Every year when free agency starts, I usually dig up videos of the San Francisco 49ers’ previous drafts for us to see some of those picks. The greatness that is modern technology lets us look back and laugh at analysts’ praise of future duds or their ridicule of future gems.
Youtube user Marvin49 collects the drafts every year and posts the videos up for everyone to see. This week, we’ll look at 2010.
2010 is notable for not only solidifying the 49ers offensive line in what would become one of the best in league, but also the first draft Trent Baalke had his fingerprints on. Fortunately, the departure of then-general manager Scott McCloughan a month before the draft began, left a board Baalke could work easily from. Mike Singletary’s final season would begin in this draft with a statement: the 49ers were not moving on at quarterback from the unpopular Alex Smith. Rather than take a quarterback (like many predicted), the 49ers took Anthony Davis with their first pick, and later the very mean Idaho Vandal, Mike Iupati.
They weren’t sexy picks, but they made the line a beast. What was a questionable pick all around (that didn’t prove us wrong) was the second round selection of USC star Taylor Mays. But the greatest pick that is still paying dividends in this draft is the 3rd round selection of Navarro Bowman out of Penn State. Bowman remains on the team and a vital leader within the 49ers locker room.
As always, the DMCA biscuits from the NFL have this thing flagged, so many of you will have to go to YouTube to watch the video. Sorry, they just don’t like us showing free film that isn’t available. By any other means.
Picks:
Rd. 1: Tackle Anthony Davis (Rutgers)
Rd. 1: (via 2009 trade with Carolina for 49ers 2009 second round pick) Guard Mike Iupatti (Idaho)
Rd. 2: Safety Taylor Mays (USC)
Rd. 3: Linebacker Navarro Bowman (Penn State)
Rd. 6: Running Back Anthony Dixon (Mississippi State)
Rd. 6: Tight End Nate Byham (Pittsburgh)
Rd. 6: Wide Receiver Kyle Williams
Rd. 7: Cornerback Phillip Adams