Here's the cream of the NFC West draft crop. San Francisco is slowly building their team into a contender. Last weekend's draft gives them another good group of players.
1st round (11th overall) - LB Patrick Willis
A great selection for a linebacker starved 49ers team. He should start right away at the inside/middle linebacker position (depending if San Fran will play a 4-3 or 3-4). This Mississippi State tackling machine who's a better person off-the-field than on. Willis exudes character. If someone were to nitpick, he needs to work on his pass coverage (but most rookies do) and he's had a few injuries in college. But he's quick as heck (4.51 40) and loves to be a leader.
1st round (28) - OT Joe Staley
Some of the experts are bashing San Fran for this pick for two reasons. First, they traded next year's #1 pick and change for the New England's second 1st round pick. The bashers say that's too high of a price, considering the Niners could have a better draft position next year. Second, other haters say that coach Mike Nolan may have reached on this pick. I disagree on both counts. They've potentially drafted their left tackle for the next 10 seasons plus. This 306 pound tackle runs a 40-yard dash in 4.81 seconds. ZOINKS! San Francisco O-line manhandled the Seahawks last year. With this pick, potentially, it doesn't look like much will change for another 10 seasons.
3rd round (76) - WR Jason Hill
OK, I'm a little biased here. I'm a Coug. But putting that aside, I like this pick, especially at the bargain basement price of a third round pick. Hill ran a 4.32 40. Plus, he caught 158 balls at Wazzu, 111 were for 1st downs, and 32 counted for 6 points. I don't know about you, but in the sports office, we call that a play maker. Double bonus for Hill, he'll play pro ball in the same city where he went to high school. Who knows, if he stays healthy, Hill could start here and there during the season.
3rd round (97) - DE Ray McDonald
Not a bad pick either. Although, he may have knee problems. No matter, somewhere down the road, he should contribute. On talent alone, McDonald should have been drafted higher. Another reason to like this pick, d-line is a "need" pick for San Fran.
4th round (104) - DE Jay Moore
Sounds like the Niners are going to try Moore at Outside Linebacker. Although, he may not have the speed or quickness to play the position. Apparently, Coach Nolan saw Moore at the Senior Bowl and fell in love with him.
4th round (126) - CB Dashon Goldson
It's difficult for me to say this as a Cougar, but this is a great pick. He'll probably clock time on the practice squad, but he has the potential to play in the nickel and dime coverages in the near future. He's a good tackler with good size (6'2" and 205 lbs.).
4th round (135) - DT Joe Cohen
I've talked about players like Cohen before in previous blogs. He'll work well as a rotational defensive lineman. Everyone needs these type of players. Plus, this is also a "need" pick as San Fran needs to add talent to the line. He played at Florida, so he knows big-time football.
5th round (147) - CB Tarell Brown
Here's a guy that fell because of character issues. Brown could have gone higher, maybe even in the second round, but if red flags come up, you'll like fall. The Longhorns CB was a 3-year starter at Texas. Not bad. The Niners just doled out a ton of dough to upgrade their d-backs. Brown could help in the future.
6th round (186) - RB Thomas Clayton
Much like Brown, Clayton has some skeletons in the closet. He's had a few brushes with the law. Not exactly sure why they wasted a pick on him. Clayton's not overly fast (4.63 40), successful (demoted to 3rd string last year at Kansas State), or possess the intangibles needed to play (reads holes poorly and fumbles). I could be way off, but this looks like Nolan's first and only whiff of the draft.
Final Analysis:
San Fran traded their fourth 4th round pick to Seattle for WR Darrell Jackson. You include that, and the 49ers should have been smiling from ear to ear. Overall I give them an A+. Former Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner left the team to be San Diego's head coach. If the Niners can overcome that loss, combined with QB Alex Smith's continued improvement, they could challenge for the NFC West crown for years to come. Around the web, experts give them a grade between an A and a B. It averages out to be an A-. For the next 3-plus seasons, the NFC West should be a 3-horse race. I still think the Seahawks are the cream of the crop, but the Cards and Niners are on their trail.
Next up: Seahawks "mixed bag" draft
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