49ers Best Draft Picks By Round (All Time)

So I am sitting at work trying to avoid actually working as much as possible, so I decided it would be interesting to see how the 49ers have drafted in each round since 1950. Some names are obvious and others not so much, but it was cool doing the research. There are a few names such as Lance Alworth who the 49ers selected but never played for them so I left them off the list.

The basic criteria I used was Round Value, Seasons Started/Played, Pro Bowls, and AP Selections to show the best selection from each round in team history.

As you can see we do most of our damage in the early rounds, but have found solid players in the later rounds.

RD 1- Jerry Rice, WR, Miss. Valley St. (16th Pick, 1985)- 16 years as a 49ers, 13 Pro Bowls, 10 Time First Team All-Pro, Hall of Famer (2010), 3 Super Bowl Rings

Honorable Mentions: Ronnie Lott DB (1981), Jimmy Johnson DB (1961), Hugh McElhenny HB (1952), Leo Nomellini DT (1950), John Brodie QB (1957), Patrick Willis (2007)

RD 2- Roger Craig, RB, Nebraska (49th Pick, 1983)- 8 seasons as a 49er (1983-1990), 4 Pro Bowls, 1-Time First Team All Pro, Hall of Fame Finalist (2010), 3 Super Bowl Rings

Honorable Mentions: Ricky Watters RB (1991), Randy Cross G (1976), Abe Woodson KR/PR/CB (1957), Bruce Bosley C (1956),

RD 3- Joe Montana, QB, Notre Dame (82nd Pick, 1979) - 13 seasons as a 49er (1979-1992), 8 Pro Bowls, 3-Time First Team All Pro, Hall of Famer (2000), 4 Super Bowl Rings

Honorable Mentions: Bob St. Clair T (1953), Dave Wilcox LB (1964), Guy McIntyre G (1984), Terrell Owens WR (1996), Frank Gore RB (2005), Navorro Bowman LB (2010)

RD 4- Charles Haley, DE, James Madison (96th Pick, 1986) - 8 seasons as a 49er (1986-1991; 1998-99), 3 Pro Bowls, 1-Time First Team All Pro, Hall of Fame Finalist, 2 Super Bowl Rings w/49ers (5 Total)

Honorable Mentions: Matt Hazeltine LB (1955), Steve Wallace T (1986), Dashon Goldson S (2007),

RD 5- Michael Carter, NT, SMU (121st Pick, 1984)- 9 seasons as a 49er (1984-1992), 3 Pro Bowls, 1-Time First Team All Pro, 3 Super Bowl WIns

Honorable Mentions: Len Rohde T (1960), Merton Hanks S (1991)

RD 6- Andy Lee, P, Pittsburgh (188th Pick, 2004) - 10 Seasons as a 49er (2004-Current), 3 Pro Bowls, 3-Time First Team All Pro

Honorable Mentions: Don Griffin DB (1986), Lee Woodall LB (1994), Fred Beasley FB (1998)

RD 7- Fred Quillan, C, Oregon (175th Pick, 1978)- 10 Seasons as a 49er (1978-1987), 2 Pro Bowls

Honorable Mentions: Brian Jennings TE (2000)

RD 8- John Ayers, G, West Texas A&M (223rd Pick, 1976)- 10 seasons as a 49er (1976-1986), Started 132 games

Honorable Mentions: Tom Wittum P (1972), Elivs Grbac QB (1993)

RD 9- Howard Mudd, G, Hillsdale (113th Pick, 1964)- 6 seasons as a 49er (1964-1969), 3 Pro Bowls, 1-Time First Team All Pro

Honorable Mentions: Ted Connolly G (1954)


RD 10- Dwight Clark, WR, Clemson (249th Pick, 1979)- 9 Seasons as a 49er (1979-1987), 2 Pro Bowls, 1-Time First Team All Pro, 2 Super Bowl Wins

Honorable Mentions: Tommy Hart DE (1968)

RDs 11 and up Honorable Mentions

Jesse Sapolu C (RD 11, 1983), Tommy Davis K (Round 11, 1957), Elmer Collet G (Rd 14, 1966)


Underline indicates HOF status

UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS - Jeff Garcia, QB, San Jose State

Should be included in Honorable Mentions

2nd Rd.. Eric Wright. 1 ist team NFL, 2 Pro Bowls, 4 SB rings

3rd Rd John Taylor... maybe the greatest "2nd receiver" ever

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:
Should be included in Honorable Mentions

2nd Rd.. Eric Wright. 1 ist team NFL, 2 Pro Bowls, 4 SB rings

3rd Rd John Taylor... maybe the greatest "2nd receiver" ever

Yeah, good additions you could add CB Eric Davis in the 2nd Round also.

In actuality I could have probably listed several more honorable mentions from rounds 1-3 but I was limiting it to a few of the top players. Those 80s and 90s team were deep.

Originally posted by NickSh49:
UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS - Jeff Garcia, QB, San Jose State

does he really count though? yeah he was undrafted but its not like we signed him after the draft. he went to canada for several seasons backing up doug flutie and then taking over for him. a guy like zack bronson, theres an undrafted guy who we signed after the draft and got some pretty good mileage out of. dave fiore is another one.

7th Rd. Bruce Miller

Honorable Mentions 1st round Bryant Young , pro bowler in 1996 ,1999,2001 N 2002 along with 89.5 career sacks ...

Originally posted by braap49er:

7th Rd. Bruce Miller

+1

We've had some damn good third round picks. The greatest quarterback of all time, the second greatest receiver of all time (T.O.), a hall of fame worthy running back in Gore, and arguably the best linebacker in the game right now in Bowman just to name a few.

Undrafted Joe "The Jet" Perry

Colin Kaepernick 2nd rd

Originally posted by theninermaniac:

Originally posted by braap49er:
7th Rd. Bruce Miller

+1

Love Miller, but hell nah.. Fred Quillan.

Originally posted by 16to87:

Colin Kaepernick 2nd rd

Not yet, not even close.

Originally posted by Ninerjohn:

Should be included in Honorable Mentions

2nd Rd.. Eric Wright. 1 ist team NFL, 2 Pro Bowls, 4 SB rings

3rd Rd John Taylor... maybe the greatest "2nd receiver" ever

Very good list