shawntae Spencer and Richard Seigler.

If the Niners hadn’t started their trading tirade and would have simply kept their original pick that could have had their choice of Will Smith (who at the time I was really pulling for), Vince Wilfork and Stephen Jackson, among others. Even after their tirade they still passed on the likes of Karlos Dansby, Chris Snee and Igor Olshansky, among others.

What looked like a genius, or at least maybe a smart, play turned into utter disaster when the Niners picked complete duds with 2 of 3 picks that they traded for.

Maybe this isn’t the most “surprising” move but, to me, it’s the most disappointing.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Mar 3, 2009 1:17 PM PST up reply actions

JJ Stokes?

Didn’t they move up to get him when they already had some pretty damn good receivers?

"I’m Joey Devine, I’m what Joba Chamberlain would be if he was good and nobody had ever heard of him."

by mikev on Mar 3, 2009 1:43 PM PST up reply actions

That is a lot of sound and fury

i think I’ll include this tidbit under another question/heading…

Unless you are trying to forget about it, that is…

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 4, 2009 11:20 AM PST up reply actions

I like this

I’ll get around to posting my thoughts on 1-6 when I’m not occupied with MLB 09: The Show (which is friggin’ fantastic)

by Andrew Davidson on Mar 3, 2009 1:14 PM PST reply actions

#1 choice of the last few years

I don’t know that I’d pick Willis here. He’s the best player we’ve drafted, sure, but I don’t know if he was really the best “choice”. He was kind of a no-brainer when we took him. There wasn’t much potential for failure there, and pretty much everyone knew he was going to be a good NFL linebacker.

My pick here? We took a chance in the 2005 draft on a running back with a spotty college career and a worrying history with durability. Though immensely talented, he was coming off collegiate seasons in which he had injuries to both knees, and where he was #2 to some other good backs even while healthy.

In my opinion, Frank Gore was our best draft choice of the past couple years.

by shlecko on Mar 3, 2009 2:05 PM PST reply actions

Gore

Definitely would be my choice instead of Morgan, even if Morgan were able to be healthy last year.

by sfgfan on Mar 3, 2009 2:23 PM PST up reply actions

last three years

Gore was selected in 2005, so four years ago. The question was last three years. If it had been last four or five years I would definitely have gone with Gore.

by David Fucillo on Mar 3, 2009 2:33 PM PST up reply actions

My take

1. This one is tight. The trade that landed Joe Staley was definitely questioned around the league, because it gave the Pats drafting power. However, what the Niners got in return was a solid, 10+ year OT, that didn’t miss a snap in his rookie season. While Patrick Willis is a beast, it was a no brainer. The trade to get Staley was surprising, and the shifty move to replace our first rounder that we traded was notable. It would have been more notable had we not got the 29th pick from the Colts and given the 7th to the Pats. Getting Parys Haralson in round 5 of 2007 was sneaky too. I remember getting the Pro Football Weekly Draft Guide, and they had Haralson ranked above Manny Lawson (and we ended up with both!!! I thought to myself).

My vote goes to the Joe Staley manuever because it got us a durable, reliable, franchise OT and we didn’t lose a first rounder because of a later move to get Indianapolis’. Sweet.

2. I’ll go value over quality in this one, because yeah it is Jerry Rice or Joe Montana. However, Bill Walsh managed to draft a guy in the 10th round of the 1979 draft. This guy was the other half responsible for “The Catch”. If you don’t know by now, I’m referring to Dwight Clark. Walsh snagged him in the 10th round and all the 49ers got was a career member of the team, and a Wide Receiver responsible for the most memorable catch in 49ers (if not sports) history.

3. 1997’s Draft. The team had only three draft picks, and with Bill Walsh “advising” the 49ers not to miss out on Jake Plummer, they instead draft Jim Druckenmiller. Who else did we get from that draft? Marc Edwards in the second round (yes, a fullback in round 2) and Greg Clark in round 3. This sums up 1997’s draft nicely.

4. The 49ers sit at spot 10 in the draft, and many highly touted prospects could be off the board by then, but then again, maybe not. I anticipate the 49ers maximize this pick to the extreme, and could potentially swing a trade that lands them a bit further back in Round 1. I’m looking at you Detroit (who could offer the 20th pick and the 1st pick of round 2) and you Philadelphia (who could offer picks 21 and 28 in round 1). The trade chart is a bit outdated, but it ranks these moves as possibilities (we’d have to throw in a 3rd or 4th presumably).

5. Michael Crabtree. Yes, we need an OT, and yes, we need some pass rush, but what have we lacked since the departure of T.O.? For starters a YAC threat, and Crabtree thrived with short ins, screens and drags to maximize yards after the catch. He’s also a big time receiver that will constantly draw double teams, and if he’s one on one, sorry about your luck [insert opposition here].

6. See above post. If Crabtree falls out of the top 5, and sneaks past the Raiders, it will be shocking to see him selected at 10.

by Andrew Davidson on Mar 3, 2009 3:16 PM PST reply actions

finally

a team that WANTS Crabtree! He is a special prospect, no doubt about it, but usually when fans picture their team in the running for him, they say something along the lines of, “Well, we can’t pass him up there, so I guess we’ll take him.”

Thanks for wanting a great receiver, no strings attached, its refreshing to see.

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Mar 4, 2009 11:27 AM PST up reply actions

Crabtree

I think the fact that the team is picking at #10 helps the opinion a lot. Crabtree is, if I’m not mistaken, heads and shoulders above every other WR prospect in the draft. Heck, he’s even considered by many people as a top 5 talent, regardless of his foot injury. At #10, I think that’s some serious value.

That isn’t to say, of course, that I expect him to still be there at #10.

by sfgfan on Mar 4, 2009 11:34 AM PST up reply actions

I think more teams will want Crab

Hopefully they aren’t in the top 10. I’m talking to you Philadelphia. What if Crabtree is on the board at 10 and Philly calls with their two first round drafts to offer?

Sadly, I’m sure the Jaguars won’t let Crabtree slip, if the Raiders happen to.

Al Davis is still running the team so anything can happen with Oakland’s draft pick (I’ll put on a dollar on it being Andre Smith).

by Andrew Davidson on Mar 4, 2009 4:03 PM PST up reply actions

first round RB

I think the most shocking — but perhaps not most unexpected — 1st round draft pick for the 49ers would be a top tier RB. Granted, they will probably choose a 2nd or 3rd round talent to complement Frank Gore. But with Singletary’s stated vision of a power-run offense…would it be that crazy for the 9ers to draft Beanie Wells as the “smash” to Frank Gore’s “dash”? Honestly, I want to see the 9ers draft an awesome RB…though I feel they could find one in later rounds. So hopefully they’ll get a great OT so that Frank Gore can get back to his 2006 grandeur….

by fruitbat1138 on Mar 3, 2009 8:30 PM PST reply actions

off.line vs other positions

By not signing blue chipoff. lineman in the fa market, any other position will not help the Qb from getting crush. If you cann’t throw the ball to the wr, what good is he, but running fantastic routes. 55 sacks? That’s the real problem.I see the niners using the # 10 pick on rt and using a later round pick as well. The nfl mock draft shows that top 8 off. lineman will be gone in the 1st round, after that,all you got is backups. The niners need starters now and that hard for any rookie, in any position. If Singletary wants to run,you got to able to block,open holes and let Gore do his thing!

by LASVEGASNINER on Mar 11, 2009 11:49 AM PDT reply actions