2011 NFL Mock Draft Database: 49ers Draft Predictions 1.2

The 2011 NFL Combine starts a week from today and we've got an updated 2011 NFL Mock Draft Database for your perusal. Although there is some flux in the database among potential 49ers picks, the next serious change will come with next week's Combine. Some players will skyrocket, while others will plummet because their 40 time is .1 seconds too slow. Whether it's fair or not, it's basically an annual rite of passage at this point.

Two different sub-sets of players will emerge: 1) Workout warriors that dominate in shorts and t-shirt in drills that rarely involve actually using a football, and 2) players that have dominated on the field but struggle in some of these random drills. For a team like the 49ers, it might be nice to see a couple random players emerge because any additional so-called top five caliber talent means a guy like Patrick Peterson or Von Miller (or whomever you might want) might actually drop to the 49ers at the seventh overall pick.

In last week's mock draft database round-up, cornerback overtook quarterback as the top position being predicted among our 30 mocks. This week cornerback was predicted in two more mocks, giving us 14 mocks predicting the 49ers taking a cornerback (either Patrick Peterson or Prince Amukamara). Patrick Peterson is the leader in the clubhouse with nine predictions of him to the 49ers. These are not 49ers sites so it's not like they're the proverbial "fanboys" hoping and praying for Peterson to go to the 49ers.

It should also be noted that Cam Newton is making his first appearance in our list of mock drafts. New NFL Draft has the 49ers grabbing Newton seventh overall with the following reasoning:

I am not sure about this pick especially because they have a prospect in Troy Smith who could go on to be a good starter in the NFL. This will be a big first decision for Harbaugh as he will either be taking a QB or staying with what he has. I would give him Cam Newton with this pick in this 2011 NFL Mock Draft because even though Harbaugh runs a pro style offense he could be a good NFL Player.

Not sure I can totally agree on the Troy Smith comment, but there are some folks who still believe in Troy. Previously I was fairly positive Cam Newton would not be a member of the 2011 San Francisco 49ers. However, if he lights things up in the coming weeks, you have to think Harbaugh would at least be curious about Newton. If he's certain he isn't the right guy for the West Coast offense (as others think), then that's that. In the meantime, Newton's progress in the coming weeks will be something to keep an eye on.