9 picks. What positions should the 9ers draft?

by iaalexeeff on Mar 31, 2009 8:27 PM PDT

I don't necessarily want to start any discussion but I am curious what everybody thinks. Let me come up with a list of what I think (not in order I would want to draft) and a reason why.

DE/OLB -Pass rush is important and Mike Singletary said he wanted to improve and Demtric Evans might be a good sort time solution but obivously we'll need some young talent. I think it will adressed 1st or 2nd depending on who is on the board

OT - Marvel Smith is clearly a short term solution and hopefully he can remain healthy and prove to be worth $10.5 mil. I think this will be adressed 1st or 2nd

RB - Thomas Clayton has looked good in last year;s preseaon. A lot of people (including myself) think he could be the 2/3 rb. We need more depth at RB because as of last year our O-line was pretty weak and Frank could use some time to rest. I would like to see a speedster/jukester here. Im thinking round 4 or later.

WR - Even if Bruce decides to stay we don't have a BIG target. Dominique Zeigler is our tallest WR at 6' 3" but he is no Larry Fitzgerald (yet). Many people including myself like Ramses Barden. And if the 49ers miss him i'll be upset because they passed of Desean Jackson (go Cal!) last year; although Rachal is good. 6'6" is huge and I don't know how you cover a guy like that. Many people say he will be gone in the 3rd. If we don't get him there then I say WR will be drafted round 4 or later.

QB - Stafford? Sanchez? Anybody? I don't think so. But it does look like we will need someone to take over eventually. Tom Brady was a 6th round pick so you never know what you are getting. A rookie QB won't start obviously but could develop into something in the future. I say round 5 or later.

CB - You can never have too much depth here. I doubt one will be pick early on but a person to replace Strickland would be great. I say 4 or later.

FB - Moran Norris is a monster. Every monster has a weakness. His is his age. As far as I know, Norris has been healthy. But he could help develop a young guy. Good FBs are rare so it is important. Also I don't see Keasey or Robinson as a real fullback. My guess is

FS - Dashon Goldson is the new FS. I am excited to hear that he is a ballhawk in practice and I really want him to excel. Although is the starter it doesn't mean that he will become a pro bowler. I think this would be addressed 3rd or later

In conclusion, I saw we draft: DE, OLB, OT, RB, WR, QB,CB, FB, FS

please write what you think. I hope all of you are as excited about next year as I am!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

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Draft Priorities- OL's & CB

Let’s see! 49ers have given up more than 50+ sacks in last two years as well getting injured QB! This draft is not rocket science! OL men are needed ASAP. They have not taken an outstanding OL since Randy Cross in 1979 second round and Hariis Barton!
49ers over the years have taken many drafted DE rushers and have very little to show for it! More recently Balmers seats on the Bench! Can you name anyone since Monster Haley that has panned out??
OL men are not very sexy picks, but they just stay for years and protect our QB and open gaps for RB to win for you. Look at Steelers, Eagles, Giants, Packers and their OL men! If 49ers had drafted OL men in top rounds in the past, Steve Young would have surivived and won at least two more Superbowls and instead of getting his brains beat up. Same was true for Garcia while he was running for his life to get a pass off! Sounds like what Smith and Hill have experienced for the past three years as well as Gore getting punished. Hint: So do we pick?
There are two local great sleeper for later rounds: Both Centers at Cal and Oregon that can be converted to hard nose Guards!! Remember Newberry? Check it out!!! They will be drafted and lining up for someone if not the 49ers in the coming years. And also, they need a starting CornerBack to make clutch plays on “third” downs! The NFl West will be won this year on these Draft days in April. I have been 49ers since 1955 when Frankie Albert and Y.A. Title, then john Brodie were our QBs!! Please notice that in our All Time Great 49ers, there is only one Hall of Fame Offense Lineman, Bob St. Clair and no one close to be considered for the NFL Hall Fame! Historically the 49ers have not drafted OL in first round! Should we draft OL linemen anyone?!

by ajp49er on Apr 1, 2009 8:39 PM PDT reply actions

I think at the end of the day

You still need another bookend OT for the next 10 years to pair with Staley. Marvel Smith is here to compete for a starting job. If Andre Smith is at ten, take him. If Michael Oher is at ten, you have to consider you options. Do you draft Oher, move Staley back to RT and have Smith and Oher compete for the LT job?

Eben Britton or Phil Loadholt in round 2 are likely candidates,and I have no problems if the team goes in that direction if Andre Smith is off the board by 10. The question becomes what do they do with the pick? Seriously? Why not draft Mark Sanchez, and let him see a QB competition in training camp. Let him learn as the third quarterback, and let him watch a full season.

Drafting an OLB at 10 is somewhat risky, because you’d be getting a guy that’s only going to come in on third downs. That’s assuming Lawson’s health holds up. I think that can be better addressed in round 2, or by trading back in round 1. Aaron Maybin definitely isn’t worth the 10 pick at this point, and Everette Brown and Brian Orakpo may be off the board by 10. There will be plenty of pass rush talents that slide a bit, so I think the team can wait until round 3, and still find a good OLB rusher.

Wide Receiver shouldn’t be a necessity. We cannot reach to take a WR, because we have two young guys that need to prove themselves. Competition is great, however, so if Michael Crabtree is available at 10, I say go for him. Assuming Andre Smith has been plucked, ofcourse. The thought of Bruce mentoring Crabtree, Morgan and Hill could lead to great things for years to come. If a Ramses Barden is available in round 3, and the team has addressed OT and OLB, then I say go for it. Can’t hurt.

My ideal draft would look like this right now:

Round 1 Michael Crabtree
Round 2 Phil Loadholt
Round 3 Paul Kruger
Round 4 Domonique Johnson
Round 5 John Parker Wilson
Round 5 Gartrell Johnson
Round 6 Sammie Lee Hill
Round 7 Will Dunbar
Round 7 Louis Vasquez

That’s if all the right pieces fall into the right places.

by Andrew Davidson on Apr 1, 2009 9:32 PM PDT reply actions

One...

… could only hope that Loadholt falls to the 49ers in the second. It sounds like more and more people are interested in him at the bottom of the first or VERY early in the second. I’d be extremely happy if the first two picks the 49ers made in a few weeks came out like that. I wouldn’t even have to watch day 2!

by sfgfan on Apr 1, 2009 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Great picks iaalexeef

You chose all the positions i have chose the 49ers to go for. I also predict they will go for a nose tackle later on like arount the 4th. Here is what i have from 2nd round on.

2nd round – DE Connor Barwin

3rd round – RB Rashad Jennings

4th round – NT Sammie Lee Hill

5th round – OLB Jason Williams

5th round – WR Austin Collie

6th round – FB Jorvorskie Lane

7th round – FS Lendy Holmes

7th round – QB David Johnson

I didn’t choose anyone for 1st round because its a toss up. I personally feel that it will be an O-line position, but due to so much great talent it is hard to say which who exactly will available by the 10th pick.

by StevenC on Apr 1, 2009 9:36 PM PDT reply actions

Good discussion!

Seems a lot of us are thinking alike. My own prioritized need list goes:

OT – Marvel Smith has an injury history and could go down at any time, leaving RT exposed again. Either Oher or A. Smith can play RT, but only Oher has the feet to also play LT.
DE/OLB – Without a better pass rush, winning will be difficult. Parys is showing some talent, but it’s not enough.
NT – I’m tired of watching Franklin getting stood up and put on his back by a single OL. An improvement here would help with the pass rush, too.
RB – Clayton gets his chance this year, but a short-yardage back is needed.
CB – Walt Harris can’t last forever and Reggie Smith is moving to FS.
WR – I think Morgan can be a legit #1, but we need a field-stretcher, a downfield threat that commands respect.
QB – I like Hill because he’s a winner, but neither he or Smith are franchise QBs.
ILB – Spikes is 30+ and there’s nothing behind him.

So, with this in mind, here’s my current 7-round 9er mock.

1-#10 M. Oher/A. Smith OT
2-#43 Ron Brace NT
3-#74 Martin/Mickens/Barnes/Francies CB
4-#111 Cody Brown/D. Viekune DE/OLB
5a-#146 Guice/McKinley/Kelly/Byrd WR
5b-#171 Javarris Williams RB
6-#184 Mike Reilly QB
7a-#219 Antonio Appleby ILB
7b-#244 Michael Ray Garvin KR/PR/CB

I use MadDog’s and NFLDraftScouts’ big boards to slot players by round.

I really like QB Mike Reilly even if he’s from a small school and plays in a spread offense. His completion % over four years of play is 64%, he reads Ds well, and will always take the checkdown instead of throwing into coverage. And his measurables are off the chart – at 6-3 he has the short-shuttle time of a top cornerback(reaction time & quickness). The knock on him is lack of a deep arm, but I don’t believe it after watching some video.

Javarris Williams may be the premier short-yardage back in the draft, A. Appleby looks like a natural TED LB, and Cody Brown is an athletic OLB with a history of production. M.R. Garvin looks like a good replacement for Alan Rossum next year.

by MontanaPass on Apr 2, 2009 2:21 PM PDT reply actions