An interesting tidbit came out of Eric Branch's article detailing the post-pick interview with Trent Baalke.
Trent Baalke: At the end of the day, all the teams that were in and around us just wanted to stand pat, so there just wasn't an opportunity to do anything.
After the commissioner read out the pick, the collective feeling on our forums was "where is the nearest baby. I want to punch it." There was a contingent of people who wanted Gabbert, and that's understandable. But a whole different group is upset that the 49ers didn't trade down.
The problem with trading is that it takes a willing partner to seal the deal. The 49ers were like Steve Carrell in the 40-year old virgin - they had the right idea, but didn't have any willing partners.
So they had to draft someone, and they took Aldon Smith.
It wasn't Harbaugh's affinity for the name A. Smith that drew the team to Smith. He is rated as a 7.5 JX on Wes Bunting's scouting scale at National Football Post. That means Smith is a year one starter who is a someone teams can scheme around. Clearly the kid has some talent, or people wouldn't have projected him to be drafted by the 9-15 range.
If you were someone who wanted Gabbert, chances are you are inconsolable. You probably also curl into the fetal position when you see the name "Smith" on the back of a 49er jersey - so I understand why you would recoil at this year's pick.
But at the very least - let's get some NFL game film on Aldon Smith before 49er fans write him off.