Grading the Draft: San Francisco 49ers edition
Sports Ruckus writer Justin Walters has graded the entire NFC West, and some Niners fans might not like his grading, but he has some very valid points. Let’s see what the 49ers finished with.
The 49ers did what a team that has been knocking on the door to winning a Super Bowl the last 3 years is supposed to do. They attacked the draft like it was a championship fight. San Francisco went to the body early by upgrading positions of need starting with safety Jimmy Ward and then came back in the middle rounds with knockout blows up top by grabbing receiver Bruce Ellington, CB Dontae Johnson, and trading an old pair of season tickets to Candlestick Park to Buffalo for deep threat Stevie Johnson.
For most that would be enough but these assassins decided to “Finish him” by getting the best FB in the draft, Trey Millard with their 7th rd pick. Last season the 49ers were a tipped ball from most likely being Super Bowl champions. This year they look to have caught and maybe passed Seattle but that remains to be seen. As for this draft Baalke and Harbaugh pretty much aced it. As everyone kept waiting for them to trade up they just sat in their spot and kept making good pick after good pick. With an already talented roster I don’t know where all of these quality football players are going to fit but this front office did a great job. I guess that’s a good problem to have.
Jimmy Ward S
Carlos Hyde RB
Marcus Martin C
Chris Borland LB
Brandon Thomas G
Bruce Ellington WR
Dontae Johnson CB
Aaron Lynch OLB
Keith Reaser CB
Kenneth Acker CB
Kaleb Ramsey DL
Trey Millard FB
Ward is a smaller strong safety who does his best work in the slot. He also has a nose for the ball.
Hyde is a power back who an move the pile and is also nimble enough to avoid it.
Borland is a a little smaller and slower than the 49ers current inside LB’s but he makes up for that with exceptional instincts and awareness.
Thomas may have been the first or second best guard in the draft before tearing his ACL in a workout. He will redshirt the year and come back next season and compete for a starting job next season.
Ellington is a playmaking receiver who could end up being one of the biggest bargains of the entire draft as a 4th rd pick.
Johnson is a big CB who can play physical at the line of scrimmage but also could potentially move to safety.
FINAL GRADE: San Francisco 49ers – A
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