We can't draft great WR's Curse!

It is very easy to sit back and say 49ers WR have sucked when the top 4 in all time yards have wprn the uniform at some point in their career with the top 2 making their bones as 49ers. That being said half the names on that list have been decent WRs. Josh Morgans only success in the NFL was as a 49er. If you went through every single group of positions through every team for the last 15 years as was done in the OP you are going to find more flops than winners. The actual NFL draft is not an 8 man fantasy league.

And as the OP said "GREAT" WR we drafted the greatest WR, and possibly football player, of all time. How many teams draft GREAT WR year after year?

DGB!!'

Arnaz Battle was basically Hines Ward, but we didn't use him that way. I don't think Ward was great, but he had a great career. WR is one of those positions that depends heavily upon other factors to achieve success. Coaching, game plan, play calling, QB performance/preference, OL blocking, respectable run game, and other passing options all greatly influence production for most WR. It's very rare to see a WR who will succeed no matter what.

Free agency in recent years hasn't been kind either minus the Boldin trade. I remember how hype folks were about Ashley LeLie, Taylor Jacobs and Marlon Moore # bums that made a few catches in pre season and folks starting having orgasms over them. Then crickets

Hopefully Smith ends that

Originally posted by Marvin49:

Originally posted by English:
Now go back through the list and annotate which round each one was taken in.

And a great light will dawn.

I was gonna say the same thing...but in fairness three of them were first round picks and two of them combined for 7 catches for 160 yards as Niners.

Personally i don't think the round matters, How many late round WR's turned out to be starts for there teams through out the NFL?

and not just WR's, but any position.


Teams strike gold with late rounders all the time, but we haven't hit one with a WR for a while.

Originally posted by NinerDreamer11:

Originally posted by Marvin49:

Originally posted by English:
Now go back through the list and annotate which round each one was taken in.

And a great light will dawn.

I was gonna say the same thing...but in fairness three of them were first round picks and two of them combined for 7 catches for 160 yards as Niners.

Personally i don't think the round matters, How many late round WR's turned out to be starts for there teams through out the NFL?

and not just WR's, but any position.


Teams strike gold with late rounders all the time, but we haven't hit one with a WR for a while.

Exactly. Folks hype about comp picks for a reason.

Originally posted by MarkD:
It's the JRice curse for letting him walk.

No offense bro. Just tired of hearing whenever something doesn't go right that its a curse.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Baalke has drafted ONE WR in in the 1st (30th pick) and the rest have been developmental picks in the 4th or later. Also looks at all the vets Baalke brought in that have taken snaps away from these young players...no excuses for the AJ pick, but Trent hasn't really tackled the WR position in the draft since becoming the GM IMO.

He was in SB mode and thought seasoned (old) vets would contribute more than rookies....

This is pretty much the case.

This year will look the same because anyone that gets drafted whether it's high or low, won't touch the field. Torrey and Boldin will play a great percentage of snaps. With an early pick we will be mad that he never touches the field and a mid to late pick will probably be behind patton and ellington, etc...

I also think since Garcia and Owens left we have transitioned into a run first team. We draft plenty of RB's and Oline, even though we have been solid at those positions.

Originally posted by jacklegniner:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Baalke has drafted ONE WR in in the 1st (30th pick) and the rest have been developmental picks in the 4th or later. Also looks at all the vets Baalke brought in that have taken snaps away from these young players...no excuses for the AJ pick, but Trent hasn't really tackled the WR position in the draft since becoming the GM IMO.

He was in SB mode and thought seasoned (old) vets would contribute more than rookies....

This is pretty much the case.

This year will look the same because anyone that gets drafted whether it's high or low, won't touch the field. Torrey and Boldin will play a great percentage of snaps. With an early pick we will be mad that he never touches the field and a mid to late pick will probably be behind patton and ellington, etc...

I also think since Garcia and Owens left we have transitioned into a run first team. We draft plenty of RB's and Oline, even though we have been solid at those positions.

Yup. At least a drafted WR could be seen as a project to succeed Boldin if he moves on/retires after 2015.

We drafted 2 of arguably best 3 receivers in the game. You can make a case TO isn't top 3 but he's #2 in yards in career and #3 in TDs(by 3) and #6 in receptions so it's a tough case to make.

What we haven't had is good coaching at the position or many chances to grab top flight players.

Baalke should have a shot at two good to great prospects and maybe 3 this year in DGB, Strong or maybe Parker if they stay at #15. Let's see if he finally feels like he has a dire need at this critical position. With the changing of the guard at Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator, maybe this year is the year.

I actually think Baalke is being smart by acquiring the needed wide receivers through the free agency and free up other needs for the draft.

Honestly I could have picked better WRs than those.

Part of the problem could be poor scouting, a lack of coaching and subpar development after drafting these guys. Maybe they need to reconsider what attributes they're looking for in a WR prospect.

This years first round has huge WR