The 49ers come into this upcoming FA period (starting March 4th) loaded for bear in the draft department. They have (not including their 3 compensatory picks):
1. First round, No. 31 (No. 31 overall)
2. Second round, No. 31 (No. 61 overall)
3. Third round, No. 12 (No. 74 overall): Carolina Panthers via 2012 Draft trade
4. Third round, No 31 (No. 93 overall)
5. Fourth round, No. 31 (TBA)
6. Fifth round, No. 24 (TBA): Indianapolis Colts via 2012 Draft trade
7. Fifth round, No. 31 (TBA)
8. Sixth round, No. 12 (TBA): Miami Dolphins via 2012 Draft trade
9. Sixth round, No. 31 (TBA)
10. Seventh round, No. 21 (TBA): Cincinnati Bengals via Taylor Mays trade
11. Seventh round, No. 31, (TBA)
The Niners will get a 3rd (or 4th) round comp pick plus two 7th round comps for a total of 14 draft picks. That’s a lot of bodies. And they haven’t even traded Alex Smith yet. Who knows how many picks that brings?
Anyhow, this gives Trent Baalke and the braintrust many many scenarios to pursue in order to get their desired players. Frankly, I could see them trading down and getting picks for 2014. And trading for 2014 picks with Alex. The good news for the Niners is this is not a top-heavy draft, but it is a very deep draft for their particluar needs. DL and secondary. This draft is also notable for the fact there may not be a QB taken in the 1st round. Unheard of, but possible. I mean, if Aaron Rodgers can slip to 25, Geno Smith could slide to 35. Matt (hot-tub) Barkley? Hello 47. The Niners will have six picks in the first 4 rounds. They can address their pressing need for defensive backfield help (and depth) and add more stout bodies to the D line. Maybe a DE/OLB pass rusher as well. The mid-late rounds will be reserved for wideouts, and maybe the possible TE if the Niners don’t deal for Ertz. Not likely but possible when you look at the struggles they had in the red zone. You’d think between Crabs and VD, someone would get open, but VD was usually double covered, Crabs drew a lot of attention, Moss was a non-factor, and the rest weren’t up to the task. Also, they’ll get a kicker late. I don’t think there’s much doubt re the fate of David Akers. He of the 63 yard FG in week 1. Although if he healthys up, who knows if Jimbo lets him stay.
I of course look to NJ49er and 12th (among others) to provide the essential need-to-know guys available in the draft. Once free agency rolls around and player moves are made throughout the league, I’ll start paying attention to the mock drafts and such. I don’t know too much about the players this year, but I’ve been pretty good at assessing the Niners needs these past few years. Really!
Forty Niners Forever 
“What the hell” and “who knows” when it comes to the draft. I listen to everyone even Chuck’s dog for info. Watching ESPN is probably no better for info. So let it unfold the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
What’s the option Mel Kiper?
Javis Jones is playing with fire entering the NFL. He has Spinal Stenosis. USC wouldn’t let him play. I wouldn’t draft the guy because of it. I don’t care what the doctors say. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/spinal-stenosis/DS00515
Also, Frank Gore was talking to the GameCocks running back with two knee injuries – giving him encouragement. I wouldn’t draft Lattimore either, even though we got lucky with Gore’s college injuries. Let’s not tempt fate with Lattimore (sp?).
I don’t see the team drafting a RB this year. Dixon upped his play on ST and was successful in short yardage. LMJ is a gamer and explosive and with a year under his belt I expect more from him, Hunter has plenty of time to come back from injury and was already very good prior to the injury, they have Hampton waiting in the wings and Gore just set records again and was very productive so other than finding a special teams ace that happens to be a running back I don’t see the need.
RB Le’Veon Bell 12th.
He’s my answer to Anthony Dixon/Brandon Jacobs.
The big body Bruiser of a Running Back these 2 guys failed to be.
No clue where he’ll slot, I’m hoping to steal him in Rd 4 or 5.
Kid carried the load for Michigan St. 6’2″ 240+
Carried over 650 times in just 3yrs,( coming out as a Jr.) and caught 78 for 531.
Forgot to complete my stat line on him
He compiled close to 3400 yds which might suggest, he has some wheels.
I’ll be looking for his contributions to the Combine.
Gore’s receptions numbers might be down in the passing game but I’m pretty sure his touches didn’t suufer. They ran him like a kid in his prime. He’s certainly not as fast as he once was but he can find and hit the hole like no other and still breaks tackles. His increased smarts compensates for his loss of speed. Pretty stupid to let him go now as long as he’s healthy, he’s still the man and the drop off to #2 is tremendous in our downhill run game.
Again, Vernon was not usually double-covered. He was taken out of the game plan is more likely. Our scouts/spies evidently thought the competition would focus on Vernon so they emphasized other options, mainly Crabs and Kaep runs.
I agree with almost all that NF except the drop off to Hunter being tremendous. Hunter was a shade behind Gore IMO.
12th man, I’d give Hunter the nod on outside running, but on football smarts, protection/blitz pickup, resilience and ability to play through injury Frank’s still way out in front in my estimation. The total package is why I put the drop off as tremendous. Given the chance Kendall could prove me wrong but I haven’t seen it yet.
I agree, 12th. Hunter was terrific and he was picking up the blitz JUST AS WELL AS GORE last year. But I’m certain the 49ers will draft a running back this draft.
Wow – Scott Pioli has Sharif Floyd going 3rd to the Raiders and Star not being draft top ten.
drafted*
Well so much for my darkhorse O lineman Al Netter. Caught for DUI.
Well. in Gore’s full 16 game 2006 he had 373 touches. Last season was 286, His rushing attempts per game is dropping, and his catches have dropped more.
Anyone heard how Hunter’s rehab is coming along?
Really? Yesterday I was guessing, thanks to your unbelievable assertion I was compelled to looked it up. You choose the only year he had more carries, his record setting year when we had no offense but him and a left side o-line to block to say his rushing attempts are dropping?
I’ve got google, too. What happened in the years in between Mr Disingenuous?
16 games-373 touches = 23 touches/game
15-313, 21
14-283, 20
14-281, 20
11-249, 22
15-299, 19
16-286, 17
Looks like less to me . . . 2010 Gore missed 5 games and they made up for lost time as he had a lot of passes thrown to him.
Oops. That’s 16-299 = 18
In other words, his touches per year have decreased (like I said) . A big factor being the passes not being thrown to him the past couple years.
46 in 11 games (4 per game) in 2010 to 17 in 2011(1 per game) to 28 this year (less than 2 per game).
Disingenuous, my ass.. .
Alright, fair enough. Touches per game are less. My point was that although the receptions have been shaved since Nolan/Singletary his carries have been upped to keep his touches about the equal. If you said touches per game not per year, I concede the point.
Sweet mother of miracles. Next thing you know congress will start working.
Anyone see the Nascar finish today? Just flippin’ through and saw the last three laps and a one hell of a finish. Engine from a wreck ripped through the safety netting. Hope the fans brought their 3D glasses.
Just read six fans seriously injured.
I still donl’t have a clue yet but my guess is this will one of those years where we take the best player available. We need Dline and CB’s but we always need those guys. I think we stay with the formula we’ve had for a few years. That means we draft a RB and a QB, you know we will pick up some LB’s too,
I’ve been looking at a lot of running backs on Youtube and this draft class is stocked full of small, fast running backs like LaMicheal James….. guys who can also play in the slot and catch passes. If you’re looking for one of those, I like two guys: Kerwynn Williams (the Paint Store), and Ray Graham. Both are late round picks. But I also think there’s a very strong chance the 49ers take Wisconsin’s Bell to replace Gore.
Well, RB is pretty far down the list of needs, Spitty.
I think it’s just a matter of value. If Bell’s there at three, and certainly four, I think we grab him.
I think they go kicker at 4 before RB.
At 4? That might be a little high.
Dustin Hopkins is probably the best kicker in the draft and he’s projected to go in the 6th or 7th rounds.
I might be a little high. I’m not really serious, but the point remains that they’ll draft an RB near when they draft a kicker. 6th or 7th like you said.
We take a RB somewhere in the first 3 rounds is my guess, Hunter might not make it back from that injury, it is a bad one.
All things are possible Winder, but without Hunter they have Gore, LMJ, Dixon and Hampton. I think Spit had a point about value, that if an outstanding RB was there they may take him but I agree with Chuck that RB is a low priority other than fate lending a hand.
Hamptom is a curiosity to me and I hope he pans out. i think they keep Dixon around mostly for ST. But you could very well be right about the priority on RB’s. i do think that Harbaugh puts a very high premium on em though and nothing would really surprise me. It’s great to be in a position like this
Heard any good jokes lately? I mean besides Alex Smith.
An out-of-towner accidentally drives his car into a deep ditch on the side of an old country road. Luckily a farmer happened by with his big old horse named Benny. The man asked the farmer for help. The farmer said Benny could pull his car out. So he backed Benny up and hitched Benny to the man’s car bumper. Then he yelled, “Pull, Nellie, pull.” Benny didn’t move. Then he yelled, “Come on, pull Ranger.” Still, Benny didn’t move. Then he yelled really loud, “Now pull, Fred, pull hard.” Benny just stood. Then the farmer nonchalantly said, “Okay, Benny, pull.” Benny pulled the car out of the ditch. The man was very appreciative but curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times. The farmer said, “Oh, Benny is blind, and if he thought he was the only horse pulling he wouldn’t even try.”
Benny sounds like me. Pull this.
Watch us grab OTJC Tretter from Cornell.
Tretter for Netter?
If Jewel Hampton isn’t our heir apparent to Frank, keep an eye open at the Combine for RB Andre Ellington from Clemson.
Very similar in size to Frank, over 3400 yds rushing and had 59 receptions for over 500 yds and 2 TDs.
Spells versatile workhorse to me.
His 40 will be ironed out in Indy but is currently showing 4.4s.
KC appears to be the front runner in the Alex Smith sweepstakes.
AZ is in the mix as well. And I don;t think this braintrust cares about trading Smith to a division rival, as long as they get what they want.
From Jason Cole, Yahoo sports:
He must be reading my blog. I said this 3 days ago.
It’s all about appearances Chuck.
KC will continue to shop the Top Pick as we will continue to show no indications that Alex is going to be released.
Perception and reality.
We’ll likely take any deal we can for Alex, not sure of the AZ interest but, why not?
McNabb was dealt within the Division.
We also have Norv and Mike Lombardi in Cleveland.
Maybe the 9er connection helps us there too?
Especially since it’s being reported that Weeden and McCoy could both be getting shopped around.
I don’t buy the Yahoo article at all. I think it’s a plant – meaning Yahoo just wrote something to help Harbaalke get the ball rolling. It certainly helps the 49ers and I haven’t heard anything from the Chiefs and Andy Reed. It’ll take two teams interested for Smith to be traded, not just one. I’m stll bettin’ on the Jets.
Jets are a longshot Spit.
Sanchez is the problem.
There’s been some press given to him restructuring his deal to help the Cap situation.
Why he would do that is beyond me. The money is guaranteed.
Why cut your own throat when everyone knows how much they want him replaced?
I guess it’s possible to redo the deal. If it were me, no way.
Stranger things have happened and after all, it’s the NYJ.
It’s between Cleve and KC. Namath plays for the Jets before Alex.
Mornhinweg and the WCO offer a glimmer of hope for Alex.
As I just replied to Spit, the 800LB gorilla in the locker room is the Sanchez Contract.
Who knows? The NYJ Circus is as unpredictable as Roger Goodell.