One of the best and worst aspects of the Internet is how easy it can be to find old predictions and comments made on a given subject. Just here at Niners Nation you can look back at any post we've ever written. I've made some pretty bone-headed predictions over the years and this year's NFL Draft was no different.
Before we get into how wrong I was, I would like to revel in a modest bit of glory. Earlier in April SB Nation ran a two-round mock draft using the writers from each football site. In the first round I made the prediction of Prince Amukamara, and was obviously way off. However, I think I deserve at least a little credit for my April 15 second round prediction of Colin Kaepernick. I didn't accurately predict the trade, but I got the pick right and I'll claim my modest victory.
However, two weeks ago I put together my predictions on the positions the 49ers would draft in the 2011 NFL Draft. I mentioned then that I knew I couldn't really call the player names specifically, so I went the "easier" route and just predicted positions. If you check back, you'll see I predicted:
Two Cornerbacks
Two Quarterbacks
Outside Linebacker
Wide Receiver
Center
Kicker
Running Back
Defensive End
Inside Linebacker
Safety
After the jump let's take a look at how your fearless leader did...
Here are the positions the 49ers drafted:
DE/OLB
Quarterback
Cornerback
Running Back
Offensive Lineman
Wide Receiver
Safety
DL/FB
Offensive Lineman
Cornerback
Some of the positional qualifications are a little funky because the 49ers are converting some of these guys to new positions. The 49ers apparently told Bruce Miller they were prepared to turn him into a fullback, although in his post-draft press conference Jim Harbaugh did mention they may very well use him in the pass rush as well (hard to tell whether he was joking or not). The two offensive lineman will also likely convert further inside the line, with Kilgore potentially working his way into the rotation at center.
I was completely off on the second quarterback, the defensive end, the inside linebacker, and the kicker. I would imagine at least two or three of those positions will be addressed further once UDFAs can be signed.
All in all I don't think I did all that poorly, all things considered. It is pretty easy to figure out some of the primary positions of weakness, but it's certainly no walk in the park, especially with a brand new head coach.