First off, I hate the way the draft is formatted right now, the second round needs to hurry up and get here so I can stop obsessing and freaking out. Actually, I think we all know that first sentence is nothing more than hot air, I will never stop obsessing and freaking out when it comes to the San Francisco 49ers. It's what I do, I'm just thankful that there are people out there who do it as much as I do (you folks) and someone out there who can get past that obsession and love me regardless (the girlie), because I'm not about to change. The 49ers made their pick, and I have to say, I really like the pick. It makes a lot of sense, and it's something we can build around ... today at 9:00 a.m., I'll have a post telling you why it makes so much sense, and use hindsight to deduce why we should have seen it coming. Beyond that, I'm going out on a limb and saying that we should have a lot of links today. So let's get to them ... enjoy.
Just in case you happened to miss it, we were treated to a shocker when the 49ers selected Aldon Smith out of Missouri. (MercuryNews.com)
Directly after making the pick, they explained their affinity for Smith and why they felt him worthy of the seventh overall pick. It's hard to argue with their reasoning, the criteria fits and it wasn't necessarily a big reach. (CSNBayArea.com)
General Manager Trent Baalke says that the team kept their options opened and possibly tried to trade down, but that there were no solid offers on the table. Word was that the Atlanta Falcons could have agreed to the 49ers on the same trade they gave to Cleveland, but they took the first suitors. (SacBee.com)
Today, the 49ers will meet with quarterback Alex Smith, which in my opinion is a smart move. The team has limited options, and Smith has been, if anything, less below-average than your average below-average quarterback ... which is as glowing of an endorsement as you'll get out of me at this point. (SacBee.com)
One writer thinks that it was not a good pick ... the biggest problem I have with this piece is how it talks about the Browns "setting precedent" at the pick prior, as though the 49ers were supposed to somehow force a team into a trade with them, when nobody wanted to move up. The rest of the article isn't terrible. Well, it's better than "not terrible," but I don't agree at all. (SFGate.com)
Here is the audio from a conference call with Smith, though I have yet to listen to it. (49ers.com)
Aaand, here's a transcript of that conference call, in case you prefer reading, for some reason. (MercuryNews.com)
Be very afraid, teams that are looking to move up in the second round: the New England Patriots hold the first pick in said round, and they'll likely be working the phones for quite some time to see what they can get for it. Could the 49ers be interested? (ProFootballTalk.com)
Maiocco says that cornerback - not quarterback - is the 49ers priority going into round two of the draft, and I'm inclined to agree. Unless they really like one of those guys, they'll be inclined to get one of the still-elite cornerbacks that are on the board. (CSNBayArea.com)
Trent Baalke stresses that this isn't a project pick, but that Smith will still be very raw. I don't think it's a project, myself ... the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker will be smooth, in my mind. (PressDemocrat.com)
One small victory for the 49ers Santa Clara stadium efforts, the court rejected one of various appeals from the Great America side. (MercuryNews.com)
Versatile Smith, 'Best Fit' For 49ers (49ers.com)
Yesterday on Niners Nation
Niners Nation After Dark: Judge Susan Nelson NFL Lockout Decision Leaves NFL On Verge Of Chaos | Fooch
Golden Nuggets: The 2011 NFL Draft Is Here | Ninjames
Mel Kiper's 2011 Mock Draft, Final Edition: Blaine Gabbert Sucks The Coiffed One In | Fooch
2011 NN Community NFL Mock Draft Grades: Two Full Rounds of Great and Dead Weight | Drew K
NFL Draft 2011: 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh And His Quarterbacks | Fooch
2011 NFL Lockout: NFL Provides Rules For Post-Injunction Operations Minus Free Agency, Trade Transactions | Fooch
Todd McShay's Final 2011 NFL Mock Draft: Blaine Gabbert To The 49ers....Again | Fooch
2011 NN Community Based 1-6 NFL Mock Draft: Will Patrick Peterson Really Slide To 49ers? | Fooch
49ers Top 10 NFL Draft Successes: No. 1 - Frank Gore, Running Back | Fooch
Top Five Things To Look For In The 2011 NFL Draft | nocal81
2011 NFL Draft Pre-Draft Thread: 49ers Pick Everybody With Seventh Pick, While Also Trading Up AND Down | Fooch
NFL Draft 2011, Day One: Finally...Answers | Fooch
NFL Draft 2011, Day One: Cam Newton, Von Miller Likely Going One-Two | Fooch
NFL Draft 2011: Cam Newton, Von Miller, Marcell Dareus, A.J. Green Officially Off 49ers Draft Board | Fooch
NFL Draft 2011: San Francisco 49ers Select Aldon Smith To Shore Up Pass Rush | Fooch
2011 NFL Draft: 49ers Take Aldon Smith, My Thoughts | Tre9er
NFL Draft 2011: 49ers Select OLB Aldon Smith, What Happens Next? | nocal81
NFL Draft 2011: 49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh On Aldon Smith | Fooch
2011 NFL Draft Picks By Team: Day One Recap & Analysis | Drew K
NFL Draft 2011: Von Miller Is An Aldon Smith Fan | Fooch
Related Links from SB Nation Bay Area
NFL Draft 2011: 49ers Select OLB Aldon Smith Out Of Missouri With First Pick
Coming Up Today on Niners Nation (All times pacific and subject to change, bold names indicate finalized titles, there will likely be much more posts)
4:00 a.m | 2011 NFL Draft Picks By Team: Winners And Losers | Fooch
5:30 a.m. | TBD | smileyman
7:00 a.m. | NFL Draft 2011: 49ers Second Round BPA Options After First Round Results | nocal81
8:00 a.m. | TBD | smileyman
8:30 a.m. | NFL Draft 2011: Why 49ers DC Vic Fangio Likes Aldon Smith More Than You | Ninjames
10:00 a.m. | Caption This: 2011 NFL Draft Edition | howtheyscored
2:00 p.m. | Open Thread | Fooch
Rival Blog Buzz
Revenge of the Birds: 2011 NFL Draft Results: Cardinals Draft Best Player Available Patrick Peterson | 2011 NFL Draft Results: Reacting To The Patrick Peterson Selection | Poll: What Impact Will Patrick Peterson Have? | Patrick Peterson Was 5th On Cardinals' Draft Board
Field Gulls: NFL Draft 2011 - Seattle Seahawks Select OT James Carpenter Alabama
Turf Show Times: NFL Draft Results: St. Louis Rams select DE Robert Quinn | St. Louis Rams pick DE Robert Quinn: Best pass rush in the NFC West?
Being a Sheep
Be sure to follow @NinersNation on Twitter as well as on Facebook. You can follow SB Nation Bay Area on Twitter @sbnbayarea and also on Facebook. My personal Twitter is @ninnyjams.
If you're new here, you can register for a free account to participate in the discussion and create your own fanposts here at Niners Nation and across our entire network of 300+ sports blogs.