Originally posted by MadDog49er:
I'd re-do all of the Niners picks. These are the players I would have selected based on my board and team need (unfortunately excluding trades...I would have moved up to select Peterson..even if the cost was high). In having no trades, note the extra selection. I would have bypassed selecting a QB early.
Also, I strictly go by a no-cheating clause that does not look at how far a specific player mysteriously fell and selecting him in a later round before the real team selection.
1- JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin
Simply the best player on the board at the time. Since Franklin appears to be leaving, moving Soap to NT would necessitate a new DE to take over right away.
2- Rodney Hudson, G/C, Florida State
I think Hudson is the best OL in the entire draft, and is a starter at guard or center.
3- Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
The team needs a cover corner, and Brown has size and speed.
4- Jordan Todman, RB, UConn
I graded Todman just slightly over Hunter, who I really like as well. Both are great value picks at this point.
4- Marcus Cannon, G, TCU
Since the Niners have a second fourth rounder, this can be a luxury pick. I'd burn it on a risk. Cannon is a starter at guard some time in the future if he can survive cancer and regain his strength. Worth the risk in the fourth round.
5- Tyrod Taylor, QB, Virginia Tech
The Niners need QB depth, and while no one expects Taylor to be a future starter, he can be a solid backup if the starter goes down for a short time.
6- Charles Clay, FB, Tulsa
A FB who can run and catch the ball. Sounds like a WCO fullback to me.
6- Justin Rogers, CB, Richmond
Team needs a second corner in this draft, and Rogers had a terrific career and offseason.
6- Jerrell Powe, NT, Mississippi
Simply a backup, toilet clogger. Every 3-4 team needs one.
7- Ugo Chinasa, OLB, Oklahoma St
Was not drafted, but a quick, strong guy who could develop into a nice role player.
7- Jeron Johnson, S, Boise St
Also not drafted, but a talented, fast guy who has a ton of experience.
7- Dane Sanzenbacher, WR, Ohio St
Competition for Williams in the slot. Sanzenbacher was a seriously clutch WR for the Buckeyes.
Cheers.
Just for jollies, here's a side by side comparison of the Niner's picks and where they were picked against your picks and where they were actually taken:
#7. Aldon Smith OLB in the 1st round vs. #11. J.J. Watt DE Houston, 1st round
#36. C. Kaepernick QB in the 2nd round vs. #55. Rodney Hudson OL, 2nd rd., Chiefs
#80. C. Culliver CB in the 3rd round vs. #95. Curtis Brown CB, 3rd rd., Steelers
#115. Kendall Hunter RB in the 4th round vs. #183. Jordon Todman RB 6th rd. Chargers
#163. Daniel Kilgore G/C in the 5th round vs. #138. Marcus Cannon G., 5th rd., Patriots
#182. Ronald Johnson WR in the 6th round vs. #180. Tyrod Taylor QB, 5th rd, Ravens
#190. Colin Jones S in the 6th round vs. #174. Charles Clay TE Dolphins, 6th
#211. Bruce Miller FB/OLB in the 7th round vs. #206. Justin Rogers CB Bills, 7th
#239. Michael Person OL in the 7th round vs. #199. Jerrell Powe NT Chiefs 6th round
#250. Curtis Holcomb CB in the 7th round vs.
Not Drafted Ugo Chinisa OLB
Not Drafted Jeron Johnson S
Not Drafted Sanzenbacher WR
Your selection of Todman, over Hunter in the 4th, appears to be a very big reach, based on where Todman was actually selected, two rounds later.
Cannon over Kilgore would be impossible, since Cannon was gone some 25 picks earlier. If Kilgore is anywhere near equal talent-wise, then the Niner's got great value with his pick.
Taylor over Johnson is a moot point, since the Niners got Kaepernick much earlier, and he appears to be a QB prospect with a much higher ceiling than Taylor.
Charles Clay, drafted as a TE by Miami at #174, was already off the board when the Niners picked at both 182 and 190, then they got their version of a FB project at #211, Bruce Miller, a hard nosed guy with some experience at TE in high school. So Baalke got Ron Johnson AND Colin Jones before picking up a "converson to FB" guy in Miller. Seems like Baalke may have beaten you by two there.
CB Justin Rogers was selected at #206, the Niner's got Holcomb at #250. Again, this appears to be a great value pick for the Niners.
You picked up a NT in the 7th. This appears to be a glaring need for the Niners, whether they resign Franklin or not.
Your three undrafted guys are all, presumably, going to be available as UDFAs once the CBA/lockout is resolved.
So overall, you got a NT in the 7th, the Niner's got a pass rushing OLB in the first. You got a backup QB project in the 5th, the Niner's got a potential starting QB project in the early 2nd.
Your draft appears to have reached for a DE in the first. If Watts was the 7th best player available, why did he last til #11? Ironic that you had Aldon Smith ranked 11th on your last big board and called his selection at #7 a "reach," yet you would take Watts at #7, when he was actually taken in the draft at #11.
If the Niner's draft was really just a C, then yours would have to be a D. I think your grade for the Niner's is too harsh, and I'd give it a B. In comparison, I think your draft would rate a C or a C+. You address all the needs, including NT, but sacrifice some quality (Kaepernick vs. Taylor is just one example) which could hurt in the long run. IMHO.
I don't think throwing a bunch of UDFAs into the mix is fair, at this point, since who the Niners will bring in as UDFA is still an unknown. You pick up a WR, S, and OLB as UDFA. Who's to say the Niners don't pick up all those guys, plus a NT as UDFA?
[ Edited by oldninerdude on May 22, 2011 at 12:39 PM ]