Further 49ers NFL draft musings by Mel Kiper, Jr.
by David Fucillo on Jan 27, 2010 4:00 PM PST
in NFL Draft
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PrintIn his first mock draft last week, ESPN's Mel Kiper projected the 49ers to draft OT Trent Williams and S Earl Thomas. The two picks fill some needs and while there are questions on the players, they certainly would be intriguing options.
This week, Mel Kiper followed up his mock draft with a look at subsequent potential picks based on the initial mock.
Top needs: RT, G, DE, S, CB
First round (13, 16): Trent Williams, Earl Thomas
Second-round options (49): G Mike Iupati, DE Corey Wooton, S Morgan Burnett, CB Kyle Wilson
Third-round options (79): G Jon Asamoah, CB Syd'Quan Thompson, S Major Wright, DE Hall Davis, DE D.J. Wilson, OLB Rico McCoy
Summary: Some people will consider taking a RT at No. 13 a bit of a leap in terms of value, but Williams is an outstanding player that can strengthen you immediately. If the 49ers go with a guard, Iupati is a fantastic one, and the offensive line gets a lot better overnight. Thomas, as I said in the mock, covers a ton of ground and can help immediately. From there the Niners could try to get good value elsewhere in the secondary or look for a DE or even a pass-rushing OLB. I can also see San Francisco taking a later-rounds shot on a QB, but this team needs to focus on more glaring needs early on.
Certainly some interesting players mixed in there. And given that there are some talented guards out there, it seems like the team would be inclined to go in that direction in either the second or third round, as we saw in our community mock draft. Based on what Kiper went with in round 1, do you see the team going in another direction in rounds 2 and 3? Or are you so turned off by his first 2 picks that you think it's all ridiculous?
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Trnt Williams...
Kiper is saying he might be the second overall pick so I definitely wouldn’t mind getting him at 13 so long as Berry and Suh are off the board.
by return2greatness on Jan 27, 2010 4:04 PM PST reply actions
second overall??? in what universe?
I speak fluent English and Arabic and have a working knowledge of Spanish. Yet a certain GrahamCrakalaka cannot distinguish me from Mike Fox. My God, the Dodgers suck.
I believe that is the 2nd OT
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
Still not buying it
He’s a RT, not LT and RT don’t go before LT
Yes Drew K, Tim Tebow will get picked in the first round.
this
and if we take him at even 16/17 that’s high for a RT.
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
I'm telling you all....
I saw it. Somewhere on ESPN.com it said that and I was just as shocked. However, Kiper still has Williams rated #8 on his Big Board so to be able to get him at 13 would still be good value while going with need right?
Why take Spiller at 13 if he is available when LT would be addressed? After all the posts this season about the LOLine I can’t believe some of you are still suggesting we spend our first pick on a RB/PR/KR.
by return2greatness on Jan 28, 2010 8:07 AM PST up reply actions
because there will be good tackles
very late in the 1st and probably in the 2nd too. 16/17 would be great for a Tackle pick, or trade back, gain another second, and pick up a guy in the 20’s then grab a guard with the first pick in the 2nd. The best guards (besides Iupati) will be around into the third.
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
so...
There will be good tackels available but not a good KR/PR? It would litterally make NO sense to draft Spiller. You don’t spend a 1st round pick on Josh Cribbs.
by return2greatness on Jan 28, 2010 2:55 PM PST up reply actions
Not to mention...
KR/PR have an incredibally short self life. Remeber Dante Hall? He was good for what, two years? Williams has the potential to be a great RT for a loooooong time. What does Spiller bring to the table long-term? Frank has a lot in the tank and the front office obviously likes Coffee a lot.
by return2greatness on Jan 28, 2010 2:57 PM PST up reply actions
Spiller...
… if he pans out the way many are expecting him to, will be worlds more valuable than Josh Cribbs.
I don't like either pick
I would prefer to get Iupati and turn him to a RT, but that is just me. My two first round picks would be used to make our team more dynamic on defense or offense. This is why players like Berry and Spiller are high on MY list to add, and yes, I thought about it I would like to trade both first for Berry and a 2nd if he falls ot 5.
’
I think Trent Williams is a health risk and this would be the only reason I don’t like the pick. I also feel that Iupati converted to RT, could be the best RT taken this year. Thomas made Crabtree famous, and there really isn’t a real challenge for their defense in the big 12 south.
Tribute to #44...............The Elmira Express!!
I’d love to get Iupati as a guard though, and draft a RT as well. Beastly.
Also known to haunt as theghostoftravisdenker and theaccidentalghostofsergioromo.
by theghostofjasonellison on Jan 27, 2010 6:38 PM PST up reply actions
THIS
Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...
by Smoke on the Water on Jan 28, 2010 1:13 AM PST up reply actions
versatility
i like that they’re saying he could be dominant as a G or T. That is great. We can determine who our best other 4 guys are and then plug him in where needed. I like Ducasse too because he seems to have some ability to play both sides too.
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
I don't agree with his "top need"
I agree with number one, but I disagree with the rest. I believe SS sould come after RT…. and after that G, …don’t agree with DE or CB being all that high up on the list with all the talent that’s out there. I don’t get the “pass rushing” thing when we were 3rd in sacks in the NFL last year. Corner will need to be addressed at some point in the draft but BPA should always be considered.
Tim Tebow = 1,432,219 season tickets next year. Who wouldn't pick him in the 1st round with those projections?
the thing about corner
is that it’s a hard position to come in and contribute, well, start as a #1 or 2 right away. With the thought of Clements aging, possibly not being around due to contract, age, etc…Harris is up there in age, Brown is a little unproven and Bly’s future is unknown…
I am not saying I agree with picking a CB early, but the thought process these guys are using is that you need the best CB you can get if you want them to contribute very soon.
I think this draft is super deep in some areas and wide in others so I’m stoked. I just hope we don’t pick anyone that didn’t belong being taken where we pick them…a la Coffee last year…
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
Super Safe
haha apparently Kiper feels were going “Need-first” all the way to next season. I just feel with 2 first round picks, you can splurge a little and go for 1 “want”.
i like the Mike Iupati pick, ive seen several of his games and that dude is going to be better than good..
The way Iupati is playing at the Senior Bowl
There’s no way he lasts until 49. He might not even last until 16.
"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie
this
i was thinking as well. With the versatility to play Tackle possibly…I bet he goes in the first…maybe not 16, but in the first.
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
If anything, Sr Bowl opened up flaws in his game as he is getting beat at Tackle
I think he goes in 2nd unless Colts grab him at 32.
by hudd07 on Jan 28, 2010 10:02 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Not so fast.
He was not very good at OT in the senior bowl as he was beat quite frequently.
But he is no doubt the best G prospect to come out in quite a while.
Keep in mind that it may have been the first time he tried OT in a while.
He could still make the transition if he works hard enough.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Jan 28, 2010 10:18 AM PST up reply actions
I think we all already know my feelings on using a second or third round pick to draft a quarterback. Frankly, I think that we need to. The only reason I would support not doing it is if all of the worthwhile picks at the position in those rounds are off the board, or if there is a clearly superior player / pick hanging around at the spot.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
Does Earl Thomas remind anyone else of Reggie Nelson, who went to Jacksonville in the 2007 draft? He hasn’t impressed me in his time in the nfl, though he has time to get better. I’m not as high on Earl Thomas as some others, I’d just as soon go Spiller or BPA with the first pick and a RT with the second pick, and a guard in the second
Also known to haunt as theghostoftravisdenker and theaccidentalghostofsergioromo.
by theghostofjasonellison on Jan 27, 2010 6:55 PM PST reply actions
\=
I just read Reggie Nelon’s exert from Wikipedia, he is nothing like Earl Thomas.
Nelson recorded 51 tackles,5 pass breakups and six interceptions . . . final season at Florida
Earl Thomas had 71 total tackles. He intercepted eight passes and totaled 16 pass breakups and 24 passes defended
71 Tackles--Earl Thomas
that’s from ‘08… this year he had 63 and 20 of those were assists. He has trouble tackling and benefits from a superb front seven. He’s an ankle tackler and misses more than he should. And as far as INT’s he came on this year. Last year he only had 2.
Nelson, he repeated the same success at the next level his rookie season in ‘07 but since has tapered off. It’s actually not that horrible of a comparison… and both are around the same size as well, Thomas is a bit smaller.
The Tim Tebow Story "A bust In The Making" ...Part 2 Coming After The Draft...Stay Tuned.
I mean body type. Both are a little small (Thomas is 5-10 197lbs, Nelson was 5’11 198), both are rangy types with “big playmaking ability”. Both have seemed to benefit from a great team around them, and both, while being good in coverage at the college level, were not great in run support. And really, forget the tackles in those stats, the interceptions aren’t that far off, and I’m not sure what the pass breakups and passes defended by Nelson were.
Also known to haunt as theghostoftravisdenker and theaccidentalghostofsergioromo.
by theghostofjasonellison on Jan 27, 2010 7:31 PM PST up reply actions
Honestly, I just don’t see the love directed at Earl Thomas. He’s not that impressive.
I speak fluent English and Arabic and have a working knowledge of Spanish. Yet a certain GrahamCrakalaka cannot distinguish me from Mike Fox. My God, the Dodgers suck.
I think it's from a raw talent perspective
he’s fast and rangy. Those are good qualities for a safety but it takes much more, especially in tight man coverage.
I’ve heard Myron Rolle’s name mentioned in a positive light a few times during this Sr. Bowl coverage…telling you…there are good safeties that will go after the 1st, 2nd rounds.
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
Mel is right on!
Why do people keep refering to taking a RT at #13 is not good value. The 49ers would be taking a LT at #13 and playing him at RT. Last year Joe Staley got hurt and missed a bunch of games. If ya get a stud LT and play him on the right side and your starting LT gets hurt, then you have a quality backup to replace him. Earl Thomas is a quality player that is young and has a great upside. Saftey is an area of concern with Lewis having so many concussions. I could also see Spiller as an option here, but would rather see them trade down and get Mike Iupati late in the first round. The Oline is the most area of concern for this team, and with an OT and OG with the abilities of these guys, the Offense will be able to perform better. Javier Arenas is a CB that I would take in the 3rd or 4th round. He was one of the best return guys in college serving as a dual threat for the 49ers. Since Raye likes to use 2 TE at the same time, it would be wise for the niners to get a good TE. Ed Dickson from Oregon is fast, has great hands, and blocks well.
drafting a LT (or potential LT) to play RT
is the thinking that leads to drafting these guys early. Like a Bulaga at RT, though he could likely sub in at LT. Getting Iupati would mean you have a G that could step in and play RT if your RT moved over to LT.
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
Our top needs is kind of dependent on re-signing Aubreyo Franklin. If we don’t get him back, then they’ll also need a DT. Also, I keep saying that I’d like the Niners to steal Logan Mankins away from the Patriots… but I think that depends on if he’s going to be UFA or RFA. It would be nice to have a Pro Bowl caliber guy on the o-line, until the guys we draft can develop.
if we take a real high quality Tackle in FA
I’ll eat my hat. I hope we do…but I don’t see it.
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
So who would be returning punts n kicks in this mock?
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
later pick
Kyle Wilson, Jordan Shipley, Javier Arenas…I know not all fo these guys are mentioned in Kipers blurb but point is that KR/PR who focuses on returns can and should be taken later. Otherwise you take Spiller early and he does returns and works into the offense, but you still take a guy with great return skills because if Spiller shows flashes in the offense you don’t want him returning forever.
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
Kyle Wilson
If we draft this kid I want him starting at CB.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Jan 28, 2010 10:19 AM PST up reply actions
Forget this whole mock..
Focus on the first two picks. OT is a NEED and getting the 8th best player with the 13th pick is VALUE right? Right.
by return2greatness on Jan 28, 2010 8:11 AM PST reply actions
Mel is dead on
Good value and need. Thomas can play safety or corner adds depth til Micheal Lewis is gone. A right tackle will make RG Chilo Rachal and QB Alex Smith better. And you can still draft Joe McKnight in the 2nd round. That way if he or Spiller become Reggie Bush you didn’t waste a 1st. Remember like Rashard Mendenhall, Glen Coffee can make a leap in his second year especially with an improved O-Line.
Draft thoughts
I’m not always a fan of the experts, but at least Kiper is more reasonable than McShay in my opinion. I’m not turned off by his opinions, but I think there’s little need to reach for a RT at 13. I’m not sold on Staley being a true LT, so I’d love to get a LT and kick Staley back to RT, but that’s not happening.
I say at 13 you’re best getting BPA which should be Spiller. It shores up a major need in PR/KR and gives a dynamic weapon on offense. RT can be addressed at 16 with best RT available. That could be Iupati as they’re now saying he could be switched to RT and maybe LT (that’s a stretch). Second round should be used on best player available at either CB, QB, pass-rusher if they merit the pick. Third is best G available, fourth is where you grab SS (Myron Rolle anyone?).
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