Good morning! Draft week is upon us! The 2016 NFL Draft gets going on Thursday, which means we only have three more days of mock drafts, pre-draft depth chart assessments, and rumors and speculation. Once the draft wraps, we can at least wait another seven or eight months before we look at mock drafts. The better the 49ers do, the later we wait!
The Draft is obviously the big deal, but this week also marks the 49ers voluntary minicamp. Teams with a new coach get a jump on the offseason workout program, and that includes a three-day voluntary minicamp in April. I don't expect Chip Kelly, the coaching staff, or the front office to have final conclusions on anybody following this minicamp, but they can at least start to see where some folks are at in preparation for the season. I would not expect the minicamp to have an affect on the draft board, but maybe somebody can shine in shorts. This minicamp runs Tuesday through Thursday, so it wraps up on the first day of the 2016 NFL Draft.
On to the links!
Lack of transparency is a losing strategy for Trent Baalke (BASG)
Meet the Prospect: Alabama RB Derrick Henry (49ers.com)
Ezekiel Elliott makes a ton of sense for 49ers and no one’s talking about it (Biderman)
49ers draft outlook: Unknowns at wide receiver (Maiocco)
49ers Trent Baalke must score big in NFL draft (Inman)
49ers QB drama, Kaepernick's fate unfolding as draft near (Inman)
49ers defense needs another influx of talent through NFL draft (Inman)
Trent Baalke References Bill Walsh When Talking About Players Learning Curve (Sakamoto)
49ers draft outlook: Stanford tight ends worth a look (Maiocco)
49ers’ young offensive line just needs time, general manager says (Biderman)
Vernon Adams: Draft me before every QB except Carson Wentz (USA Today)