(49ERS TRADE WITH BALTIMORE, EXCHANGING PICKS #30, #77 and #129 for #17)-Baltimore is looking to add picks, 49ers want a receiver, the two teams seem to have a good working relationship and Baalke is able to get a pretty good deal for #17 while Newsome can add two more quality picks to the total.)
Round 1-Pick #17-Brandin Cooks-WR-5'10", 189-Oregon State University. I've criticized Cooks because I do have some issues with how good of a fit he is for this team, especially in terms of his run-blocking which to put it politely, is awful. However, that said I think he would provide a tremendous boost for this offense with his speed and explosiveness. I think the conspicuous rumors of the 49ers having strong interest in Mike Evans and Odell Beckham makes this pick more likely. I would be happy with either of those guys at this point but to me, neither of them is as much of a homerun threat as Cooks is. He is someone who can dominate in the slot, be a threat vertically, can definitely take a top off the defense, has outstanding hands and essentially carried the offense at Oregon State, each week, he was the main threat to be stopped and he still managed to produce in spite of it.
My gut is telling me that this is the guy the 49ers are going for. I could be completely wrong but I see the logic and benefit of adding Cooks to this offense, even if I'm not a fan of trading up but the 49ers would have to leapfrog the Jets to get him. There's not much more that I can write about him that others haven't already but my favorite trait of his is the outstanding body and ball control he shows when going to the ground. He secures the ball tightly to his body, able to withstand hard hits and impacts against the ground, just plain outstanding in that regard.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/34722
Durability-1-Durability is not a concern at this point. Has appeared in all 27 career games while starting all 25 games the past two seasons.
Intangibles-1-High motivated with strong work ethic. Passionate about the game. 2013 team captain. Mature individual that came from a tough upbringing. Father Worth Sr., passed away when Brandin was six years old leaving his mother Andrea to raise Brandin and his two older brothers Worth Jr. and Andre by herself. The family struggled to make ends meet as Andrea was forced to work two jobs. Older brother Andre has been in and out of jail and has never seen Brandin play a college game.
Separation Skills-1-Polished overall route runner that flashes savvy. Does a nice job of working defenders with tempo and head and shoulder fakes to set up breaks. Above-average burst out of cuts to create separation. Reads coverage rotation well on the run and has a natural feel for soft spots working against zone coverage.
Ball Skills-2-Average to below-average catch radius. However, possesses natural and strong hands. Above-average body control adjusting to throws outside of frame. Although he lacks prototypical height he is physical, aggressive and times leaps well to win in contested situations for a smaller receiver.
Big play ability-2-Possesses above-average top-end speed to stretch the field vertically. Flashes the ability to win one-on-one downfield battles despite lack of height. Instinctive runner after the catch. Shows good open field vision along with the speed and elusiveness to turn and short throw into a big gain.
Competitiveness-1-Highly instinctive and competitive. Tough and shows excellent focus in traffic. Plays bigger than measurables indicate. Gives adequate effort as run blocker. However, can improve angles to defenders and be more consistent sustaining blocks.
49ERS TRADE PICK #56 FROM KC TO JACKSONVILLE FOR PICK #70 AND A 3RD ROUND PICK IN 2015. Jacksonville is looking to move up to stock their roster with talent, potentially interested in acquiring a press corner like McGill, Baalke moves down a bit to add an extra 3rd rounder in 2015.
Round 2-Pick 61-Bashaud Breeland-CB-5'11", 197-Clemson. I think that the 49ers interest and most importantly, Baalke's interest in Breeland is not a smoke screen. He's a tough, gritty defensive back who isn't exceptional speed-wise but is an all-around high quality defensive back. He is a solid man corner and a kamikaze player when it comes to tackling and playing against the run. I see him similar to Kyle Fuller in a lot of ways. Just an all-around high quality prospect with no real major weaknesses to his game. The CB depth of this draft will result in him going lower than he might otherwise. Had he stayed in school for a year I think he might go quite a bit bit higher after another season. He's still somewhat raw and I think Donatell could do wonders with this guy.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/34730
Durability-2-Missed three games in 2012 (Wake Forest, South Carolina, LSU) while dealing with abdominal strain.
Intangibles-2-Accountable and passionate about football. Good work ethic. Ejected for 'targeting' in the second half of the Florida State game this past fall and was suspended for the first half the following week against Maryland. Will be a 22 year old rookie. Majoring in Community Recreation, Sports and Camp Management.
Instincts/Recognition-2-Above-average awareness in zone coverage and shows good eyes keying the quarterback. Average to slightly above-average anticipation in man coverage. Will gamble on occasion and is susceptible to double moves. Makes a quick diagnosis in run support. Confident in his abilities and shows the short term memory to bounce back from mistake.
Cover Skills-2-Flexible and fluid athlete for a taller corner with above-average range. Lacks elite explosiveness out of breaks but makes smooth transition out of breaks. Most effective in press technique and uses length well to disrupt release.
Ball Skills-2-Adequate playmaking instincts. Tracks and plays the ball well with above-average body control length, and range. Natural hands but can do a better job of high pointing the ball at times to maximize length. Flashes ability to create after the catch.
Run Support-2-Aggressive and hard edge setter. Attacks blockers and willing to lay body on the line. Long arms give him above-average range as a tackler. Must learn to breakdown and be more under control in the open field at times.
Round 3-Pick 70-Jack Mewhort-OT/OG-6-6", 309-Ohio State. Adam Snyder, GTFO! Mewhort is extremely versatile, has played every single position on the OL but center. He would add much needed depth to this OL. He could come in and play either guard or tackle and could be a replacement for Iupati down the road. Intelligent guy who would provide crucial depth in case of an injury to pretty much anyone on the OL. He was arrested back in 2012, he was drunk and urinating in public outside a bar. He made amends for it and hasn't had any issues since. No real reason to think that there might be long-term character issues as far as I know. By all accounts he was a team leader and a hard worker at Ohio State.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/33628
Durability-1-Three-year starter that's built well and hasn't sustained any serious injuries to best of our knowledge.
Intangibles-1-Pronounced MEW-hort. Voted team captain in 2013. Team leader that bought into Urban Meyer's system early on. Arrested on charge of obstructing official business June 2012. Accountable and took responsibility for actions. Suspended 2012 summer and had to pay own way to summer school that year.
Pass Protection-3-Right tackle prospect with enough length and initial quickness to protect edge and push defenders past quarterback. Sets high and can get knocked back initially but absorbs, resets and digs in. Can shoot hands inside, lock onto chest plate and stone defenders. Hand placement is inconsistent though. Enough balance to stay in front once engaged but struggles to counter when defender shoots or redirects inside before he can get his hands on them.
Run Blocking-2-Effective. Gets into position and walls off assignment. Wide base and good hands. Drives legs once locked on and can move defender off ball when keeps pads down but frequently plays high. Average athlete that struggles to adjust to moving targets but adequate second level blocker that takes sound angles and cuts off linebackers.
Awareness-2-Picks up almost all line stunts and blitzes in pass pro. Above average adjusting on fly when zone blocking. Keeps head up and adequate at locating linebacker combination blocking up to second level. Experience playing every position along offensive line except center and ability to play multiple positions is testament to football I.Q.
Toughness-2-Blue collar player that blocks through the whistle and competes on every snap but would like to see more of a killer instinct. Doesn't back down but not an instigator that looks to get under defenders' skin.
Round 3-Pick 94-Brock Vereen-S-5'11", 196-Minnesota. I was all set to make Loston the pick here but Vereen is a guy who makes all and no sense for the 49ers. He's got really short arms(30"), not ideal size for a safety but looking past that, he's got pretty much everything you want in a safety. One of the factors that stopped me from selecting Craig Loston is that every safety the 49ers add in the Harbaugh/Baalke/Fangio era is a speedy guy overall. If you look at Whitner, Bethea, Reid, even Trenton Robinson, they are all guys with pretty good athleticism and speed out on the field, able to cover a lot of ground. If they are looking at someone similar to Bethea, Vereen makes sense. Looking past his length, there's a lot to like about him.
-He's a team leader, a captain, very intelligent, tremendous character, a hard worker.
-Versatile. He can play FS, SS, CB...etc.
-Coverage Skills-Covers a lot of ground, not a huge playmaker but rarely out of position.
-Special Teams Standout. Could already be a consistent contributor to this team before he ever becomes a starter at safety.
The more I thought about it, the more Vereen makes a lot of sense here for the 49ers. If they are going to replace Bethea in a season or two, Vereen is someone has many similar qualities and would mesh well with Reid IMO. He had an outstanding combine as well, showing terrific strength with 25 reps on the bench press and doing very well on the 3-Cone and Shuttle drills. His father played in the NFL so he's got a family background in the sport. He has drawn major accolades from teammates as a guy who leads by example. I think he'd be a perfect fit in the 49ers locker room.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/33987
Durability-2-Is undersized for a DS, so some long-term durability concern. But has been extremely reliable to this point. Played in all 38 games (32) during final three seasons.
Intangibles-1-Team captain. Loves the game and knows what it takes to be a pro. Good student; held 4.4 GPA in high school. Split time between safety and cornerback during his career. Has the bloodlines: brother, Shane, is a running back for Patriots and father, Henry, was drafted by the Buccaneers, and mother, Venita, played tennis at UNLV.
Instincts/Recognition-3-Instincts continue to improve with more experience. Disciplined with assignments. Diagnoses run quickly. Was not fooled by misdirection or screens on tapes we studied. Only knock was occasional false step vs. play-action. Does good job of staying with man on QB scrambles. Doesn't abort too early but has natural feel. Great mental makeup for special teams. Very effective covering kicks.
Cover Skills-2-Has versatility as a FS/CB/NB type. Has played all over secondary. Quick feet and balance in pedal. Above average man-to-man coverage skills for a safety. Good range in zone. Has some tightness in hips and can lose a bit of ground in transition, but accelerates out of turn and shows very good catch up speed when carrying WRs vertically.
Ball Skills-4-Solid ball production: 22 PBU and 4 INTs during final three seasons. Very small hands (8 1/4') and short arms (30'). Lacks ideal size when contesting vs. TEs and bigger WRs. Does a lot of punching at the ball as he tries to reach around bigger-framed pass catchers. Does not consistently attack ball with two hands. If in position will look to cradle ball into pads.
Run Support-2-Good range vs. run plays sideline-to-sideline and pursues hard. Not afraid to fill and support. More powerful than frame indicates. Will step up and take on much bigger lead blockers when necessary. Struggles to anchor, but can at least occupy blocker and funnel ball carrier back inside. Leaves feet as a tackler a bit too often but sticks to ball carriers once he makes contact. Strong upper body. Finds ways to get ball carrier to ground. Closes in a flash and makes some tough open-field tackles look easy.
Round 3-Pick 100-James Gayle-DE/OLB-6'4", 259-Virginia Tech. The 49ers picked up the option on Aldon's contract but I think they want to send a message to him that he needs to wake up and get his stuff together. Gayle is yet another pass rusher that the 49ers could use situationally and have him contribute on special teams as well. His father played with Jim Harbaugh so I'm sure there's some familiarity there. He's raw in terms of technique, could stand to be coached up but he's got an outstanding motor and does not quit on plays as a pass-rusher. A hard worker and a good character guy by all accounts, he would give the 49ers yet another option at the OLB spot.
Durability-3-Injured ankle in Miami game and did not play against Wake Forest the following week in 2011. Re-injured ankle on the first series of the Boston College game and did not return.
Intangibles-2-Hard worker in the weight room. Intense competitor. 135 special teams' snaps over the past three seasons.
Pass Rush Skills-3-Effective hand fighter that makes it tough to lock on and flashes ability to counterpunch. Tracks quarterback well. He can push offensive tackles upfield then work back inside when quarterback steps up. Adequate speed to power. Quick and closes well but average flexibility and doesn't bend like elite NFL edge rushers. Gets hands up.
Versus the run-3-Gets hands inside, locks out and presses blockers off frame but takes too long to disengage. Strong enough to anchor against tight ends. Can battle offensive tackles to stalemate when he stays low but gives ground when doesn't keep pads down. Steps down and takes away cutback lanes when teams run away from him. Good pursuit angles and above average range.
Versatility-2-Experience playing hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker role and could play similar role or 34OLB in NFL. Adequate depth and enough awareness to hold up when asked to drop into underneath zone. Can provide depth and possibly grow into starting role at defensive end in a base four-man front.
Instincts/Motor-2-Not an instigator but plays with edge and responds when blockers try to get under his skin. Doesn't back down when teams commit two blockers to him. Relentless pass rusher. Don't chase the run with same kind of urgency but good overall effort.
49ERS TRADE PICK#170 TO MINNESOTA FOR PICKS #184 AND #223.
Round 6-Pick #184-Ricardo Allen-CB-5'9" 187. Feisty, hard-nosed competitor who plays with a chip on his shoulder. The 49ers clearly need a slot corner, Allen is an intense competitor who is capable of playing that role. He'll get drafted lower than he rightfully should if you look at his resume but due to measurables(short arms) and a ho-hum Combine, he'll be available here for the 49ers to select. If you look at what Nickell Robey did for the Bills, a guy who was much maligned because of his size and lousy Combine results, there's definitely a place for Allen in the league. He never backs down from anyone and is a true playmaker in every sense of the word.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/33698
Durability-2-Is undersized, so long-term durability is automatically a concern. But is a tough, flexible athlete with history of durability. Played in all 50 games (48 starts) during four seasons at Purdue.
Intangibles-1-Thrown into fire as a fulltime starter during true freshman season and was up to the challenge. No off-the-field issues. Well-liked by teammates and coaches. Coachable and generally respects authority. Really came out of shell during four years of college and developed into a good leader. Two-time team captain (2012, 2013). Was raised by mother in single-family home. Grew up in Daytona Beach, Fla. (Mainland H.S.). Also played soccer and track and field in high school.
Instincts/Recognition-2-Excellent game experience with 48 career starts. Trusts his eyes. Occasionally manipulated by QB. But at his best when reading route initially, then quickly transitioning eyes to QB (improved eye discipline in this regard late in career). Good overall awareness in space.
Cover Skills-3-Impressive body control in pedal. Keeps feet within frame and is under control. Good burst out of pedal. Closes quickly coming forward. Fluid hips and doesn't lose much in transition. Can trail effectively for most part, but WRs that accelerate quickly out of cut consistent separate. Lacks good recovery speed when ball in air. Will struggle to defend legit vertical threats (lacks deep speed and size to contend vs. taller WRs). Brent Grimes (Dolphins) is best-case NFL comparison.
Ball Skills-1-Really nice job with eyes and locating ball quickly on INT vs. IU 2013. Average hand size but has shown good natural ball skills throughout career. Has body control to adjust. Highly productive throughout four-year career with 13 INTs (2nd most in school history). Also holds school record for INTs returned for TDs (four).
Run Support-3-Not afraid to mix it up. Has some pop for small corner. Shows adequate upper-body power for position (13 reps on bench solid for size). But lacks bulk, has very short arms and can get stuck on blocks. Will fall off some tackles, as well.
Round 7-Pick 223-Trey Millard-6'2", 247-Oklahoma. Millard needs to be a 49er, its as simple as that. He can block, run with the football, catch, play special teams, he does it all and he's a true good guy and team leader to boot. He screams "Harbaugh player" and the ACL tear he suffered is the only reason I expect him to fall in the draft. Outstanding player who would be a perfect fit for this offense with his incredible versatility. Could even supplant Bruce Miller in time. Put him on the IR and let him recover with team doctors, get prepped for 2015.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/33643
Durability-4-Tore an ACL against Texas Tech in late October 2013. Unable to participate at the Senior Bowl. Did not participate in any runs, jumps, drills at Combine, either.
Intangibles-1-Pronounced MILL-ard. Son of Rob and Joy Millard. Mother is the head of the conference department at the University of Missouri. Respectful individual. Unselfish and leads by example. Above-average student who learns well. Oklahoma Don Key Award winner which is given to seniors who demonstrate excellence in both the classroom and on the field. Core-special teams player. Bother Ky played football at Westminster College in Missouri. Majoring in psychology.
Competitiveness-2-Team first player. Contributes in multiple roles and above-average competiveness in everything does. Determined runner. Doesn't back down in phone booth. Willing to do the dirty work. Plays with edge and looks to deliver kill shot when catches defenders off balance. Ball can drift away from frame when gets into space making ball security a concern.
Blocking Skills-3-Adequate awareness and locates assignment. Takes quality angles to point of attack. Enters contact with solid balance and body control. Attacks assignments with proper shoulder . Average thump and more of a cover up blocker than a punishing lead blocker. Average inline blocker. Doesn't generate much push but locks on and occupies defenders. Above average pass blocker. Can anchor or cut the legs out from under defenders.
Inside Run Skills-2-Adequate vision and good patience probing for creases. Above-average lateral agility for the position. Adequate burst out of cuts. Lowers shoulder and picks up yards after contact. Good power but lacks brute strength and explosive finishing power of an elite short-yardage runner.
Receiving Skills-2-Strong feel for locating soft spots in underneath zone coverage. Gets out of stem clean with adequate burst for a tight end prospect. Excellent hands. Good body control adjusting to throws outside frame. Shifty enough to make first defender miss. Fast enough to rip off a chunk of yards when gets a seam after the catch.
Round 7-Pick 242-Cody Hoffman-WR-6'4", 225-BYU. Hoffman has flown all the way down the draft boards and at this point he is very much worth a look. A big possession receiver that could be looked at as a redzone threat. Could compete with Baldwin for a roster spot. Experienced and productive, had a terrible combine and a lousy senior season but there's plenty of talent there and with the 49ers WR situation unsettled, Hoffman is a guy who is worth being given a chance to see what he can do. The 49ers have taken care of their speed issue at WR with Cooks but Hoffman is a big body that could be a solid contributor for the right team.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/33651
Durability-4-Missed 2013 season opener with a hamstring injury. Recurring left shoulder injury and separated it on multiple occasions. Underwent off-season surgery and missed all of spring ball 2013.
Intangibles-3-Adequate work ethic. Accountable and does what is asked of him. Suspended for 2013 Middle Tennessee game for violating a team rule. Suspended for a week in August of 2012 for violating team rules. Booked into Washington County Jail in Utah on a failure-to-appear warrant May 2011. The warrant stemmed from unpaid $90 speeding ticket from November 2010.
Separation Skills-4-Adequate footwork and flashes savvy at top of stem but high-cut one-speed route runner that struggles to separate from man. Good strength getting off press working against smaller corners but bigger corners with length can push him around. Zone buster with above-average feel for soft spots over middle.
Ball Skills-2-Occasional focus drop and some passes get to frame but natural pass catcher with wide catching radius. Body control is above-average adjusting to throws outside of cylinder and excels at adjusting to back shoulder throws. Strong in traffic and uses frame to shield defenders from ball. Doesn't elevate well.Big play ability4Gradually builds speed with long strides and capable of competing for 50-50 balls downfield. Picks up yards after contact and flashes ability to make first defender miss after catch. Doesn't have second gear to get behind coverage on vertical routes or burst to run away from pursuit after catch.
Competitiveness-3-Lines up outside hashes and in slot. Tough and not afraid to do dirty work over the middle. Above-average field and sideline awareness. Flashes ability to sustain and help spring long runs but inconsistent effort as a blocker. Puts ball on the ground too much.
Round 7-Pick 243-Spencer Long-OG-6'5", 320-Nebraska. This is more of a wish pick but Long is a talented guard who will fall down the draft boards due to injury, just as with Millard, 49ers could get a potential steal by selecting him and letting him sit on IR for 2014 to potentially compete for Iupati's spot in 2015.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/33667
Durability-4Injured right knee during 2013 Purdue game and underwent season-ending surgery.
Intangibles-1-Son of Doug and Ann Long. Team captain. Walked on in 2009. Didn't receive scholarship until junior year. Excellent student that graduated with a degree in biological sciences and pre-medicine December 2013. Twin brother Jake walked on at Nebraska and played tight end for Huskers. Father walked on and played for one year at Nebraska.
Pass Protection-3-Big and strong enough to anchor against bull rush. Fights to stay in front of defender and adequate mirror once locked on but adequate overall change of direction skills. Sets high and gets knocked off balance by defensive tackles with heavy hands.
Run Blocking-3-Effective positional blocker that plays with wide base. Quick enough to get into position and big enough to cover up assignment. Nice job of sliding down and cutting legs out from defender when starts to lose block. Quick to second level and flashes ability to cut off linebackers but struggles to adjust to moving targets in space. Fits best in zone heavy scheme. Doesn't roll hips and generate push on contact. Top-heavy, leans and slips off blocks.
Awareness-2-Alert and recognizes pressure in pass pro. Keeps head on a swivel and picks up line stunts. Keeps head up and locates second level assignments as a run blocker.
Toughness-3-Not a relentless junkyard dog or brawler. Doesn't have violent hands and can be more aggressive at times. Don't question effort. Bocks through whistle and can block multiple defenders on one play. Turns and looks to help out when unoccupied in pass pro.
Round 7-Pick#245-Xavius Boyd-ILB/OLB-6'1", 236-Western Kentucky. 49ers take Boyd to prevent anyone else from signing him in UDFA. Lesser known than his teammate Jackson but still a quality player in his own right. Questions about level of competition will knock him down but he's worth a look this late in the draft and could compete with Moody for a roster spot.
[ Edited by Phoenix49ers on May 3, 2014 at 2:01 PM ]