Here we are on draft day 2012, and the concensus for who the San Francisco 49ers will pick is all over the board. RG, WR, RB, CB, DT, and C have all been bandied about by the draft wonks out there. Thing is, picking at the back end means a lot more uncertainty out there than when you pick near the top. Guys who should be long gone can hang around til the 2nd round, or guys who are projected in the 2-3 rounds get snapped up early. In 2010, it was fairly certain that the Niners would draft O line help in the 1st round. Both picks? Maybe not, but they were going to take a lineman with one of those 2 first round picks, regardless. Last year? Well, no one on Earth had the words ‘Aldon Smith’ next to the Niners at 7 last year. 10,000 mocks didn’t have Smith anywhere near 7 in the draft. He was seen as a raw athletic guy who was a borderline 1st rounder. Baalke and the scouts obviously did a good job scouting and hiding the fact they wanted him, But I’m 100% certain that no one else would have picked him had they KNOWN the Niners wanted him at 7.
Frankly, Baalke’s drafts have been flat amazing. He has a lot to live up to given the fact that a lot of his picks these last 2 drafts are starting for a good team and are up-an-coming stars. All that being said, the guys that appear to be on the short list are:
WR Stephen Hill
RB Robert Turbin
TE Coby Fleener
G Amini Silatolu
SS Harrison Smith
CB Janoris Jenkins
DT Chandler Jones
The more I think about this, the more I’m leaning toward the Niners going with a Right Guard. That is pretty much a position that can be filled from the get-go without a whole lot of anguish. And it is the biggest weakness on a team that has improved itself with those string drafts, and key FA acquisitions these past 2 years.
One of the more interesting aspects of this is the trading up/down. Baalke has done a fair bit of wheeling and dealing these past 2 years. Last year, Baalke traded up in the 2nd to get Kappy Kaepernick. He traded down in the 3rd round last year to gain a 6th round pick (Ronald Johnson. Ooops). He traded up in the 4th to get Kilgore Trout. The year before, he traded up in the 1st to get Anthony Davis, traded up in the 1st to get Iupati, and traded down in the 3rd round to get Navorro Bowman (!), as well as Anthony Dixon. The dude loves the deal. In short, the guy is quietly proving himself to be an outstanding GM.
So, gimme your guesses as to how the Nines fill their first 2 spots in the draft. Or, what the hell. Gimme all your picks for all 7. Here’s mine:
1. G Amini Silatolu
2. WR Rueben Randle
3. RB Lamar Miller
4. CB Omar Bolden
5. NT Akiem Hicks
6. OT Levy Adcock
7. WR Jordan White
Forty Niners Forever 
Yeah beef up the line.
We all agree about taking a guard? That can’t be good.
Chuck — if they get Silatolu AND Randle in their first two picks I’ll be STOKED. But the only way that could happen IMO is with a trade up. I think Randle’s going to be good. I doubt Randle makes it out of round 1 though, and I doubt Silatolu is there at the end of round two.
Baalke surprises (nearly) everyone by going defense with pick one.
1 — CB
2 — WR
3 — RB
4 — DL
5 — OL/G/C
6 — WR
7 — OLB
The problem with going CB is the guy likely available at CB. JJ is a pot-head by all accounts, and can’t stay out of trouble.
Barley, I’m hoping Baalke goes against the grain and goes D as well. Mercelius has been the guy I’ve been targeting all along, but I could see him getting snatched up just a few spots ahead by the likes of Belichick if not sooner.
Okay so I am not draft savy enough to make picks, but I have a question, will/could the niners pick the best player available to be able to trade later? Or to just keep. It seems everyone here is thinking needs not best available. Just a discussion starter.
I’m curious about the possibility of trading down with Holmgren for the Brownies 2nd (37) and third. Holmie has a boner for Weeden from OK State. Has some clay pigeons he wants dead, I guess.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/video-brandon-weeden-uses-rifle-passing-arm-hunt-180146210.html
If Holmgren does indeed have a hard on for Weeden, I’d be all for trading down in that scenario. We could still p/u one of those guards at 37 and the additional pk would be a godsend. Holmgren would be doing us a huge favor. He has, had, and will continue to have a soft spot for San Francisco.
Jesus H. Christ. Holmgren’s already playing Santa Claus. Cleveland just gave the Vikes their 4th, 5th, and 7th to move up ONE spot to secure Trent Richardson. They were worried TB might move up. I think the Browns got bluffed and panicked big time. They best hope TR is the real deal and totes the rock for them for the next decade.
Holmgren’s losing it. . . .
I guess that rules out any trade for us with the Browns, they just fired all their bullets to secure Richardson. If they still want Weeden, Holmgren should just keep his shirt on — he’ll be there at 37.
They still have their 2 and 3 for our 1 and 4. Seriously crazy, but weirder things have happened.
Yeah, Baalke traded up 5 spots in the 2nd last year to get Cappy . . .
We’ll have to wait and see if all Baalke’s A-listers go away.
Luck went #1??? Really??? Who would have guessed?
So Trent Richardson is next, eh?
DB for the Vikes?
Nope. Khalil, O, USC
Good news for the Niners is Blackmon goes to Jax, not StL. So StL propmyly trades out of the 6 spot for the 14th and a 2nd round spot. Dallas get DB Claiborne
Miami takes QB, Ryan Tannehill. They’ll be ruing the day they didn’t sign Alex Smith. 😛
Miami is looking at anyone for QB. Alex would be a big upgrade for Miami. But they’ve had shit for so long that Tannehill isn’t a reach for them. They are destined for another 6-10 season, but who cares?
HUGE risk for the Chefs. Poe was a question mark at 25. At 11 he’s a monumental risk.
Poe will fit right in with the Chiefs. His hair is shaped like an arrowhead.
Looks like SEA moved down a few spots as PHI traded up. NFC West teams are stockpiling picks.
I think ARZ goes OT here and takes Reiff.
That would be wrongly Dennis.Now with Floyd off the board to help Fitzgerald.Niners could go CB to counter.Still hoping for a trade up for DeCastro.
I want a winner for the Niners!
Can’t believe Poe went so high.The first BUST of the first round.Think the Chiefsfirst would have learned when they drafted Glenn Dorsey.Another BUST!!
I like Poe. I liked him at 30. But at 11? That’s a big ?
DEs are flying off the board. At the expense of EVERYONE else.
All these guys are hoping for another Aldon Smith with these high risk DE picks this early.
Bingo. Thinking same thing but thee’s only one Baalke- and one Aldon. G’luck chumps…
There goes Dre . . . Dude has talent.
I think he’s better than he gets credit for. An Eric Wright kinda guy.
A little surprised that DeCastro is still on the board. The Browns just took Weeden at 22.
FIRE HOLMGREN NOW!!!