We're back for the 30th pick of the 2014 Niners Nation Community Mock Draft. You can see previous picks below in the draft table. You can also follow the mock draft board through this story stream.
With the 30th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, Tre9er and the San Francisco 49ers select Dee Ford, DE/OLB, Auburn. He also considered Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, Florida State wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, and USC wide receiver Marqise Lee. Here are his thoughts on the pick:
I'd be lying if I said this pick wasn't influenced by the recent events involving Aldon Smith. Whatever comes of the LAX incident, it shows that Smith has a hard time keeping himself out of some sort of trouble. I don't think anyone can confidently say they're certain that Smith is done causing the 49ers headaches and, as such, there's no need to draft an OLB/pass-rusher. In fact, coupled with the fact that Ahmad Brooks is 30 years old and has some significant cap savings coming up in the next few years and the uncertainty with where Corey Lemonier is in his development as a second-year pro, one could argue that the 49ers potentially could be facing gaping holes at the OLB position, depending on how the chips fall.
CB was a distinct possibility here, and if I liked Roby more (specifically, if I knew which Roby, 2012 or 2013 version, I was getting...) I would have made that pick. Same can be said if Kyle Fuller, Jason Verrett, Darqueze Dennard, or Justin Gilbert were still on the board. In those guys I have plenty of confidence and they would have been an easy selection at 30.
WR is a position that could be a serious need as early as 2015 for the 49ers, as well. I thought for a moment about Kelvin Benjamin, who's a freak athletically, but in the end it felt like a reach for a team that didn't really have to have him there. Marqise Lee has all the tools to be a very good pro, but I'm not 100% confident this will be the case, specifically with the rash of injuries he's dealt with. Did those injuries or some external factor lead to the increased drop-rate in 2013 for Lee? Should anything have really caused him to drop the ball so much? Both Lee and Benjamin are not solid enough with their hands for me, and I guess I'm a stickler for that kind of thing.
Ideally I would have liked to move down from this position, given the way the board fell, but that's not what this particular mock draft is all about. I took the best pass-rusher on my board, a guy I think could go much higher than this. Ford can come in and rotate in with Lemonier, giving both Aldon (assuming he plays) and Brooks a breather. Or perhaps it will be Lemonier he's relieving if Smith ends up suspended or otherwise not on the field.
Either way I think Ford can be eased into the lineup much like Smith himself was in 2011. With how few snaps 49ers OLBs see in coverage, any concerns about Ford being "just a DE" at this point are mitigated. While athletic, Aldon Smith is no great coverage linebacker himself, but that's not his job. Go get the guy with the football, usually the QB, and bring him down or make him do something he shouldn't. I think Ford can do that very well.
Trevor Woods: With Aldon Smith's legal woes, I understand the concern to snatch a pass-rusher, but I don't think it is needed in the first round. I think Corey Lemonier has potential and should be given a good shot at replacing Aldon when he is suspended. Besides Lemonier, the 49ers have Dan Skuta, who played very well as a pass rusher last season when he was on the field. With good options available at wide receiver I would like to see the 49ers go that route here instead.
Nick Chiamardas: With Aldon Smith's recent legal woes and his future with the team in question, the 49ers may look to add a pass rusher early in this draft. There wont' be any pass rushers like Ford available in round two so if the 49ers like Ford's upside this pick makes total sense. He rushed almost exclusively from the left side of the defensive line at Auburn where he was able to use his incredible burst and speed to beat opposing right tackles. Ford was dinged up a lot in college and even missed the combine due to being flagged for a previous back surgery. There are few DE/OLB that posses Ford's athleticism and relentless attacking ability. It's a boom or bust type pick for the 49ers especially with really good options at WR still available.
Round 1
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1. |
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wiseguy545 |
Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina [Full Story] |
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2. |
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El Shorts | Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn [Full Story] |
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3. |
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9er4life22 | Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville [Full Story] |
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4. |
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Boss Clifford | Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson [Full Story] |
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5. |
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Mark Balliet | Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M [Full Story] |
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6. |
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CheekeeMunkee | Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo [Full Story] |
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TopFlightSecurity | Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M [Full Story] |
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8. |
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Hoopers Judge | Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida [Full Story] |
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9. |
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jmart7 | Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina [Full Story] |
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10. |
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germinator | Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA [Full Story] |
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11. |
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49feelinfine | Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State [Full Story] |
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12. |
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superk0725 | Taylor Lewan, OL, Michigan [Full Story] |
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13. |
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El Shorts | Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama [Full Story] |
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14. |
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BryKno | Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh [Full Story] |
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15. |
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SigepPT49er | C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama [Full Story] |
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16. |
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Mira Loma Maulers | Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M [Full Story] |
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17. |
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JMichael39 | Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State [Full Story] |
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18. |
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Desert Dog Runner | Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State [Full Story] |
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19. |
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albert.55 | Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame [Full Story] |
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20. |
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MidnightSpecial | Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville [Full Story] |
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21. |
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Rowingdave | Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State [Full Story] |
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22. |
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MisterEclectic | Jason Verrett, CB, TCU [Full Story] |
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23. |
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Rowingdave | Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU [Full Story] |
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24. |
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BearAKA | Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech [Full Story] |
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25. |
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CraigRED&GOLD | Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame [Full Story] |
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26. |
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Boss Clifford | Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State [Full Story] |
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27. |
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Roy_from_Israel | Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri [Full Story] |
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28. |
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dave.bocchino | Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State [Full Story] |
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29. |
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49ersCusefan | Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State [Full Story] |
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30. |
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Tre9er | Dee Ford, DE/OLB, Auburn [Full Story] |
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31. |
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ak4niner | |
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32. |
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timmyg24 |
