So, here we are, closing in on the draft. Over the past 5 drafts, the Baalke era, there are a few things that are certainties. Baalke is very adept at gathering up draft picks. He is very adept at trading up and down to gather these picks. He has built through compensatory picks, through trades, and trades to future drafts in his efforts to garner as many picks. And he isn’t averse to taking chances on injured players.
The last strategy is up for debate, however. We all know the 49ers got Frank Gore in the 3rd round, after his multiple knee injuries in college, and he had a steller career. That wasn’t Baalke, and he didn’t sit a year, as the guys that Baalke has tried this on, have done. The ones that have been drafted this way are Tank Carradine, Marcus Lattimore, and Brandon Thomas. Lattimore, as we all know, retired after trying for nearly 2 years of trying to get into football shape. Wort the risk? Well, since the Niners had 11 picks that draft, sure. He was their 6th pick in that 2013 draft, and he was a beast before the injury.
Carradine is a mixed bag as well. He was a guaranteed high 1st round pick before his injury. After sitting the first 2 months of the 2013 season he was activated. However he never got on the field. In 2014, he played sparingly until RayMac was cut, and the injuries mounted. He admitted to not knowing the playbook well enough to get himself out there, but by the end of the season, he at least looked decent out there. So, he appears to be getting it at this point. The jury is still out on him.
Brandon Thomas is the latest injured guy Baalke picked. He was nominally drafted to take the place of Mike Iupati. Something Baalke felt would probably happen, and it did. The word on Thomas was of course that he was a guaranteed 1st rounder as well before his knee injury in pre-camp drills last year. He, along with NaVorro Bowman, appear to be fully healed from their injuries. This would be a Godsend as Thomas so far looks like he’s fully capable of picking up where he left off. And that is as a top-flight guard who is much more that one one-dimensional mauler that Iupati was. Thomas is much more nimble and quick on his feet than Iupati, and is a much better pass protector than Iupati could ever dream to be. If we are to get more diverse in our play calling and offensive flow, having mobile guards would certainly help a lot.
This year? I’ve said in the past that I don’t think Baalke flies around the board this year in a flurry of trades and pick-gathering, but there’s already been talk of SF trading up to get Alabama WR Amari Cooper. I think that’s a somke screen at this point, but if the past has taught us anything, anything is possible concerning Trent Baalke. His track record is very solid. That being said, I dont think he has the luxury of going after another red-shirt draft pick. I think he’s drafting from a need of gaining instant depth. D line, and defensive backfield dpeth are the biggest concerns that I see. O line depth behind that. Then go after a late-round WRs, RB, and TE. Maybe even a flier at QB. . . .
Forty Niners Forever 
This draft is real important for the whole franchise and to say the least Baalke is on a highwire. We all know that very few rookies make a sudden impact their first year and it would be fantastic if we could pull a Alden or a Bowman out of the hat. Personally I have mixed feelings about a 1st rd WR, ever since Rice we have pretty much struck out. We are playing a monster of a schedule this year and I still think we need to bolster our lines and work on our defensive backfield and linebackers. Usually I like to see us go for a player we need, but I think this year we should go with the BPA and pick up the rest down the road.
Agreed.
Dial was an injury pick. He fell to 5th rd because he had a toe injury and wasn’t available until late in the year.
Yeah you’re right, Bergs. I don’t think they go that route this year.
Q) – How many Draftees actually step into the NFL and produce immediately?
A) – Very few.
For me, the Draft is about developing talent.
If Baalke identifies value that he feels can improve, he goes for it.
Finding a starter is basically a bonus in Year 1.
By taking the injured guys with upside, he gets to Red-Shirt them.
Buy a year early and see what develops.
I get why he does it, but it hasn’t paid off fantastically yet.
We’ve been pretty well stacked on the starter side of the roster too Chuck.
Only so many places to stash guys away I guess?
He got a good return with Borland, (for what that got us now) but, it sure would be nice to see Tank and Dial contribute this year.
His biggest weakness has been with the WR/TE Group.
To his credit, he realized AJJ wasn’t gonna cut it and moved on.
We’ve just not had much production in terms of development in that area.
My Son and I were debating the possibility of dealing Boone on Draft Weekend.
He’s in the final year of his deal with a no F-Tag clause attached.
I’m still thinking there’s a possibility that an OT could be our Pick at 15 if the value is there.
Looks like Crabtree saw the handwriting on the wall, finally.
1-yr deal with Oaktown –
http://tinyurl.com/ol689mk
Final answers on my O-Line Wish List –
OG –
Laken Tomlinson – Duke – 6’3″/323
Daryl Williams – (OT) – OK – 6’5″/327
Brandon Scherff (OT) – IA – 6’5″/320
Jarvis Harrison – TX A&M – 6’4″/330
Jon Feliciano – Miami – 6’4″/323 (Swing Man – Multiple OL position experience)
OT –
Ereck Flowers – Miami – 6’6″/329
La’el Collins – LSU – 6’4″/305
Jake Fisher – OR – 6’6″/306
DJ Humphries – UF – 6’5″/307
Daryl Williams – OK – 6’5″/327
Sh!t – Messed up with Daryl Williams – Moved him to OT – Left him in my OG Group –
OG S/B –
Laken Tomlinson – Duke – 6’3″/323
Jeremiah Poutasi – (OT) – Utah – 6’5″/335
Brandon Scherff (OT) – IA – 6’5″/320
Jarvis Harrison – TX A&M – 6’4″/330
Jon Feliciano – Miami – 6’4″/323 (Swing Man – Multiple OL position experience)
NJ- I’m starting to lean toward McKinney from Miss St at ILB.
I see Skeebs is in full whine mode still.
The poor media is writing us off? Boo hoo!
The Giants are defending champions and have won 3 World Series in 5 years yet are overlooked even now. Besides, the media doesn’t decide the winners and losers.
Whine on, whiners. This is all a crapshoot. I prefer to let the players decide their fate in the fall, not bury them in the spring.
Skeebs claims the 49ers are a “cruel joke.” He’s none too happy.
I’m leaning toward trading back in the 1st round and picking up McKiiney and then Funchess in rd 2 and playing him at TE.
I’m pretty much deal set against that idea bergs. I think at 15 we can get an immediate impact player. I think CB just may be the way we go. I could see them Trade up for Waynes.
I Can see teasing out of round 3 for more picks but not 1. Maybe 2 but I’m not really down with that either.
If you are out there Winder, kudos for at least trying to post shit that is reasonable on Skeebie’s site. I post that and get ripped for days. Like Bergs, I’ve given up.
Blaming the tweet on the fallout of the cratering this season is pure insanity. NoFear as well posts everything that fits his agenda. Nothing gets through without it fitting the narrative to a T. Like me complaining about the offense for these past couple seasons its tantamount to treasonous behavior. And I’m an idiot for thinking the offense was a problem. Despite the fact that the defense was carrying the team.
Omg chiuck this has got to be your best comment ever
Oh BLEEP it!
It is pretty depressing over there. And like many here I think we have a chance to be a pretty good team this year. It’s mostly on Kappy.
Hah! Thanks ROB!!!!
Someone has to keep the faith. Got a few folks here anyway!
As for me how about trea waynes in one and jordan Philips in one two
Oops i mean round two of course
Yeah Waynes is the guy id love to get.
Well chuck , it’s funny but if shelton and waynes are gone when we pick trading down a few spots might make some sense
Brown and collins will probably be among the guys likely still on the board somewhere aroind pick 20
Berger I had McKinney on my list until recently as well.
I like his stats, and his size.
The reason I took him off was, he’s said to be a liability in space.
He’s sort of big for an ILB, which isn’t a bad thing but, he’s got to cover.
I think we’d be better served with another option, we’ll see how Baalke plays the Board.
IMO, I don’t think we go for an ILB until RD3.
I like Stephone Anthony ahead of McKinney. I don’t think Anthony would survive until RD3 though.
Here’s where I’m at with ILB research – This years’ Group all appear to be shorter than desired too. Might be prudent to wait on this position and address the DL/CB position early?
Chuck, we could slide back from 15 if the perfect guy isn’t there.
Gaining another 3rd to drop into the latter part of RD1 wouldn’t kill me.
ILB –
Stephone Anthony – Clemson 6’2″/245
Eric Kendricks – UCLA – 6’0″/232
Ben Heeney – KS – 6’0″/231
Bryce Hager – Baylor – 6’1″/234
Taiwan Jones – MI St – 6’3″/252
I’ve got OLBs Jake Ryan from Michigan/ Mike Hull from PSU, as guys that could come in and play ILB as well – They’d come cheaper in terms of Draft slotting too.
Both of them appear to have better coverage skills as well.
If we have Funchess on the radar, he’d be positioned in slots where Kendricks or Anthony might be expected to go, at the top of RD2.
Hence the reason I stack my Board to get other options in case we miss a target or 2.
NJ- I heard Kiper and McShay talking up McKinney as possibly the best ILB in the draft so I decided to look him up. I then watched some video. We need a TED and he has the necessary size for the position. Here is what Walter Football ad to say about him:
Benardrick McKinney*, ILB/OLB, Mississippi State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 246.
40 Time: 4.66.
Projected Round (2015): 1-2.
4/4/15: McKinney didn’t impress teams in the Combine meetings, and that could hurt him come draft day. However, a ton of teams are showing interest in McKinney and view him as a play-maker.
McKinney had 71 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, three sacks, one forced fumble and four passes broken up in 2014. One of those sacks came when he beat Texas A&M tackle Cedric Ogbuehi off the edge. McKinney was a big-time presence in the Bulldogs’ defense and displayed the ability to be a three-down starter who can drop into pass coverage or rush the quarterback.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2015ILB.php#DrB3JlySwWLVvIEh.99
He might not have impressed at the meat market you love so much but his film looked good. I think he is an interesting prospect for our San Francisco 49ers. IMO, we don’t need another 230 lb injury magnet.
He made my early list Berger, I’m not averse to his stats and size.
I just couldn’t ignore the coverage limitations.
Read somewhere that he might not be more than a 2-Down LB at the NFL level?
Not that he couldn’t be Coached up certainly.
In an effort to keep my Board at 5 guys/position, I chose Stephone Anthony ahead of him, along with some of the smaller ILBs with similar tackling prowess.
It’s going to be interesting to see how Baalke plays this Draft Board, in terms of his valuation/targets.
I’d prefer to see him look to the trenches at 15, with a cover CB being a possibility if his guy is there.
Wouldn’t shock me to see an OT taken there either if someone worthy slides through ahead of us.
My philosophy – Protect the QB/Sack the QB.