Originally posted by GhostofFredDean74:
Originally posted by 60sfan:
Originally posted by GhostofFredDean74:
The one thing we know about Baalke is that he's not afraid to reach for someone he likes, especially if it's a need.....so if he likes a NT and feels we need more talent there besides two players that have almost zero combined experience playing the 3-4 NT position in an NFL game (Williams and Dorsey), he'll go in that direction. If he feels that a guy like Cyprien or Reed can step in and immediately challenge for the FS spot, he'll grab one of those guys. Same goes with a WR...regardless of need or perceived value, he could easily draft a guy like Quinton Patten in the late first/early 2nd if he/they liked him enough.
But to say what position Baalke WILL or WILL NOT address early on with any level of certainty is a fools game.
That's a safe way to look at it. I believe there is not a pure NT that is worth taking in the first 2 rounds. Star, Jessie Williams and even John Jenkins are not Pure NT's. They are hybrids that can play a 3-4 DE. If any of them are selected, it will not be to play NT only.
It's not safe, it's just the truth. I can't think of too many people who had Aldon Smith #7 overall to us, or AJ Jenkins in the late first. Baalke goes after the guys he wants regardless of perceived value, that's been his track record so far. And yes, it's not likely we select someone to just play a pure NT role because we're not a pure 3-4 team. It stands to reason that we would need someone with the ability to play inside in different fronts, and even someone to play the 5 technique when called for. That's the nature of their scheme.
The one thing I look at with Baalke is when he was acting GM. We needed O-lineman and he took no chances, he went and got the guy he likes in Davis, and then took Iupati a few picks later. IMO our D-line does not necessarily need two top 50 picks like allot of people suggest, but you can't overlook our safety position with DG leaving. If I had to bet on what would happen with the Niners it would be a trade up for a safety to land the guy Baalke likes. But like you said... trying to predict what would happen is fun but also a fools work, it would be interesting to see which odds are better... a perfect bracket in march madness or correctly predicting every pick and team in the 1st round.