Yesterday, I posted a piece in which I stated the 49ers should keep Trent Baalke over Jim Harbaugh should a choice need to be made following the 2014 season. The comments from many were negative, which was not unexpected, with many saying that the strength of the 49ers roster was due to Scot McCloughan and not Trent Baalke.
Baalke took over as acting GM when McCloughan resigned only days before the 2010 draft. By that time, most free agent transactions had taken place reducing the impact Baalke could have on the roster to the draft picks he was left to choose.
Below are the starting lineups from 2010 and 2013, the starters added by Baalke with a star next to their name. There are 12 starting players currently on the roster that are a direct result of Baalke, that's over half, and that number will grow in 2014.
When you go through the entire 2013 depth chart, you will not find one player in a backup role from the McCloughan regime. That means 42 of the 53 players on the current active roster were added by Baalke.
| 2010 Starting Lineup | 2013 Starting Lineup |
| QB- Alex Smith | QB- Colin Kaepernick* |
| RB- Frank Gore | RB- Frank Gore |
| FB- Moran Norris | FB- Bruce Miller* |
| WR- Michael Crabtree | WR- Michael Crabtree |
| WR- Josh Morgan | WR- Anquan Boldin* |
| TE- Vernon Davis | TE- Vernon Davis |
| LT- Joe Staley | LT- Joe Staley |
| LG-Mike Iupati* | LG-Mike Iupati* |
| C- David Baas | C- Jonathan Goodwin* |
| RG- Chilo Rachal | RG- Alex Boone |
| RT- Anthony Davis* | RT- Anthony Davis* |
| LDT - Isaac Sopoaga | LDT- Ray McDonald |
| NT- Abrayo Franklin | NT- Glenn Dorsey* |
| RDT- Justin Smith | RDT- Justin Smith |
| OLB- Manny Lawson | OLB- Aldon Smith* |
| MLB- Takeo Spikes | MLB- NaVorro Bowman* |
| MLB- Patrick Willis | MLB- Patrick Willis |
| OLB- Parys Haralson | OLB- Ahmad Brooks |
| LCB- Shawntae Spencer | LCB- Carlos Rogers* |
| RCB- Nate Clements | RCB- Tarell Brown |
| SS- Michael Lewis | SS- Donte Whitner* |
| FS- Dashon Goldson | FS- Eric Reid* |