The 49ers managed to address a few of their needs during the draft. In many ways this was a very important draft for general manager Trent Baalke, and there were some holes at key positions that they needed to fill. With new head coach Chip Kelly helping to make the decisions, here is who they selected:
1st Round, 7th Overall: DE DeForest Buckner (Oregon)
1st Round, 28th Overall: G Joshua Garnett (Stanford)
3rd Round, 68th Overall: CB Will Redmond (Mississippi State)
4th Round, 133rd Overall: CB Rasher Robinson (LSU)
5th Round, 142nd Overall: DE Ronald Blair (Appalachian State)
5th Round, 145th Overall: OT John Theus (Georgia)
5th Round, 174th Overall: OT Fahn Cooper (Miss. St.)
6th Round, 207th Overall: QB Jeff Driskel (Louisiana Tech.)
6th Round, 211th Overall: RB Kelvin Taylor (Florida)
6th Round, 213th Overall: WR Aaron Burbridge (Michigan State)
7th Round, 249th Overall: CB Prince Charles Iworah (Western Kentucky)
49ers Draft Grade: 8.0/10
San Francisco 49ers NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Considering that the 49ers only had 13 sacks last year when rushing four or fewer defensive linemen, the team needed a player like DeForest Buckner. Buckner recorded 10.5 sacks last season for Oregon. He also contributed 83 tackles and nine batted passes. Buckner will be an impact player on defense. He will certainly start right away, filling a pass rushing hole left by Aldon Smith, who is now with the Oakland Raiders. Buckner will also help to improve the team’s rushing defense, which was ranked a miserable 29th in the league last season.
The Head-Scratcher: The 49ers traded up nine spots into the first round to draft Joshua Garnett out of Stanford. Garnett did win the 2015 Outland Trophy for the nation’s top interior lineman, so he has first-round talent. Also, the team does need help on their offensive line. The question is why did the team move up from early in the second round to gain nine spots and draft a left guard who seemed to be in no danger of being selected before the second round.
The Surprise: The 49ers selected quarterback Jeff Driskel from Louisiana Tech with pick number 207 in the 6th round. Driskel was the 14th quarterback selected in the draft, and the first quarterback taken by the 49ers since B.J. Daniels in 2013. It is no surprise that the team took a quarterback with the questions surrounding Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert as their only other viable option. What is surprising is that Kelly and Baalke chose Driskel. There were better options than Driskel to suit Kelly’s offense. Dak Prescott was still available to take in earlier rounds, and he would have been a great fit for Kelly. The 49ers traded up into the first round to draft a guard, but maybe they should have went with a more NFL-ready quarterback.
The Steal: Kelvin Taylor is a tough, hard-nosed running back at 5’10”, 207 pounds. Taylor averaged four yards per carry at Florida, and ran for 1,035 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Taylor also has a great football background, being the son of Jacksonville Jaguar great Fred Taylor. Kelvin Taylor ran a 4.6 second 40-yard dash at the Combine, which is an impressive time for a bruising, up the gut type back. Taylor is a steal in the 6th round because he is an NFL ready back with a shoulder to lean on in his father. He should come out of training camp as either the back-up or third option, and will be a great complement to Carlos Hyde.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Ronald Blair has the ability to set the edge on defense with his speed. He can also use that speed to shoot gaps and fill holes. An all-conference player at Appalachian State, Blair will come in under the radar at training camp. At 6’2″, 284 pounds, Blair will be at home in a 3-4 defense, a scheme he was used to playing in at Appalachian State. In his last year at Appalachian State, Blair finished with 70 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. He also earned the Sun Belt Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Rest: San Francisco took three corners in the draft this year. Will Redmond, who tore his ACL last season at Mississippi State, should be ready to go for the 2016 season. Redmond is an aggressive corner who takes chances; he will need to learn to be more disciplined at the next level. Rashard Robinson only played eight games last season after being suspended from LSU for academic issues. Though he was great in those eight games, he is still a question mark. Prince Charles Iworah is a small corner at only 5’9″, 192 pounds, but his strength is his speed. He ran a 4.32 second 40-yard dash at the combine. The 49ers also took two offensive tackles in the fifth round. John Theus from Georgia and Fahn Cooper of Mississippi State were chosen to address the right side of the offensive line. These moves also sent a message to semi-retired tackle Anthony Davis that the team is moving forward without him. Anquan Boldin may not be returning to the team as well. Aaron Burbridge, who the 49ers drafted in the 6th round, is a physical copy of Boldin at 6’1″, 210 pounds. Burbridge can be that tough possession receiver for the 49ers if Boldin does leave.
The Bottom Line: The 49ers seemed to have a good draft in which they filled some holes on both sides of the ball. DeForest Buckner and Joshua Garnett should be starters and contribute right away. Ronald Blair can hopefully compete in camp and win a spot in the rotation on the defensive front. Jeff Driskel was the fastest quarterback at the combine. Hopefully he is allowed the chance to develop his skills for a few years behind either Kaepernick or Gabbert. The 49ers needed some running back depth, so Kelvin Taylor should see some playing time this season. John Theus and Fahn Cooper were both necessary picks considering the limited options on the right side of the offensive line. Will Redmond, Rashard Robinson, and Prince Charles Iworah will be competing for a spot on the team during camp, but should help add some depth to the 49ers secondary. The team has burners at wide receiver with Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton, and Bruce Ellington, so hopefully Aaron Burbridge can come in and thrive in his role as a possession receiver.
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