1st Round Draft Board - 7th Overall Pick

1. CB Patrick Peterson LSU 6'1" 212
Peterson is a rare talent who combines strong safety size with (alleged) 4.2 speed. He takes away half the field and also provides a threat in the return game. The issue with Peterson is that there is almost no chance he falls back to #7 and more likely is gone in the first two picks. If he somehow slips, he becomes a no-brainer for the 49ers who have a glaring need at CB.

2. DL Nick Fairley Auburn 6'5" 301
Assuming Franklin is back at NT, the 49ers don't have a glaring need on the DL, however, Fairley is a rare talent and likely is taken in the top 3 picks. He reminds me a lot of Richard Seymour and would be a great fit at the 5-technique in the 3 man front. No this isn't a top need, but how good does a front 3 of Justin Smith, Aubrayo Franklin and Nick Fairley sound?

3. OLB Robert Quinn North Carolina 6'4" 258
Quinn is a pretty big unknown, but if he is the player he showed to be as a sophomore at North Carolina, then he is easily worth a top 7 pick. Quinn is an imposing athlete who combines speed, quickness off the snap and strength with a non-stop motor. By all accounts he is a football junky and a good kid and profiles to be a premier pass rusher at the next level.

4. DE/OLB Da'Quan Bowers Clemson 6'5" 274
Bowers may end up being the best player out of this draft and reminds me a whole lot of Julius Peppers given his size and athleticism. The light finally went on for Bowers as a junior and he simply dominated opponents. The reason Bowers is below Quinn on this draft board is because I don't think he projects as well to a 3-4 defense. He is more of a traditional rush end who needs to put his hand on the ground. If he can show scouts he can drop back into coverage and rush the passer from a stand-up position, then he may just find himself #1 on the 49ers draft board - then again, he is very likely gone in the top 5 picks.

5. OLB Von Miller Texas A&M 6'3" 240
There are two things you absolutely cannot question about Miller: 1) his production and 2) his athleticism. By all accounts Miller was the most explosive PLAYER at the Senior Bowl and ran circles around some of the best OL prospects. He projects well as a do-it-all 3-4 OLB who has the athleticism to cover RBs and TEs but also be a 10+ sack a year guy. I have some fears about his lack of ideal size, but besides that he just might be the early odds on favorite for the #7 pick.

6. CB Prince Amukamara Nebraska 6'1" 202
If Amukamara wasn't in the same class as Peterson, it would be him who would likely be heralded as the best CB to come out in the last few years. Amukamara doesn't quite have the upside that Peterson does, but he may be more NFL ready. He has a large frame, terrific speed and quickness and has a fantastic natural feel for coverage to go with top ball skills. Amukamara is a safe bet to be a long time starting CB in the NFL and reminds me a lot of Nnamdi Assomugha.

7. DL Marcel Dareus Alabama 6'3" 303
I don't think the 49ers will be faced with a situation where at least one of Quinn, Bowers, Miller or Amukamara will not be available, but should something very strange happen, Marcel Dareus would be a great consolation prize. Like Fairley he is a dominant DL that can profile nicely to the 5-technique position and give the 49ers a feared 3-man front.

8. WR A.J. Green Georgia 6'4" 205
Green is the best offensive player in the draft and is probably the best WR to come out since Calvin Johnson (still waiting for Crabtree...) and very likely won't make it past the #6 pick. Nevertheless, the 49ers have to show some interest in a talent like this.

9. QB Blaine Gabbert Missouri 6'5" 235
Honestly, I am not sold on taking any QB in the 1st round, but depending on how Gabbert performs he may be worth considering. Gabbert has the arm, athleticism and smarts to develop into a top-notch NFL QB, but there are issues with footwork, accuracy and the system he played in that make him too big of a risk in the top 10 picks.

10. DE/OLB Aldon Smith Missouri 6'5" 260
You never know what might happen, especially when talking about someone with Aldon Smith's physical talents, but he may end up going a lot higher than currently projected depending on how he performs in workouts. Smith is a physical freak reminiscent of Jason Pierre-Paul who teams looking for a pass rusher must pay attention too.

Other Prospects for 49ers Target - Rounds 2 through 5
OLB Justin Houston Georgia 6'3" 258 Draft Grade: Late 1st / Early 2nd Round - An athletic OLB who knows how to get to the QB

RB Mikel Leshoure Illinois 6'0" 230 Draft Grade: Late 1st / Early 2nd Round - A physical and shifty RB who the 49ers must consider given Gore's age

WR Torrey Smith Maryland 6'1" 200 Draft Grade: Late 1st / Early 2nd Round - Explosive WR and KR who would give 49ers a deep threat

RB DeMarco Murray Oklahoma Draft Grade: 2nd Round - Shifty RB who gives 49ers another gear beyond Gore

NT Phil Taylor Baylor 6'4" 337 Draft Grade: 2nd Round - One of the most physically imposing players I've seen in a while who will get a ton of attention depending on what 49ers decide to do with Franklin

CB Jimmy Smith Colorado 6'2" 205 Draft Grade: 2nd Round - Tell and rangy CB that is just a notch below the top 3 or 4 CBs in the draft

CB Brandon Burton Utah 6'0" 190 Draft Grade: 2nd Round - Talented, athletic but raw CB who could be a great fit

DL Allen Bailey Miami 6'4" 280 Draft Grade: 2nd Round - Physically freakish DL whose production has just been ok; could be a good fit as DE in 3-4

DL Marvin Austin North Carolina 6'3" 310 Draft Grade: Late 2nd Round - Another talented DL that profiles as DE in 3-4

WR Titus Young Boise St. 5'11" 185 Draft Grade: Late 2nd / Early 3rd Round - DeSean Jackson lite?

NT Jerrell Powe Ole Miss 6'2" 340 Draft Grade: Late 2nd / Early 3rd Round - Another powerful NT prospect

QB Andy Dalton TCU 6'2" 213 Draft Grade: Late 2nd / Early 3rd Round - Smart, tough QB with great accuracy and enough arm strength to succeed in NFL

QB Christian Ponder FSU 6'2" 222 Draft Grade: 3rd Round - Looks the part of an NFL QB physically, but has had some injuries and history of inconsistency

ILB Kelvin Sheppard LSU 6'3" 250 Draft Grade: 3rd Round - Would look great next to Willis

OLB / DE Brooks Reed Arizona 6'2" 260 Draft Grade: 3rd Round - Relentless outside pass rusher who will remind many of Clay Matthews

CB Rashad Carmichael Va Tech 5'11" 185 Draft Grade: 3rd Round - Fast and super athletic CB who struggles with lapses in concentration

CB Jalil Brown Colorado 6'1" 205 Draft Grade: 3rd Round - Similar to teammate Jimmy Smith and could be underrated prospect who becomes great pro

OLB Dontay Moch Nevada 6'1" 240 Draft Grade: 3rd / 4th Round - One dimensional speed rusher, but boy can he turn the corner

QB Nathan Enderle Idaho 6'5" 235 Draft Grade: 3rd / 4th Round - Big, strong-armed QB with surprising athleticism but erratic accuracy; a project

CB Chimdi Chekwa Ohio St. 6'0" 190 Draft Grade: 3rd / 4th Round - Once regarded as a 1st rounder, this CB has all the tools to be a starter at the next level

DL Kenrick Ellis Hampton 6'5" 340 Draft Grade: 4th Round - Dominating DL with amazing athleticism for size, but has character concerns

FB Owen Marecic Stanford 6'1" 248 Draft Grade: 4th / 5th Round - 49ers need a FB; he is the best in the draft and played for Harbaugh; this has to be a no brainer in the late 4th or early 5th