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PRESENTING THE FIRST-ANNUAL #49ERS NFL DRAFT POWER RANKINGS (2005 - 2020) An authoritative list, ranked by how EXCITING/UNDERWHELMING a draft night was, based on expectations & the picks that followed.
Please join me on this journey, then tell me how wrong I am! (THREAD)
16. 2012 • WR A.J. Jenkins
Jenkins was a major head-scratcher at the time, and so it remained during his time on the #49ers. He's considered by many pundits to be the biggest bust in franchise history with only 1 target.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Alshon Jeffery, T.Y. Hilton, Mo Sanu
Jenkins was a major head-scratcher at the time, and so it remained during his time on the #49ers. He's considered by many pundits to be the biggest bust in franchise history with only 1 target.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Alshon Jeffery, T.Y. Hilton, Mo Sanu
15. 2008 • DT Kentwan Balmer
A questionable pick, @DavidFucillo has theorized Mel Kiper ranked Balmer higher as a favor to his agent. Balmer is most famous for going AWOL during camp, per @BrownieAthletic.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Jordy Nelson, DeSean Jackson, Calais Campbell
A questionable pick, @DavidFucillo has theorized Mel Kiper ranked Balmer higher as a favor to his agent. Balmer is most famous for going AWOL during camp, per @BrownieAthletic.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Jordy Nelson, DeSean Jackson, Calais Campbell
14. 2015 • DE Arik Armstead
It can be debated whether or not Armstead was a "bad" pick, but the truth is that draft night in 2015 for #49ers fans was a snooze. Everyone knew GM Trent Baalke was taking Armstead.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Marcus Peters, Byron Jones, Landon Collins
It can be debated whether or not Armstead was a "bad" pick, but the truth is that draft night in 2015 for #49ers fans was a snooze. Everyone knew GM Trent Baalke was taking Armstead.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Marcus Peters, Byron Jones, Landon Collins
13. 2014 • SS Jimmie Ward
Who? The selection had analysts and fans scrambling to make sense of what need Ward would fill, until the #49ers revealed their plans to start him at slot cornerback.
STILL ON THE BOARD: DeMarcus Lawrence, Davante Adams, Allen Robinson
Who? The selection had analysts and fans scrambling to make sense of what need Ward would fill, until the #49ers revealed their plans to start him at slot cornerback.
STILL ON THE BOARD: DeMarcus Lawrence, Davante Adams, Allen Robinson
12. 2018 • OT Mike McGlinchey
The #49ers reportedly didn't scout @MMcGlinch68 intensely as to hide their love of the Notre Dame tackle. The Raiders were also rumored to be in the hunt. Tackles = unsexy picks.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Derwin James, Orlando Brown
The #49ers reportedly didn't scout @MMcGlinch68 intensely as to hide their love of the Notre Dame tackle. The Raiders were also rumored to be in the hunt. Tackles = unsexy picks.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Derwin James, Orlando Brown
11. 2011 • OLB Aldon Smith
Not Watt?!? The lesser-known sack master was easily the best pick of GM Trent Baalke's #49ers career, though Smith's off-field issues have kept him consistently distanced from greatness.
STILL ON THE BOARD: J.J. Watt, Ryan Kerrigan, Cameron Jordan
Not Watt?!? The lesser-known sack master was easily the best pick of GM Trent Baalke's #49ers career, though Smith's off-field issues have kept him consistently distanced from greatness.
STILL ON THE BOARD: J.J. Watt, Ryan Kerrigan, Cameron Jordan
10. 2013 • FS Eric Reid
Exit Dashon Goldson to Tampa, enter @E_Reid35. Coming off a Super Bowl loss, yet still touting a stacked roster, there was no need for the #49ers to get cute in the draft.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Xavier Rhodes, DeAndre Hopkins, Travis Kelce, Tyrann Mathieu
Exit Dashon Goldson to Tampa, enter @E_Reid35. Coming off a Super Bowl loss, yet still touting a stacked roster, there was no need for the #49ers to get cute in the draft.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Xavier Rhodes, DeAndre Hopkins, Travis Kelce, Tyrann Mathieu
9. 2016 • DT DeForest Buckner, OT Josh Garnett
A night of few surprises. Buckner fell to the #49ers as many predicted, but trading up for Garnett was a gamble by GM Trent Baalke that unfortunately didn't pay off.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Chris Jones, Derrick Henry, Michael Thomas
A night of few surprises. Buckner fell to the #49ers as many predicted, but trading up for Garnett was a gamble by GM Trent Baalke that unfortunately didn't pay off.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Chris Jones, Derrick Henry, Michael Thomas
8. 2006 • TE Vernon Davis, OLB Manny Lawson
There were three camps of fans in '06: @VernonDavis85, A.J. Hawk, Michael Huff. The #49ers picked the best player. Trading up for Lawson was the cherry on top, despite the outcome.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Donte Whitner, Haloti Ngata
There were three camps of fans in '06: @VernonDavis85, A.J. Hawk, Michael Huff. The #49ers picked the best player. Trading up for Lawson was the cherry on top, despite the outcome.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Donte Whitner, Haloti Ngata
7. 2020 • DT Javon Kinlaw, WR Brandon Aiyuk
Lots of moving pieces. Buckner had been traded. Joe Staley retirement rumblings. In the end, the #49ers filled two needs, taking a def tackle (of course) & an under-the-radar receiver.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Jalen Hurts, Tee Higgins
Lots of moving pieces. Buckner had been traded. Joe Staley retirement rumblings. In the end, the #49ers filled two needs, taking a def tackle (of course) & an under-the-radar receiver.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Jalen Hurts, Tee Higgins
6. 2005 • QB Alex Smith
Mixed emotions. For weeks prior, the question of "Alex or Aaron?" was on the mind of every #49ers fan. By draft day, it was tough to know whether to celebrate or be disappointed.
ALSO STILL ON THE BOARD: DeMarcus Ware, Derrick Johnson, Logan Mankins
Mixed emotions. For weeks prior, the question of "Alex or Aaron?" was on the mind of every #49ers fan. By draft day, it was tough to know whether to celebrate or be disappointed.
ALSO STILL ON THE BOARD: DeMarcus Ware, Derrick Johnson, Logan Mankins
5. 2010 • OT Anthony Davis, OG Mike Iupati
#49ers head coach Mike Singletary was obsessed with running the football, so GM Trent Baalke somehow added two Pro Bowl linemen. Jim Harbaugh later reaped the benefits.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Dez Bryant, Rob Gronkowski, Emmanuel Sanders
#49ers head coach Mike Singletary was obsessed with running the football, so GM Trent Baalke somehow added two Pro Bowl linemen. Jim Harbaugh later reaped the benefits.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Dez Bryant, Rob Gronkowski, Emmanuel Sanders
4. 2017 • DE Solomon Thomas, LB Reuben Foster
#49ers fans celebrated adding two assumed Pro Bowlers + extra picks from the #Bears in their trade up for QB Mitch Trubisky. Sadly, both teams gained little from the exchange.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson
#49ers fans celebrated adding two assumed Pro Bowlers + extra picks from the #Bears in their trade up for QB Mitch Trubisky. Sadly, both teams gained little from the exchange.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson
3. 2019 • DE Nick Bosa
"Are the Cards taking Murray or what?" That was the only question that mattered to #49ers fans prior to draft night. Otherwise, @NBSmallerBear was the pick all along, despite rumors of Q. Williams.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Josh Allen, A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf
"Are the Cards taking Murray or what?" That was the only question that mattered to #49ers fans prior to draft night. Otherwise, @NBSmallerBear was the pick all along, despite rumors of Q. Williams.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Josh Allen, A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf
2. 2007 • LB Patrick Willis, OT Joe Staley
If the fans/media could have foreseen that both @Jstaley74 & @PatrickWillis52 would be future Hall of Famers, this one would be hard to beat. Best draft of Scot McCloughan's #49ers career.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Eric Weddle, Greg Olsen
If the fans/media could have foreseen that both @Jstaley74 & @PatrickWillis52 would be future Hall of Famers, this one would be hard to beat. Best draft of Scot McCloughan's #49ers career.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Eric Weddle, Greg Olsen
1. 2009 • WR Michael Crabtree
When impossible is suddenly possible. Al Davis + Raiders passed on @KingCrab15 in favor of Darrius Heyward-Bey, producing the most shocking & exhilarating draft night in #49ers history.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Malcolm Jenkins, Alex Mack, Clay Matthews
When impossible is suddenly possible. Al Davis + Raiders passed on @KingCrab15 in favor of Darrius Heyward-Bey, producing the most shocking & exhilarating draft night in #49ers history.
STILL ON THE BOARD: Malcolm Jenkins, Alex Mack, Clay Matthews
That's the list! If you made it this far, thanks! Please tell me how well/poorly I did below!
I also produced a narrative podcast on the recent history of the #49ers called DOCUMENT 49, primarily focused on Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh.
http://DOCUMENT49.com
I also produced a narrative podcast on the recent history of the #49ers called DOCUMENT 49, primarily focused on Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh.
http://DOCUMENT49.com
