My Draft Series, Final Part: 2010 Version!!

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My previous posts regarding the NFL draft have focused on a historical analysis of 49ers drafts. I covered steals of the draft as well as amazing busts. This time i am going to take the same analytical course, but focus on the 2010 draft in particular. I will focus on different draft day scenarios, certain players i know the 49ers are looking at, players most likely to go to the 49ers in each round and of course give you my ultimate and final "mock draft".

It is important to keep in mind that i predicted the 49ers to draft Glen Coffee, Nate Davis and Curtis Taylor last season.

13th Pick: RB- CJ Spiller, QB- Jimmy Clausen, CB- Joe Haden, DE- Derek Morgan and LB- Rolando Mcclain

I bet you find it funny that i do not have one single offensive tackle in this group! One simple reason for that, none of the top prospects will fall to the 49ers as i envision Washington, Seattle, Kansas City, Oakland and Buffalo going offensive line in the top 10. So this leaves Spiller, Haden and Morgan at need positions and Clausen and Mcclain at the best play available section. Many people have talked about Jimmy Clausen and the fact that the 49ers will not pass up on him if available, but it is obvious this isn't a position of need and if Clausen were to fall to 13 or 17 the 49ers may be in a great position to get value for that pick in terms of a trade. Teams in the bottom of the 1st round like Minnesota and Arizona need to address their QB situation while other teams in the top of the 2nd round such as Buffalo and Cleveland will need to as well. I honestly believe that if we are left with these options with the 13th pick it may make a whole lot of sense to trade down to the end of the 1st round and pick up multiple picks from Minnesota, who is in desperate need of a QB of the future. This may force them to give up their 1st three picks in the 2010 draft, that would be a load to receive for Clausen. There is an obvious drop off from Bradford and Clausen to the likes of Mccoy and Tebow.

17th Pick: S- Earl Thomas, DE- Brandon Graham, G- Mike Iupati, DE- Carlos Dunlap, S- Taylor Mays, CB- Kyle Wilson and OT- Charles Brown

I see many more options here. I would be incredibly happy with Graham, Iupati or Wilson here and by the looks of it they will all be available at 17. The 49ers are going to get need and value with the 17th pick. Brandon Graham would add that pass rushing threat opposite Justin Smith and make Lawson, Haralson and Brooks that much better. Mike Iupati is as sure as they come in regards to offensive linemen, it just so happens he plays a position that teams really don't value that much, i still don't understand that. Kyle Wilson may be a reach at 17, but is it really worth the risk hoping that Robinson falls to our pick in the 2nd round? Wilson may indeed end up being the best corner in this deep draft calass. I just threw Mays, Dunlap and Brown in there because they play a position of need for the 49ers, but i consider all three to be a reach at 17.

49th Pick: LB- Jerry Hughes, WR- Damian Williams, WR- Damaryious Thomas, S- Nate Allen, LB- Brandon Spikes, T- Roger Saffold and S- Chad Jones

Much of this depends on what the 49ers do in the 1st round, but they do have solid options in the 2nd round. Nate Allen is the best safety prospect not named Eric Berry and i wouldn't even hesitate going there with this pick. I honestly believe that Allen is better than both Earl Thomas and Taylor Mays. If he is there with our 2nd round pick we cannot pass him up. Damaryious Thomas is an absolute wild card here, there is a chance he will be available in the 3rd, but i highly doubt that. If Thomas had returned to Georgia Tech he would have been a top 5 pick in 2011, it is incredibly hard to pass up on that potential. Imagine Crabtree, Davis and Thomas on the 49ers for the next decade, that is pretty darn scary. If Roger Saffold is available i would suggest the 49ers take a hard look at him. In my opinion he will be a better tackle in the NFL than Charles Brown, Trent Williams and Anthony Davis. That is great value.

79th Pick: OT- Jared Valdheer, G- Mike Johnson, G- John Jerry, DE- Koa Misi, RB- Toby Gerhart, S- Myron Rolle, CB- Brandon Ghee and WR- Jacoby Ford

This is where the depth of the 2010 draft class comes into play. All these players would have at least been 2nd round picks in the 2009 draft, and you can get them with your 4th selection in the 2010 draft. Regardless, of whether or not we are planning on signing Chester Pitts the 49ers still must look to the future and go for either Mike Johnson or John Jerry here, i really don't think that is even in question. I can almost guarantee, that if available on of those two players goes to the 49ers with this pick, unless of course we draft Iupati at 17. I also like Misi and Ford a lot, so that could be an option as could Toby Gerhart.

113th Pick: DE- Kevin Basped, RB- Anthony Dixon, CB- Javier Arenas, S- TJ Ward, CB- Jerome Murphy, LB- Thaddeus Gibson, CB- Perrish Cox and DE- Greg Hardy

Again, depth depth depth. Great value here, no matter who the 49ers select. But i would say that minus us taking a DE in the 1st three rounds, the 49ers would have to go for Kevin Basped. The Nevada standout has been dominant in college, all be it, against lower than top tier competition. But the upside he possesses is amazing, especially in the 4th round. I could easily see him turning out to be another Jared Allen. That said he has had injury problems, and this is why he dropped to the 4th round. Javier Arenas may be too small to be a top tier corner in the NFL, but if Singletary is telling the truth about wanting more than one return man, he could be the answer. Arenas will be a solid NFL CB, but an electric special teams player as well, the same goes for Perrish Cox who actually may have more upside in terms of the corner position than Arenas.

145h Pick: CB- Walter Thurmond, WR- Andre Roberts, RB- LaGarrette Blount, LB- Reggie Carter, DE- Jermaine Cunningham, TE- Colin Peek and T- Tony Washington

Now this is where you start to notice a considerable drop off in terms of talent. Thurmond has the most upside, while Colin Peek would provide the most immediate impact as a short down blocker that can also receive in the red zone. I am intrigued by both Blount and Carter, but they have had their fare share of off the field issues.

182nd Pick: WR- Jeremy Williams, CB- Donovan Warren, G/C- John Estes, S- Kurt Coleman and G- Brandon Carter

A lot of options here in the 6th round, but if available, no matter if the 49ers select a corner earlier they must go after Donovan Warren. Just two months ago he was rivaling Joe Haden as the top corner in the draft and now is being projected to drop to the 6th round. We must go with value, upside and ability here no matter what we may need. If Warren is not available Williams and Carter would be the next best options

206th Pick: QB- Ryan Perriloux, CB- Walter McFadden, CB- Trevard Lindley, DE- Justin Cole, RB- Chris Brown and DE- Brandon Sharpe

It is really a crap shoot here, but i would have to say the 49ers should go with Perriloux, if available. He has tremendous upside and it really isn't risking much as this is a compensatory pick and he could be hidden on our practice squad for a year or two. Justin Cole could also provide depth at the pass rushing OLB position.

224th pick: K- Leigh Tiffin, LB- Cameron Sheffield, FB- Rashawn Jackson, OT- Sam Young, DE- CJ Wilson and DE- Rahim Alem

You are looking for good practice squad players and depth here, with the occasional "diamond in the rough". Joe Nedney will not be around forever and his range isn't all too great. Could the 49ers find a replacement here? I also like Cameron Sheffield; i don't know what it is, but i have seen his tapes and for some reason he looks like an NFL player. Sam Young was a projected 3rd round pick a month ago, but since something has happened. That said we already have a project in Alex Boone and don't need another one

Trade Scenario: Jimmy Clausen falls to 17th pick, the 49ers trade his rights to the Vikings for 1st, 2nd and 3rd round selections. I understand that this really doesn't work on the trade value chart, but sometimes you have to throw that out. If Clausen falls to 17, i see no reason why the Vikings wouldn't ante up to get him ahead of Arizona. That said i am not going to deal with trade scenarios in my final mock draft!!!

So Here Goes

1. RB- CJ Spiller                                                          Clemson

1. CB- Kyle Wilson                                                       Boise State

2. FS- Nate Allen                                                          South Florida

3. G- Mike Johnson                                                     Alabama

4. DE- Kevin Basped                                                  Nevada

5. TE- Colin Peek                                                        Alabama

6. CB- Donovan Warren                                            Michigan

6. QB- Ryan Perriloux                                                Jacksonville State

7. LB- Cameron Sheffield                                         Troy

No, i don't have the 49ers selecting a tackle in the 2010 draft, but that will obviously change if one of the top tackles fall to them, i also don't see Roger Saffold falling past Indianapolis in the end of the 1st round. If Anthony Davis, Brian Bulaga or Bruce Campbell are available at 17, the 49ers would have to make a decision then. If not, you really cannot reach for a player in the NFL Draft and Barry Sims and/or another veteran free agent may be able to hold up until the 2011 draft when the likes of Gabe Carimi, Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon are available.