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After months of nothing more than draft discussion and labor dispute nonsense, for a few nights we can forget about all the chatter and forget about the legal matters. The lack of things like free agency and trading has turned the Draft into the proverbial oasis in the middle of the desert. However, rather than discuss the labor nonsense and everything else going on, let's just enjoy the NFL Draft for a few days. It will give us plenty to discuss in the coming weeks, and that's really all we're asking for right now.
For the first three months of the 49ers offseason, discussions about the seventh overall pick were focusing in on the cornerback position. Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara are generally considered the top two guys, with a clear distinction between those two and the next level of corners. However, in April we've seen the chatter about potential quarterbacks heat up for the 49ers as well as the rest of the NFL. Suddenly everybody wants a quarterback, and when you have a limited supply, the value rises in an unnatural way. Maybe these guys really are worth first and second round picks, but it amazes me that a QB can go from being a fourth round pick in January to being a first round pick in April.
As you should come to expect, we'll be here all day long today, tomorrow, and Saturday with live draft results as the 49ers make their various picks. I've been working with the rest of the front page crew to come up with some awesome coverage this year. The general plan is as follows with each representing a new post:
1. Start with this open thread
2. New post if comments fill up quickly here
3. New post when 49ers make their first pick with a quick rundown of the player
4. Tre9er will provide more in-depth analysis of the pick
5. nocal81(Vincent) will provide a look ahead to the 49ers next pick with some predictions and thoughts.
We'll have posts after the draft as well, but this is the basic path we'll follow over the next few days. It keeps things a little bit organized and provides you all with plenty of content to read, disseminate and discuss. As we get through day one, I'm also open to suggestions for in-draft updates you might like. And of course, if the 49ers make trades or any other news/rumors come out, we'll have new threads for that as needed. We're flexible, but with some semblance of a plan!
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Two things: 1) NO GIFs. It slows things down and we're going to have some busy threads, so please do not post them. Also, please avoid posting too many pictures, as they can also slow things down; 2) Just a reminder that site decorum is OFF in the live draft threads. I don't want people cussing up a storm, but warnings will not be issued if you do feel the need to swear. However, just filling up a comment with nothing but swear words is going too far. Also, this does not mean you can attack other users. You can criticize their opinions, but you still have to be respectful of their opinions. However, mocking Mel Kiper and Todd McShay is allowed as warranted.
The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 28thand SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - NFL mock drafts draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft schedule and more. Check it all out at SB Nation's NFLHub and our NFL Draft blog Mocking the Draft. Lastly, for more San Francisco 49ers coverage, check out our team blog: Niners Nation.
NINERS NATION BIG BOARD
1. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
2. Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
3. Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
4. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
5. Robert Quinn, OLB, UNC
6. A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
7. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
8. Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
9. Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
10. Cameron Jordan, DE, California
11. J.J. Watt, Wisconsin, DE
12. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
13. Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
14. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
15. Aldon Smith, OLB, Missouri
16. Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
17. Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
18. Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
19. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
20. Mike Pouncey, C, Florida
21. Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
22. Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
23. Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
24. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
25. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
26. Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
27. Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona
28. Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
29. Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
30. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
31. Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State
32. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
33. Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
34. Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
35. Cory Liuget, DT, Illinois
36. Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple
37. Davon House, CB, New Mexico State
38. Titus Young, WR, Boise State
39. Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
40. Tyron Smith, OT, USC
41. Sam Acho, DE/OLB, Texas
42. Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa
43. Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
44. Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
45. Dontay Moch, OLB, Nevada
46. Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
47. Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
48. Chris Carter, OLB, Fresno State
49. Jabaal Sheard, OLB Pittsburgh
50. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
51. Kenrick Ellis, DT, Hampton
52. Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina
53. JacQuizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State
54. Brandon Burton, CB, Utah
55. Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa
56. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
57. Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
58. Shane Vereen, RB, California
59. Mason Foster, OLB, Washington
60. Pat Devlin, QB, Delaware
61. Owen Marecic, FB, Stanford
62. Taiwan Jones, RB, Eastern Washington
63. Siona Fua, DT, Stanford
64. Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State
65. Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
66. Greg Little, WR, North Carolina
67. Allen Bailey, DE, Miami, FL
68. Derrek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
69. Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
70. DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma
71. Jerrell Powe, DT, Mississippi
72. Benjaim Ijalana, OG, Villanova
73. John Moffitt, OT, Wisconsin
74. Tyrod Taylor, QB, Virginia Tech
75. Martez Wilson, OLB, Illinois