Ill give my evaluation of the 2009 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. First I think the trade to Carolina to give away our second and fourth round pick this year for a first round pick next year. I thought this was a fairly week draft in general and there wasn't much for our needs in those positions and gaining a second first round pick next year is a good decision where the odds of getting a game breaking player are double. Now to the picks.
Rd 1 No 10 overall: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
I think the 49ers benefitted from an injury to steal possibly the 2nd or 3rd best player in this draft at the tenth spot. His foot injury, and thus lack of combine numbers, combined with the potential of being a diva indicated some ego problems to many teams who wanted to stay away from a guy like that. This will not be a problem for us, the first time he is out in Santa Clara running that 45 ft hill in 100 degree heat after practice will shut him up pretty quickly and get him to fall in line. It worked with V.D. last year and should work again. I think Crabtree will be an impact player next year and am excited about our young recievers.
Rd 3 No 74 overall: Glen Coffee, RB, Alabama
A good compliment to Frank Gore. Should be able to give him spells in short yardage situations. Again didn't really address a pressing need, but I think it was a good pick here again due to there not really being quality choices worth taking this high in positions I think we really needed, those positions being a tackle (maybe not so pressing, lets see how Marvel Smith works out), Nose Tackle (I was a little sad to see B.J. Raji go one pick ahead of us), edge pass rusher and safety. I think between Clayton and Coffee we have enough to give Gore the rest he needs and we should be able to get productions out of one of the two of them.
Rd 5 No 146 overall: Scott McKillop, ILB, Pittsburg
With Takeo Spikes and Patrick Willis Im not really sure why we drafted in this position. Not really a pressing need at all, I imagine he should get some good time on special teams where hopefully he can become a contributer. I wouldn't expect much more than that from him, however he could be a nice surprise.
Rd 5 No 171 overall: Nate Davis, QB, Ball State
This is my favorite late round pick by us and I think a steal this late in the draft. He fell this far due to a learning disability many were afraid would affect onfield decisions. He will not be an immediate impact, I would be surprised if he saw the field this year, he probably wont even get on the field next year, but with some hard work, both in practice, and especially in the film room, he could have the potential to be an NFL quarterback, possibly even a good one, but it will take years of work with no playing time, does he have the mental toughness to do this? I guess we will find out.
Rd 6 No 184 overall: Bear Pascoe, TE, Fresno State
Dont know much about him, never saw him play, but he has the size to be a good blocker, hopefully he can be a cheaper Billy Bajema this year. He's got the size to be a second blocker and out there on the end with Vernon Davis we could have very good blocking front end which is right in line with what Singletary wants to do in our offense this coming year.
Rd 7 No 219 overall: Curtis Taylor, S, LSU
Finally we address a need. How much of an impact will he have this year? Who knows. Maybe he will have a good camp and surprise everyone, maybe he will have a terrible camp and not even make the team. We will find out soon enough. I have read he has had some off field issues, maybe if Singletary can help him get his act together he can become a value pick for is.
Rd 7 No 244 overall: Ricky Jean-Frnacois, DT, LSU
A little undersized, but posses above average skills needed for his position. Has had some injury issues, mostly a little earlier in his career, hopefully he is over them, also had some off field issues. If Singletary can get him to focus on football and keep him away from whatever problems he might have had he could also be a contributer and a very good value from the seventh round. Also could not make the team, he did fall to number 244 for a reason.
-Image courtesy of ESPN.com
The Crabtree pick is a great one. I also like the trade for next year's first. Gaining picks is always a good move, and the quarterback class next year could be significantly stronger. We could get a QB with that first, if Shaun Hill doesn't work out, or package the picks. Or, and this is big, give up one of those picks in trading for an impact player.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with the QB's that I see available in the 1st round next year is that they are all spread option QB's, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, etc. That is not the type of QB that succeeds in the NFL, just look at Alex Smith.
ReplyDeleteTrue. But, like I said, why I really like it is for its trade possibilities. It gives the option of trading for an impact player
ReplyDeleteJust curious what you guys think about Mark Sanchez. Do you think they should have looked at him more?
ReplyDeleteNo, I do not think we should have looked at Marc Sanchez more. I believe he could be a good QB in this league given he were in the right position. That would be like Aaron Rodgers where he would sit on the bench for at least a year, preferrably 2, behind an aging quality QB to learn the ropes of being an NFL QB. Ideally he should have done that after his senior season, but he wouldn't have been a #5 pick next year, and he wanted the money associated with being drafted that high. I do not think Marc Sanchez will be a good NFL QB becuase he will end up being the starter in NY before the year is up and they just do not have the pieces for him to be able to learn on the field and succeed. The game is much different in the NFL than in college.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the Niners shouldn't have drafted him, but I think that he's in a better sitaution in NY then Kevin gives him credit for. They had a good team for most of the year last year, and they've got a good line, defense, and running game. The pressure on the field isn't going to be for Sanchez to win it every day.
ReplyDeleteThe big difference will be the NY media. It almost destroyed Eli. It might destroy Sanchez. The fans want results immediately, and Sanchez is inevitably going to be compared to Flacco or Ryan.
The big question is who does he have to throw to in NY? The answer, at least for right now, is no one.
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