Stubby&#039;s 49ers Draft Recap

My Quick 49ers Draft Recap

1st Round- Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford: He was not my #1 or even #2 guy going into draft day, but a half hour before I called my fellow 49er die hard best friend and said "You know the guy I actually want the more I have thought about it....Solomon Thomas" I still wanted a trade down badly so when we were able to move down one spots and get those extra picks and still get Thomas, well than at that point I was really, really excited. Why did I come back full circle to Thomas? Few reasons.... One was reading Matt Barrows column the day before the draft on why we should draft Thomas. Our biggest weakness is stopping the run and new DC Robert Saleh's #1 priority in this D is stopping the run. Thomas is a fantastic run stopper. As good as it gets for a Defensive End/Defensive Lineman coming out in recent years. I was not crazy about taking Thomas because I did not know where we would play him. I was assuming Armstead would be the LDE and Thomas would be the LEO. But then this week I read Armstead was lining up at LEO and all of a sudden we had a big opening and need at LDE and Thomas is the prototype LDE but also very versatile obviously and he can play inside as well, especially on passing downs where I think he will do damage. He's the perfect LDE though for this defense, our Michael Bennett if you will. Also, the more tape I watch on him the more he reminds me of Justin Smith. His play, versatility, toughness, the way he uses his hands, strength, etc. He really looks like a young Justin Smith. I also compare him a little to Roy Barker who was a terrific LDE for us for several years and was a guy who got double digit sacks while being a great run stopper. Solomon Thomas was a just a really good overall pick and he's a guy who can come right in and start but also he has his best football ahead of him. He just turned 21 and came out as a sophomore with really only one full year as a starter and he got better and better with each game as the season went on with his best game in the Sun Bowl against UNC and Trubisky where he dominated and was clearly the best player on the field.

1st Round- Rueben Foster, LB, Alabama: To get this guy at 31, wow!!!!! Obviously he fell because of some shoulder concerns and some off the field stuff but to get him at 31, was just an absolute steal. A top 10, if not top 5 player in this draft, Foster will be our Pat Willis-Bobby Wagner. He can fly all over the field and gives us that difference maker in the front 7 who can make a play out of nowhere. If he keeps focused, out of trouble and healthy, he's going to be a cornerstone of our defense. He might be the best LB Saban has had at Alabama and that is really saying something.

Third Round- Ahkello Wetherspoon, CB, Colorado: If you have read my posts the last month or two, you know I am a huge Ahkello Wetherspoon fan. I had him going to us in the third round in m 49ers mock draft though I thought he would probably be a 2nd rd pick. This kid has huge upside but he isn't just a raw talent, he showed he could play last year and again, he got better as the year went on. At 6'3" 200pds, with long arms he reminds me of Rashard Robinson and also a Patrick Robinson with some Antonio Cromartie in him as well. He probably won't see the field much as a rookie, but a few years down the road I think this kid has a chance to be special and we could have a heck of a CB combo with him a nd Rashard Robinson giving us two 6'3" corners.

Third Round- C.J Beathard, QB, Iowa: When we moved up and took him, I was a little confused and upset. But I trust Kyle Shanahan and the more I read and study about Beathard, the more I understand and kind of like the pick. He's a super smart kid and has the intangibles Kyle looks for in a QB. He seems like another Brian Hoyer with a little more mobility. I think he will be a very good long term backup who could start a few games if needed and not kill your team.

Fourth Round- Joe Williams, RB, Utah: This will prove to be one of the steals in the draft in my opinion. This kid is a really talented player who probably would have been a 2nd or at worst a 3rd rd pick had he not left the team. He seems all in on football now and focused and he is a really good fit in this offense and could be our Tevin Coleman. He will have an impact as a rookie!
Fifth Round- George Kittle, TE, Iowa: Real solid value in the fifth round. I saw him projected as third round pick in most mock drafts and he is a versatile, smart player who Kyle will be able to utilize.

Fifth Round- Trent Taylor, WR, LA Tech: Production of the charts in a pass friendly offense. I am not all that familiar with him but I have seen some people compare him to a poor man's Wes Welker or Julian Edelman. Can also return kicks. Wish we got Switzer earlier but oh well we will see how this kid pans out. I actually wanted KD Cannon here but more on that later.

Sixth Round- D.J Jones, NT, Ole Miss: Very happy with his pick. A 4th or 5th rd prospect who gives us the NT we needed behind Earl Mitchell and I think this kid has a chance to develop into a starter at some point. Very good, thick bodied run stopper upside. I think he beats out Purcell to backup Mitchel..

Sixth Round- Pita Taumoepenu, DE, Utah: Solid pass rush specialist prospect with some upside. Probably will spend the year on the PS and has a chance to develop into a situational pass rusher for us down the road. Reminds me of Tully Banta-Cain.

Seventh Round- Adrian Colbert, DB, Miami, FL: Big, raw talented DB who will spend a year or two on the PS and then maybe develop into a versatile backup.

So that's my recap of our draft picks. But not to long after the draft ended, I read we signed K.D Cannon, WR, Baylor a guy I so badly wanted in the 5th or 6th rd. This was a great signing and I think he makes the team and has a chance to develop into a #3 or 4 WR with his speed and playmaking ability.

Overall I would give us an A considering we also came away with the Saints 2nd round pick next year along with the Bears third round pick next year.

John Lynch absolutely ran his first draft like a baawse and crushed it in my opinon.