In lieu of looking at current draft needs, let’s take a look at who our 2016 free agents are.
This way (for me at least) we’ll know what may be on Baalke’s wish list going forward. Next year’s FAs are:
▪ Wide receiver Anquan Boldin
▪ Outside linebacker Aldon Smith
▪ Tight end Vernon Davis
▪ Guard Alex Boone
Does this change the strategy? Well. A little, I guess. The defense already had its purge with retirements and defections. The only position I haven’t heard a lot of clamor about regarding our draft is TE. Actually, Funchess is in our sights as a possible 2nd rounder, so he has been bandied about. He’s a tweener WR/TE, but is a big red-zone target, so he certainly could be a not to the future as VDs value sinks to penny-stock-land. And I certainly don’t think we re-sign him, but this season will tell us something.
WR has been a big hole in this team for lo so many years now. Pretty much since TO left in 2003 anyway. Crabs has had his decent moments, but he’s hiking across the Bay for browner pastures. Patton and Ellington are the latest batch of underachieving WRs drafted by Baalke. Thing is, they don’t fit his mold of bigger bigger bigger, so you have to wonder why he went this route AFTER getting burned by the AJ Jenkins/LMJ small guy picks. That being said, the guys in this WR crop, another strong group, could yield us DaVante Parker. A guy who is 6’1 and 209 lb. and ran a 4.45 40. Works for me. I wouldn’t trade up for a WR, but he should be there.
If not? OLB is a concern what with Aldon Smith on his last straw screw-up-wise, and the inconsistent play of Ahmad Brooks. Aaron Lynch is fine as a rotation guy, but no one would think he’s an every down guy. Dante Fowler won;t make it to us, but Vic Beasley could. The other top OLBs all seem to be in a race to see who blows the most money before the draft. DE certainly fits here as well. Malcolm Brown and Arick Armstead being on the wish list, with local kid Henry Anderson from Stanfoo a possibility as a later-round sleeper.
Tackle? Possible with the imminent departure of Aaron Boone. Andrus Peate’s head has popped up on the radar recently, behind Ereck Flowers as the top tackle. I suppose that’s a possibility, and the line certainly strugled last year, but the hope is Brandon Thomas is fully recovered from his knee injury, and Marcus Martin is a) healed up, and B) can slide to guard. Not as big a need for me as D line or CB. Somewhere where we were decimated this offseason.
So, looking to the future may not make anything hammer out any differently, but there is a definite need for a WR. I’m leaning away from these guys going CB in the 1st round and am now leaning back to WR. I’d love to get Parker, but we’ll see. I don’t think we’ll trade up, but we will see soon enough.
Forty Niners Forever 
2 mill is pocket change. They need depth and he provides some. He may not be every-dwon, but he’s at least a stabilizing influence.
Juston hasn’t said anything, and I’d think the Dockett signing would be a good thing for him as they could rotate.
Seifert was the master at keeping his D line fresh by constant rotations. they certainly can learn from that.
Hey NJ, maybe you could send an email of your research to 49er central in C.O Baalke and maybe it will get to him. Probably not but it can’t hurt to try. Who knows you just might land a new career in scouting.
Yeah, there are times I think fans could do better at some aspects of the GMs job and the decisions these guys make. I mean really, trading up to get Tebow? Drafting Johny Eightball in the 1st round? Nutty. JaMarcus Russell, Tim Couch, on and on.
Funny how Bullitt and Spitty are in full trolling mode. Bullitt freaks out about me posting re: Greg Hardy and doesn’t understand the connection between him and the troubles this current crop of draftees is now facing, and then in the next instant posts an article about Greg Hardy.
I haven’t watched any video on CB Byron Jones but since NJ began selling me on this guy I’m starting to buy. Maiocco just picked him in a mock draft in rd 1. I hope he isn’t just a combine wonder.
Yeah, when I started looking at him, he sounds very solid.
STRENGTHS Extremely smart and instinctive on the field. Shows above-average anticipation of routes. Is able to sniff out rub routes and works to avoid them. Flashes recovery speed downfield and gets head around to find ball and make a play on it. Uses instincts and adequate closing burst to disrupt the catch. Generally reliable tackler. Team captain and leader on the field and in the locker room. Scouts say he’s willing to play hurt and inspires his teammates.
WEAKNESSES Plays with high center of gravity. Has difficulty gearing down quickly and changing directions. Doesn’t always play with feet under him. Will lose balance and footing too often. Not a quick-twitch athlete. Feet show noticeable stall before firing forward out of backpedal. Willing to tackle but not a physical player. Suffered season-ending shoulder injury in seventh game of 2014 season.
Goddamn you Berger! I knew you didn’t call to talk about Dortmund’s good post position. Now you got me all fired up and pissed off again. I was at a nice even-keeled and stress-free level. You certainly put me back in the mood for a draft once again. I’m thinking my first draft will be amber, ice cold with a frothy head.
Duck/Duck/Del!
Welcome back stranger.
Who’s the Pick tonite?
I hope and PRAY, it’s not that fuk’n Duck Armstead. No Offense.
Not interested. At all.
I don’t see anybody at 15 who looks to be an impact player for this year. Maybe Parker but I’ve been conditioned by the recent 49er OCs to believe a WR is a wasted pick for us. Let somebody else draft him who will know how to use him. Maybe the current OC will change my mind but I’ll believe it when I see it.
My first choice is the trade back and pick up some extra picks. If we stay at 15 my preference is Armstead, Parker, or a CB. Armstead is the real wild card, this guy could tear up the league or bust. He has the ability and mean streak but some say he isn’t committed to football. I’ve heard the opposite so without the ability to talk to him I don’t know if we should take him. The reality is whoever we pick it won’t matter until September when we can see what he does on the field. A player I’m hoping we target later in the draft is Henry Anderson from Stanford. I’m still hoping for Funchess in rd 2.
Fuck. Sounds like were trading down