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 
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!!!
Without question, Cleveland gets an F for its draft. Gave away those picks to move up one spot and now this shit. Mistake by the Lake II
Agree Dennis, Holmgren has lost his mind! Weeden is freaking 28 already, he will blow!
Fuck you Steelers for grabbing my All Pro DeCastro! Shit Niners could of moved up there and got him.
Could be Silatolu now.Buy I could dig WR Stephen Hill
Has the speed and size.
Richardson and Weeden both are winners you idiots.
Never said I don’t like either of them. It’s just how the Browns acquired them that is mind-boggling.
“dislike”
Take the big Samoan now? I have a feeling I’m going to be pissed with our pick.
You don’t Like Silatolu? I do.
DAMN YOU JOHN HARBAUGH….Trading your pick to the Vikings,guarantee. the Vikings grab Stephen Hill.
Nope. Wow. Wide open here. Hill, Fleener, Silatolu. Once of those 3.
Smith was an outside dark horse (for a white guy) pick for me.
Surprise, boys.