Trent Baalke, he of the pretty damn good draft record in his two drafts (see below), says he has his guy all picked out for the 30th spot in the draft. He’s not saying, of course, but the wonks out there who think they know how shit like this go, say he will go WR, RG, or RB. WR Stephen Hill, he of the blazing speed and size (6’4″, 215 lb) would lend himself to be the perfect fit, as Harbaugh likes the bigger WRs that Walsh mostly liked, if he’s available. Sanu has been bandied about (please God no), and my personal fave (not really a WR, but he can be lined up as one) Coby Fleener.

RG? I don’t know enough about the draft  to even know. This isn’t like a couple years ago when they had a huge OL need, and filled it with Davis and Iupati. Guys who are solid if not spectacular. I see them taking a couple linemen, but I have no clue who.

RB? One guy who looks like he could work is Robert Turbin. He came for a visit, so at least he’s on the radar, and he’s a plugger at 5’10”-220 lb. A nice goal line guy. That is if Kendall Hunter comes on this year and starts to play like Gore as he roll sown toward the end of his career. You have to think they like Gore/Hunter as their featured back, and they’ll have Jacobs as the short yardage guy. This year. As next year rolls around, it could very well be Hunter/Turbin in those roles.

Other than that? Well, lots of prognosticators have the Niners beefing up their DLine. Guys like Dontari Poe get some love and hope, although he could possibly be there in the 2nd round as his motor and heart have been called into question. I wouldn’t risk it with him in the 1st round, although that 4.8 40 time is otherworldly for a guy his size. If he’s there with the 2nd? Sure. but not with the 1.

Anyhow, here’s Baalke’s two drafts. 11 of the 18 drafted played roles in the path to success last year. 4 were hampered by injuries (and 3 of the 4 are still with the team). Person and Kilgore are in the mix to take over the RG spot. The only flameouts curiously enough came from USC. Taylor Mays (the guy Sing wanted in the 1st round) and WR Ronald Johnson.

2010 Draft:

1 Anthony Davis T
1 Mike Iupati G 
2 Taylor Mays DB
3 Navorro Bowman LB
6 Anthony Dixon RB 
6 Nate Byham TE
6 Kyle Williams WR
7 Phillip Adams DB

2011 Draft:

1 Aldon Smith DE 
2 Colin Kaepernick QB
3 Chris Culliver DB
4 Kendall Hunter RB 
5 Daniel Kilgore OL 
6 Ronald Johnson WR 
6 Colin Jones DB
7 Bruce Miller DL 
7 Michael Person OL  
7 SFO Curtis Holcomb DB