The Niners just announced that they re-signed outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks to a six-year contract extension.
The contract is worth $44.5 million, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
Now, the Niners have every member of their elite defensive front-seven signed for multiple seasons. They’ve solidified the strength of their team, which is always a good strategy.
It’s interesting that the Niners gave Brooks the first long-term contract of the offseason, and not Carlos Rogers or Dashon Goldson or Alex Smith. Clearly, the Niners viewed Brooks as the guy they could least afford to lose. In a blog last week, I said Carlos Rogers was that guy. I guess the Niners disagreed.
I wonder how many five-year, $35 million contract the Niners plan on handing out this offseason?
Alex Smith is going to get one even larger than that, presumably.
Dashon Goldson probably won’t get one – there are rumors the Niners will franchise tag him.
What about Carlos Rogers? Will he get one?
I’m starting to doubt it. I don’t think the Niners want to spend a lot of money on their defensive backs – they’d prefer to build that group through the draft. Besides, Chris Culliver is more athletic than Rogers in every way, and he’s much cheaper. I’m sure the Niners believe Culliver could do Rogers’ job in 2012 – play left cornerback in the base defense and slot cornerback in nickel. He’s big enough to play left corner, and he’s quick and agile enough to play slot – he just lacks Rogers’ experience.
If the Niners do not resign Rogers, they’ll probably draft another six-foot corner to play left corner in nickel packages when Culliver slides over to the slot receiver.
In the Niners’ defense, the short corners, the ones who are 5-10 like Tarell Brown and Tramaine Brock, they’re best suited to play right cornerback, because they always have free safety help over the top.
The left cornerback plays next to Donte Whitner, who is just 5-10 and plays closer to the line of scrimmage than Dashon Goldson. So, the Niners’ left corner gets much less safety help. So, it helps if he’s a little taller, so a quarterback can’t just throw it over his head to taller receivers.
Here are three cornerbacks the Niners could draft to replace Rogers, if it came to that. I picked these three because they fulfill the athletic requirements of being a Niner left cornerback – at least six-feet tall, at least 190 pounds, at least 4.45 speed.
1. Stephon Gilmore 6-0, 190 lbs., 4.44 – The Niners could draft this guys with their first round pick. He went to the University of South Carolina with Culliver. He played in the SEC, which Baalke likes. He had a very fast ten-yard split in the 40-yard dash (1.5 seconds), and his vertical leap was an impressive 36 inches. Still, I think the Niners should trade up for Kendall Wright in the first round.
2. Coryell Judie 6-0, 194., 4.44 – This guy could be the best value for the Niners. They could draft him in the third round, and he’s very similar athletically to Gilmore. Judie’s knock is that he isn’t that agile, but that’s not the biggest deal. The Niners already have their agile cornerback – Culliver. They need a guy tall, fast guy who can play on the left sideline. Judie fits.
3. Coty Sensabaugh 5-11, 189 lbs., 4.37 – If the Niners miss out on Gilmore and Judie, they can draft this guy on the third day. He went to Clemson and had a very good senior season, and then he had a great combine.
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i still think the 9ers will sign rogers. they have enough cap space it just means they wo’nt be signing any FA’s other than their own. they will improve the O through the draft
Me too. I think they’ll franchise DG and offer a contract to Rogers. The key will be the guaranteed money, not the years.
I could see the Niners getting a competition going between Spillman and DG. To see if they should go after DG big time the following year or let him walk and just have Spillman take his place.
Ditto old coach. Still believe they retain rogers with upfront money for less seasons. Brooks long term contract seems big, but its the upfront signing bonus that makes a contract.
if not agile RE: judie means stiff in the hips stay the hell away from him
Great news about Brooks staying !!! Now we dont need to worry about a lesser talent like Harelson needing to start !
Trading up for wright? You’re out of your mind. Too much value in later rounds. If you’re willing to gamble and throw away picks to trade up, Floyd is the guy.
Floyd’s going to be a top-ten pick. Wright could drop into the 20s. Trading up for him could cost just a second round pick.
How about trading down and picking up picks?
Baalke trades up to get the pressing need. He did it two years ago with Anthony Davis when he needed a tackle, and he did it last year with Colin Kaepernick when he needed a QB. He needs a deep-threat a WR. The Niners don’t have one, and it hurts the whole offense.
Trading up for Wright could cost just a second round pick.,/i>
Which may be needed for the CB they will need if they let Rogers go.
No way the 49ers do that Grant. I just don’t believe Wright is worth losing a 2nd round pick over when there’s several WR’s who are in the same class as Wright in my opinion.
If anything I would roll the dice on Stpehen Hill with the 30th pick. The Kid has all the Physical Tangibles, height, speed & strong hands to snatch the ball out the air. He can hone the rest of what he lacks thru “coaching”.
I say they grab Marvin Jones in second round.
I like it, but then who would they draft in the first?
@Grant:
I like it, but then who would they draft in the first?
I would hope that they draft the best player on the board, unless he is a linebacker.
I just pray that they do not overreach for need.
J Jenkins looks really good…
Dre Kirkpatrick looks really good…
at WR
is Alshon Jeffery really slow, or did he just play fat? The question is relevant because all the pundits say he made all the catches and had GREAT body control. If I lost 50 lbs, I’d run a 4.5 40.
Dre Kirkpatrick is 6’3″ and just killed SEC foes in a few games
“If I lost 50 lbs, I’d run a 4.5 40.”
PBL, you do mean 4.5 minutes right? ; )-
Grant we will not trade up for a WR……….get that through you thick skull……..there is no reason to move up in this draft for a wr………this is the deepest draft ever for wr’s….. If the niners move up say to 20 to pick janarious jenkins i would be very happy
Grant, This list is why reading reports prior to the draft from reporters is a total waste of time. Looking at combine data, and going from there with options will lead you to end up looking like the Raiders.
There is a pattern with the Niners’ corners. They have to have top-end speed because they play man, trail coverage. They have to be at least 190 lbs. to press and play the run. Height isn’t as important. Spencer didn’t play because he wasn’t fast enough.
Spencer didn’t play because he was on the training table throughout almost all of training camp which opened up the opportunity for the other guys to step in and show they were better anyway. It had less to due with speed and more to do with ability.
It was more about scheme and speed, to me. Spencer got healthy, but he couldn’t play press man/trail coverage because he’s not fast enough to trail. He and Clements used to give big cushions to receivers at the line of scrimmage, and Ed Donatell and Vic Fangio brought in a new scheme and he didn’t fit it.
I have to disagree with at least part of your statement. Yes he plays RCB therefore having safety help, But T. Brown does not have top end speed. He only ran a 4.53 which is average for Corners and oh yeah… that is what Spencer ran too.
Tarell Brown ran a 4.45 at the Combine http://www.nfl.com/player/tarellbrown/2495565/combine
… and a 4.42 at his Pro Day.
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/members/ratings/profile.php?pyid=8739
Grant, We may both be right here. He was hurt through almost the entire training camp, and by the time he got on the field Rogers, Brown, and Culliver had all established themselves.
If you are looking for a good press man/trail coverage guy, one of the main things you need to look at is agility and there ability to get from the press to turn and run. IMO that would eliminate Judie.
How about Alfonzo Dennard from Nebraska? Do you think he might still be on the board when the 49ers pick at 30? He was very impressive and really helped make Amukamara a Round 1 pick.
Yes, I do think Dennard will be on the board at 30. He could be a good pick, but I was thinking the NIners would prefer Gilmore, who’s two inches taller and played in the SEC. Regardless, I don’t think they’ll draft a corner in the first round even if Rogers leaves. They like Brown and Culliver as starters, and they like Brock and Nelms and Holcomb as backups. I think the Niners will draft a corner in the middle-to-late rounds to compete with the backups.
Wasn’t Nelms the standout of early camp last year? I seem to recall he had SERIOUS ball skills…
@ Grant, sometimes you’re hard to argue with:
Holcomb: 5’10″ – 4.47 40
Nelms: 6’0″ – 4.38 40
–
Both drafted by Baalke in the later rounds last year
–
Q: Why do you think they’re going WR in the 1st round? What about a stud DLineman to study under JSmith?
@Pork
JS is going to play forever. The vamps from Being Human/Buffy/etc. have made him immortal. He will never leave Pork.
Nobody touches JS.
If the niners go CB in the first round it will be for one of two guys I think….Jenkins NA, and Sensabaugh SC………Ballke likes SEC CBs
Where do you get your information?Signing free agents doesn’t mean the first one signed is the most important.How did you come to this conclusion?
There’s only so much cap room.
Don’t jump to conclusions.Balke showed us what he could do. I’ve got all the confidence he’s got a plan and is sticking to it.
It also could be that Brooks was the first to come to an agreement. Theres no reason to believe they arent talking with the others, but their gap could be greater. And I trust the Niners F/O to work the cap to afford everyone they want or need.
More than likely they heard that Seattle was interested in Brooks and didn’t want to lose him to a division rival…and CJ Spillman was the first free agent signed…I doubt that he is the team’s biggest priority.
Just because Brooks was first to sign does not mean he was the highest priority. It simply means his was the easiest deal to get done.
The Niners blew Brooks away with a big offer. I don’t think they’re going to do that with Rogers.
Nor should they, he’s on the wrong side of 30, has young guys behind him that the coaching staff beleive in, and did you see what Victor Cruz did to him through most of the NFC Championship game?? He is good-Very Good coming off a career year, but he is not an elite Corner. the shceme and players around him help him have his career year and I expect and predict that the staff could get similar, maybe not quite as good but similar results out of Culliver given a full off season.
This is simliar, not the same, but simliar to the decision on Spikes last year. If he wants to much let him walk. Goldson should be the priority.
Grant: JUST a second round pick ???? A second round pick should almost always turn into a top starting player,even on a loaded team .
It’s a fair price to get the deep threat they need. I bet the Niners see Wright as the next Victor Cruz or Greg Jennings. Other deep threats – Garcon: expensive. Stephen Hill – probably a top-ten pick now. And Tommy Streeter. The Niners could pick him with their first round pick, but probably not their second.
Stephen Hill a top ten pick? Grant take a deep breath and relax. He’s not a top ten pick based on a great 40 time. You are placing way too much emphasis on the combine. Hill looks like he’s got the talent but the weight of his assessment will be placed on his game performance. He may have pushed himself up but my guess is he goes late first early second at best.
Let’s make it a gentleman’s bet. I’ll go so far as to say Floyd is the first receiver taken, then Hill second, and then Blackmon third.
How many WR’s do you think will be picked in the top 10?? Last year there were 2. And only 1 more selected in the 1st round. 1st round talent doesn’t equate to a 1st round selection. Look whose selecting in those top 15 or so spots and will there be 4 teams who see WR as their most glaring need? Doubt it.
7 of the 17 WR’s who got 1,000 or more yards last season were selected after 118 pick of their respective drafts (or somewhere near that).
That means, 41% of them were 4th round pick and lower guys. 1st round WR’s don’t assure us of getting a better player. Only a higher salary to pay the guy.
Hill goes in the 20′s, tops. Streeter might go in the second, but that would be overdrafting him. There will be a lot of value for WR & CB this year… Grant, I like that you have shared what the Niners look for in the secondary.
If Floyd goes top-five, and I think he will, then I think the Jags draft Hill. I’m not saying it would be a smart choice, but that’s what I think will go down.
Ok Grant you’re on. Blackmon 3rd WR off the board? You’re bold and put yourself out there I’ll give you that.
Blackmon has the same size as Crabtree, played in the same conference as Crabtree, didn’t run at the Combine like Crabtree. McShay says Crabtree may even be better than Blackmon, so I don’t see how Blackmon ends up going in the top-ten. The Niners already made that mistake with Crabtree. Why would another team draft a possession receiver in the top-ten?
Seeing as how you upped the ante on your part, I’ll do the same: The Niners won’t take a WR in the first round.
Ok, deal.
@rocket and Grant
Come on!
That is to easy a bet. The Niners would shock me if they took a WR in round 1. They would shock me even more if they traded up for one.
Nope. Why draft a WR high if the draft is deep in WR. I mean most of these guys won’t pan out anyway, so why be beholden to paying them big bucks. Follow what the other good passing teams have done. Get a system in place and QB (done and done). Then draft guys who fit into your system. They may not work for other teams, but for what you ask of them, they will. That way, you can get what you need from WR without risking a big MC type payday, and focus on another area of need. I have no idea what that might be. But then I am not getting TB’s salary to figure that one out.
The draft is deep in big, slow wide receivers, not deep threats.
@Grant
Have either TB or JH said that they want a deep threat WR rather than a big, tough guy who can make the hard catches 10-15 yard passes with good hands and a redzone threat?
Maybe it is just me, but I thought the Niners offense was ok (not great) at moving the ball between the 20′s. It was in the redzone where they really had trouble. They could have blown almost any team out by 50 if they were better in the redzone.
Seems to me that the easiest way for the team to get better is to get the great redzone/3rd down conversion guy not named VD to the team. Even with our ok offense between the 20′s we would have been a scoring threat.
A deep threat guy is only really threatening if you get a TD out of the pass. If not, then you still need to convert well in the redzone. And if you can’t do that with last years players or with the players you get this year (draft/FA) then what has really improved in terms of winning games?
Yards? Yes. Who cares.
Points? Not so much. That is what matters.
They need both, but the big guy is easier to find. The deep threat – the Mike Wallace, the DeSean Jackson, the Victor Cruz – he’s harder to find.
They could draft Nelson Rosario in the sixth or seventh round. He’s a 6-5 receiver with great hands who can jump.
No way Floyd goes top 5. Even this week they were still talking about his “off field” issues (dui and under age drinking), which will play into some of the minds of some GM’s. I dont see that as an issue, wasnt this year. He also has injury issues. All that says no way top 5 or top 10. I love the guy, as a ND fan, wish him to be a Niner, but no way is he drafted before 15.
DS,
If this teams receiving core improves, Williams and Hastings will be casualties. Williams was done after the playoff game. It had nothing to do with the fumbles. He was the 5th receiver when the season started. He was the last receiver already. He is gone this year. No question about it. How come you don’t understand common sense?
Blackmon had a DUI as well. He was busted at 3:45 am doing 92 mph in a 60mph zone returning to Oklahoma from a Monday night Cowboys game. So, both have issues.
Grant, if Stephen Hill goes in the top 10 I will change my avatar to a picture of Alex Smith from the end of the draft until the beginning of training camp.
I could see Floyd leapfrogging Blackmon though.
Tim is spot-on…a second round pick has huge value, especially in a loaded draft like this one. I think Baalke will wait and see how the market for Rogers develops; he’s on the wrong side of 30 and coming off somewhat of a miraculous year (compared to the rest of his career).
True. Which is why missing on Chilo Rachal, Taylor Mays and the Alabama RB turned preacher really stinks.
@Grant
“They need both…”
Then where does MC fit into all this?
That is awfully expensive #3 WR.
I’m saying the big-bodied receiver could be a backup, a late-round pick who plays when the Niners offense gets near the goal line.
That is great news for the backup then.
He gets more opportunities to score TD’s. Not a bad role to have.
Grant, I don’t see this team carrying 6 receivers into the season. Currently under contract are:
Crabtree
Williams
Hastings
It is expected that they will bring back Josh Morgan, and possibly Ginn, which would give us 5. How do you see them adding 2 more receivers to this group, and if they do who would be the 2 that go? Most likely Hastings and who else?
Hastings and Williams will probably be gone.
I read on sfgate I think it was that TB had a long talk with KW and wants him to stay on the team.
So, I am counting:
KW, MC, JM, TG as the 4 likely WR’s if the Niners were to suit up and play a game. I know JM and TG are not under contracts, but neither will cost a lot.
And, I think we pick up at least 1FA and 2 WR’s in the draft.
So, that would be 7 at least. If you’re right Jack, then at least one of them will go. And salary and past/potential performance will dictate who stays and who goes (after a WR competition of course).
Williams is a 5’10″ receiver who was a sixth round pick. He’s not a proven deep threat. Part of his value to the Niners existed in his special teams versatility. Now, not so much. I think they trade up for Wright and upgrade the slot receiver/deep threat spot.
@Grant
Regarding TB and KW from sfgate.com
* Is wide receiver Kyle Williams’ future with the team in question after his two lost fumbles in the NFC Championship Game? It doesn’t sound as if he’s on thin ice.
“I’ve had great discussion with Kyle,” Baalke said. “My message to him will stay between us, but he’s a pro. He’s been around it his whole life, his dad’s in professional sports as a GM (White Sox GM Kenny Williams). He knows how to handle himself. I was proud of how he handled himself afterwards and I have no doubt that Kyle’s going to come back hungrier and even more prepared than he was a year ago.”
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/02/23/baalke-speaks-warily-on-the-franchise-tag-contract-negotations/
So, I think KW is more solidified as one of the 6 WR’s than you originally thought.
Why? Because Baalke said he’s going to come back hungrier? Because he said he’s a pro? That doesn’t mean he’s going to be a 49er next season.
Williams won’t be on the team if they get a free agent signing and pick up another one in the draft. If the Niners do their job,and get deeper and better in that position, Williams will be gone and maybe even Morgan.
He didn’t have to say any of those things Grant.
He could have said something a lot more general and not at all implying that he will be back just as easily.
“KW is a young player. We are evaluating all of our players at this time and we will move on from there.”
Plus, you gotta give me the fact that your predecessor Eric Branch (who wrote the piece) also interpreted TB’s words as I did. It’s gotta count for something. It was Erics opinion the part that said “It doesn’t sound as if he’s on thin ice.”
He had to have Williams’ back. To me, those statements were general.
JH really likes Josh Morgan.
He will fight for him. Plus he will cost next to nothing compared to just about any other FA. They sign him. It is a very low risk, high reward opportunity with JM. He may turn in a really good season, and if he sucks, he didn’t cost you much.
Well then, he has made general statements on the guy they just signed as well. And AS, and DG, and CR, and so forth. And you know that for at least a few of them, he will be signing.
If the total comes out to over 50% of those players resigning, then I say the words mean more than nothing.
& Grant is a proven Kyle Williams fan. He said so himself, likes the guy!!!
Wow Grant you really think Blackmon will be the third wide out after floyd and hill……….HOW DID YOU GET THIS JOB
So you’ve moved on from thinking they should trade up for Fleener? Now it’s Wright? And you’d blow a 2nd round pick to move up six spots? I think I speak for most 49er fans when I say we’re glad you’re not GM.
OH YA!!!!!!!!!!
I think most of us think that most of us are glad most of us arnt the GM, not just Grant.
I like Brooks but the price to retain him seems a little high.
Wait until you see how its structured, i.e. guarantees and front or back loaded.
@ undercenter:
What Dad Gum said. If Brooks’ contract is anything like Gore’s contract, he will not get big money unless he performs at a high level and the 49ers will have a way to get out of the contract if his performance falls off the table.
To put this contract in some context, the Jets signed Calvin Pace to a similar contract (with $22 million guaranteed) four years ago. While that contract may have been outrageous then, this one doesn’t seem so bad now.
Also, with less $ going to rookie contracts, the numbers for veterans’ contracts will rise faster than in the past.
Not to mention the coming salary cap explosion in 2014.
@msclemons67:
Good point. I wonder how much that factors into the 49ers’approach to free agency this year. I want to see how they structured this deal and how they structure other deals this year, particularly with regard to money designated for payment in 2014.
don’t like kendall wright at all…had a heisman winner throwing him the ball making him look good, drops a lot, double catches a lot (stealing mcshay’s line) ran a super SLOW 40 at combine, is small….trading up to get him would be foolhardy IMHO. Why spend trade capital to move up a couple spots and select a small, slow WR with questionable hands?
He plays at 4.4 speed and he has burst out of his breaks. He’s “sudden.” He could be the next Victor Cruz.
Victor Cruz was an undrafted FA. No need to trade up for a underperforming wr because of his “speed”.
If they could re-draft, Cruz would be a top-ten pick.
@Grant
Hence the whole
don’t draft a WR in round 1 approach.
Which mid-round deep threat prospects do you like?
@Grant
I said a little while ago, guess you forgot (its ok, that happens when you start getting your first gray hair)
: – )
that I don’t know college players at all. I tried the mock drat a few years ago, and god I sucked. So, I will just cheer for anybody we get.
I don’t know if there are really that many here who know how to evaluate NFL player talent (myself among them). I do know that there are a lot fewer here who know if a college players talent translates to the NFL level and in particular, the Niners. Honestly, I think there are no more than 100 people in the world who can tell.
So, I’ll just sit there cheering on my team like I do every game. Whomever they pick “I’ll stand up an be all happy and stuff”. Not knowing what the heck I am happy about. Not much else I can do to change that Grant.
And, so what if there is a little unexplained happiness (me cheering for no explainable reason) in the world. We could use a lot more happiness explained or not. lol
Sorry to assume. In my opinion, Wright and Hill are the only proven deep threats in the draft.
Wright is legit. His speed pops out when you watch his game tape, regardless of what he ran in the 40 yard dash. He does indeed look like Victor Cruz.
From Adam Caplan: “Keep in mind he won’t be playing out of a track stance at the next level,” wrote Caplan. Wright was hand-timed as fast as 4.45, and he plays in the 4.3-4.4 range in games. “He’s the most explosive wide receiver in this draft and it’s not even close,” Caplan adds. “…Any scouting staff that drops his draft grade significantly after one subpar workout should not keep their jobs.”
the way the 40 is timed, if Wright lifted his weight slightly before take-off, then the clock starts and ends up showing a poor time. He’ll run sub-4.5 at his pro-day. I haven’t watched his game tapes, but in the drills, he was making precise 90-degree cuts (not quite Cruz-like, but solid), whereas Floyd and others were rounding their routes in a way that tips a corner off. Wright will be good, but he’s only 5’10, 190… basically Kyle Williams. If we’re going WR, which isn’t necessary at #1, then see if Floyd, Wright or Hill fall, and if not, take a guy like Jeff Fuller in the 3rd round (6’4, 215, good speed, dad played for the 49ers). As for an alternative to Wright in the draft, look at Owusu. Concussions, yes, but speed and quickness, smart, and available in the 5th or 6th round.
I’d just prefer we see who falls (CB, DE, OG, WR) and take the BPA.
Fleener in first round, Uwusu in fourth round…
I wouldn’t draft a guy with a concussion history.
I’m liking CFleener more and more. The WRs aren’t *overly* impressive and CF could be a big option for AS a la Graham.
That’s what everyone is saying. Sad, totally sad. I think the concussion issue is blown way out of proportion. They’ve always been a part of the game. Now, in Uwusu’s case, multiple concussions in a single year is scary, and your position is understandable, but still, I wonder. Always room for underdog stories. Do you think he’ll even be drafted?
did you know wright ran like two un official 4.3′s before posting that slow time officially
Wow, Grant, that’s a lot of assumptions.
1. Clearly, the Niners viewed Brooks as the guy they could least afford to lose.
Or, they viewed Brooks as the guy they could come to terms with the quickest. Or he just happened to be the first guy they came to terms with. Do you have any reason to believe the 49ers are not in the midst of negotiating on some level with all of the free agents (the ones they’d like to bring back), but instead are negotiating with them one-at-a-time based on priority?
2. I don’t think the Niners want to spend a lot of money on their defensive backs – they’d prefer to build that group through the draft.
Has Baalke, Fangio or anyone else articulated a philosophy discounting the relative value of CBs, particularly experienced CBs? Does either have a track record suggesting they value CBs less than other organizations?
3.I’m sure the Niners believe Culliver could do Rogers’ job in 2012 – play left cornerback in the base defense and slot cornerback in nickel.
At a Pro-Bowl level? You’re “sure”? Has Culliver ever spent much time covering the slot? That’s a pretty strong statement you made. And it pretty much guarantees that the team has to spend an early (first 2-3 rounds) draft pick on a CB.
I am not saying you have no bases for those assumptions. You cover the team and are privy to many interactions, conversations and comments that are not public knowledge. But, if you are basing assumptions on something you have seen or heard around headquarters, or otherwise, it would be nice if you could share those bases with us.
The 3rd point is most important for the future of this team. If CR is let go, and Culliver is not ready, our awesome defense is going to look a lot less awesome.
Claude, It is “basis” not bases.
Culliver played both corner and safety in college so he has experience covering slot receivers. There can be no absolutes until he actually plays, but if these coaches think he can do it, I have no problem with it.
@Jack:
Claude, It is “basis” not bases.
Not when you are using the plural.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/basis
@Jack:
… but if these coaches think he can do it, I have no problem with it.
Nor would I, but have they said that they think Culliver can handle the slot? Although Grant is “sure the Niners believe that Culliver could … [play] slot cornerback in the nickel,” I haven’t seen anything evidencing such a belief. That’s why I asked Grant to explain the basis for his assumption. (See what I did there?)
Culliver has top-end straight line speed, plus he’s fluid, he’s got quick hips and good agility. He’s got all the athletic tools to cover the slot.
@Grant:
Thanks for the follow up and the explanation.
It’s not the physical tools I worry about. Culliver may well have them. He doesn’t have Rogers’ experience or savvy, however, and I think it is a reach to assume he can play the position as well as Rogers in 2012 (or perhaps even 2013). Or that Brock, etc. can play third CB as well as Culliver.
That’s why I hope the presence of Finnegan, Carr, Grimes, Porter, etc. on the free agent market depresses Rogers’ value to the point he is more easily signed.
Then again, with all those corners on the market, the market price for all of them may be depressed. That could work in the 49ers’ favor.
I agree with you about the experience and the savvy, and I agree it is a reach. I just get the feeling it’s a reach the Niners are not afraid, and maybe even excited, to go for. Donatell seems to know what he wants.
Kudos Grant. Your articles have amazing insight. Really enjoyed your column on why Carlos rogers is so valuable to the 49ers and the difficulty in covering the slot.
I am fairly certain it will be a CB in round 1 for a couple of reasons – WRs dont pan out till year 2 or 3. A starting CB will. I believe the 49ers believe crabtree is a #1, which means they need a #2 which they will find later in the draft. They are loading up for a superbowl run and WR in round 1 is not the way to go for that
I see what you’re saying. They could draft Gilmore in the first, and then trade up to draft Streeter in the second, or something like that.
I’m hoping what ever they do they don’t loss any picks number wise as Balke was really sucessful last year identifying pretty good talent in the late rounds. Really only missed on the WR from USC.
From the Mercury News: Agent indicates Brooks was first signing because they’d been negotiating since fall of 2011: “He wanted to be back with the 49ers, they wanted him back and we just worked at it until we made something happen,” said Williams, noting that contract negotiations stretched back all the way to the beginning of the 2011 season.
They’ve been negotiating with Rogers and Goldson, too.
Cory Nelms, Jersey boy from The U, already on the Niners with a full year of Practice Squad, NFL experience, fits Grant’s model for a CB. He’s 6 feet tall, 195 lbs. Ran a 4.39 40 at last year’s Combine. Won the Thomas Herrion award voted by the coaches. No need to over spend on an untested, unproven CB in the first three rounds
Great point. The Niners feel beyond secure with their cornerbacks, which is why I think they’re going to trade up in the first round for Kendall Wright.
I’ve liked Wright all along. He was my number one WR pick. If he’s there they’ll grab him. He has the best footwork of all the number one options. Watch how fast he accelerates out of cuts.
I’d rather Baalke trade up for a Guard than reach for a WR with the 30 pick. To me, trading up from 60 to 45 to take Tommy Streeter, makes more sense. Streeter is a humble Junior who could have increased his draft stock by playing his Senior year at Miami with a QB better than Jacory Harris. Streeter looked good with an OK QB. Kendall Wright looked good with a great QB in RG3. What’s more valuable? Catching accurate passes or making catches out of badly thrown balls?
Streeter is interesting because he’s an un-hyped Stephen Hill. It will be interesting to see how far Streeter climbs up boards.
@Grant: if you have the time, Grant, check out this link http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/28/2664024/miami-hurricanes-early-draft-entrants.html Streeter in the second round is a reach due to his rawness. If the article is right, Streeter won’t produce until 2013.
Mayock says he’s “just an athletic, tall fast guy right now.” Athletic, tall fast guys are rare.
Taylor Mays comes to mind….
balke is using the new england method of building a winner. i bet you they will sign all their own FA’s and will trade down to get more picks. what balke did in past drafts was to build a team what he is doing now is to keep them at or near the top for the long run
SF obviously will spend big on their own guys that they feel are critical to the team’s success. There will be other free agent signings, but I’m betting they will be similar to last year: high value second tier guys that can contribute without breaking the bank. The draft will look a lot different after a few weeks into free agency.
I doubt you’ll see Baalke trade up to get a WR…it’s a very deep class this draft and he can get better value in 2nd or 3rd rds. There are plenty of sleepers…for example, Gerrell Robinson (Ariz St). He fits the size and playmaking abilities Harbaugh’s looking for. There are others, too, so the BL is there’s really no reason to trade up for a WR, especially in 1st rd. CB makes a lot of sense, as would an OL like Peter Konz, who could be Goodwin’s erstwhile replacement, but slide over to upgrade RG in the interim. The interior of our OL is suspect and Konz would definitely fill that bill.
Robinson ran a 4.62.
Gee, Grant. That sword cuts both ways, doesn’t it? Wright ran a 4.61 official, didn’t he?
Now I believe that Wright is ‘Field Fast’ (the term before ‘Functional Speed’), and is WAYYYYY better than Robinson, but just in terms of the argument…………or are you running for office? : >)
Also, interesting take you have on WR draft order….
Jerry Rice 4.6 … just sayin. It’s not all about straight line 40 yard dash times. I have no clue who Gerrell Robinson is and I’m not endorsing him.
Grant, if the Niners let Rogers walk then I agree Gilmore should be our first pick…lots of receivers will be available in the later rounds…though I really like Hill…
fleener will give you everything a WR will give you but is a much better value at #30 then any of the WR who will still be there
I’m reserving judgement until his Pro Day.
thats smart i want to see his 40 time also
I agree to wait on Fleener. I think it depends on how well the 49ers think Fleener can block. If he’s anywhere near as good as Walker or Davis they draft him.
Drafting Fleener makes sense from the standpoint of a team filling a need rather then a position.
The 49ers glaring needs: Red zone receiving, converting third downs and catching in traffic. That’s Fleener.
Vernon-Walker-Fleener would make alot of red zone matchup problems for defenses. Another red zone passing combo that makes me drool would be Vernon-Fleener, with Bruce Miller in motion.
@ Coach
Fleener would produce sooner than any other drafted receiver, I think. Although I think Wright would be productive sooner than many others, especially a Hill type guy, he’ll need some ramp time too.
@ Grant
Hill is tall & fast, but a top 10? That’d be a ‘DHB’ type pick. Especially by Jax. They (Jax) spent a 1st a few years ago on a 6’6″ QB who they converted to WR who flopped despite being a physical specimen with great speed. To me Hill should go between #40-55, but may well actually go much higher; prob 15-20.
Top 10? Whooooeeeee! Not me!
DHB is 6-2 and was never a deep threat, not even in college. He can’t catch with his hands. Hill is a 6-4 deep threat – that’s all he was in college.
Good points on Hill vs DHB. And on reflection, even though Hill isn’t AS fast or athletic, that description fits R. Moss coming out of college, except w/out the off-field/attitude!
Still, I don’t know if Hill is JH’s guy, ‘cuz he’ll want someone to run the whole tree.
I agree, I think they want Wright.
Dang! I just saw a clip from the Combine of S. Hill running routes and catching passes with his hands away from his body. Pretty fluid for a big guy with 4.36 speed.
Old Coach i like your pick! I do not care if Fleener is not a good blocker. Fleener is a great receiver and he will be a good addition to our offense.
I’m with you, Coach. Will go out on a limb here and say that they draft Fleener first.
The signing shows how much influence Fangio has, as Fang cut his teeth coaching the great Saints LB corps in the 80s.
The signing could also mean the Niners were not overly impressed with 3-4 OLBs in the draft/FA.
Brooks was consistent against runs and in coverage. His on/off pass rush productivity likely hinged on the health of McDonald. When McDonald was 100%, the two pressured very well.
Don’t be surprised if Harleson is retained. The NFC West is quickly becoming the Black and Blue West. The Niners will need depth on D against increasingly physical teams.
I’m thinking the Niners might FT Rogers and sign or let go Goldson rather then the other way around.
@Brodie
I was lock-step with you until the secondary, Bro! Ha!
Oh, well… : >)
Brotha Tuna: Your right. Odds are they will sign or FT Goldson, but its not a lock.
My FTing Rogers comment was mainly speculation. I get more karmic brownie points if I’m right on a low probability move.
Brooks 6 years 44 mill? over paid!!!!
Calm down….we need to see the details of the contract before we make a judgement. Only $17.5M of it is guaranteed. I’m willing to bet there are multiple performance clauses and maybe even an opt-out included.
Crayons, Calm down and wait for facts. That may cause this board to implode : )
No way Brooks makes it to year four of this contract anyway so why do you guys make such a big deal about phony money??
crayons you dont need an opt out in pro football you just cut the player at any time and the team is only responsible for the remaining signing bonus
I love how people rip a baller like Crabtree when he has a total scrub in alex throwing him the ball, he can’t throw it to himself. Alex has never had a 1000 yd wr and he never will. Whether they get a wr in the draft or in free agency alex won’t be able to get that wr the ball and all the fans and hacks will blame him lol, just another scapegoat for alex’s lack of skills. As soon as Crabtree gets a decent qb throwing him the ball he will have top 7 wr numbers no doubt about it. Alex is inaccurate and inept.
i agree once alex is gone crabs will start having jerry rice like numbers if he would have started his career with another QB i think rice’s records would be in jeopardy
Well.
I read it online, so it must be true! :P
Careful, at this rate Crabs may be gone well before Alex.
Got to post about Smith why? Trollin?
It is a requirement. Every blog subject needs to bring up AS at least once.
Penalty if not: Site shut down for 10 days while the Press democrat techie guys try to find out what happened to the server.
3and out,
So very true. But they don’t get it. If smith cant find him, then he must not be open! Lol
Haters love to flock.
the Smithers protection committe has arrived. What’s going on with that extension Smithers? 2 years, 10 million. Take it or leave it Smith, Bwahahahaha. We’ll find another QB that can throw for 190 yards a game. There are several out there!!!
@ribico:
Yeah, they are a bunch of flockers.
I made a new friend 2 months ago, a 24 year old Korean girl who is sweet as can be. She is just adorable. She is the only person I know who writes “bwahahahaha” on emails & texts. Is that you… Jordy?
Grant-
Good post; very stimulating.
As to DBs: I’m high on Gilmore. The other guy might be intriguing too.
In reading and seeing scraps of tapes I like Trumaine Johnson @ CB. I see that he ran a 4.5, but maybe he’ll do better at a ProDay or try-out. He’s got good size. I do think you’ve described Fangio’s approach pretty well, so at the published speed, I get that he’s not as good a fit.
Good find. He’s also a bit heavy at 204 lbs. Perhaps he could drop five pounds and gain a little speed. He could be a good pick.
There’s also Jamell Flemming: 5-11, 206 lbs., 4.43.
Well, if TB likes him he’ll get him. Maybe both K.Wright and T.Johnson fall due to funky 40 times and we get ‘em.
Yeah, yeah, sorry…. this is fantasy time of year.
amen ds amen
So Grant, with Brooks resigning and they still have Alex to pay, Which or any of the free agent Wide Receivers do see the team pursuing? I like your oppinion on things even if I and others disagree at times, Before all this started the last thing I expected was Balke’s first moves would be to sign another long snapper and give big money to Brooks. I can not figure him out but his short track record looks good! I still would like a colston , or a player that says wow!, but like you said their is only so much money to go around.
I doubt they sign any receivers besides Morgan and Ginn. I think they draft two receivers.
wow….one thing i can agree with you on is that we draft 2 wide outs….we will draft 2 wr, a cb, a rb in later rounds, and a couple o lineman
Grant
You really think they’ll retain Ginn? He’s young and a great locker room presence, but he has shown nothing as a WR. Do you think they can coach him up? He’s not as good a return man as everyone makes him out to be, because he has absolutely no jiggle, no juke, so where is the value? Please, Grant, do tell!
Ginn is a horrific receiver, and he should just be a good return man.
Call me stubborn but I still haven’t given up on Dominique Ziegler. 6’3″, 4.55 seconds 40, great hands. Looked like he was going to win a roster spot last summer after getting back from the IR but then Braylon came on-board via FA. Invite him to camp, again.
Good point. He could be the big-bodied receiver.
Count me in.
I loved the guy. I thought he made some spectacular catches that I have not seen other WR’s on the team make. The guy has the JH attitude and will work at everything. Special teams, anything.
I’d like it but it won’t happen. Instead of inviting Ziggy, Brett Swain and other un-usual suspects were invited for tryouts last October when Joshua Morgan went down. Perhaps there is hope though. The strategy then was: get another WR. Now it seems to be: get a red zone threat that can make a 3rd down catch and turn it into a 20 yard play after some YAC. Does anyone have Ziggy’s phone number?
Zeigler big bodied???
Ha ha ha ha ha
He’s a twig.
big fan of ziegler here and i was hoping he would have made the team last season but he did not, bring him back to camp thats a great idea….the guy has no fear and will go up for anything, he plays hard every play un-like that dude that has crabs for hands , yes the BUST CRABTREE.
What was Dwight Clarks forty time. He was a pretty good player
clark was actually faster then people give him credit for. it happens to alot of white receivers. clark was drafted so low because he caught something like 25 balls in a 4 yr college career
Grant, Based on what we are seeing right now I agree with you that they will go through the draft for their receivers, unless someone comes cheap.
Thanks for taking the time to respond today.
Claude, Now we both know why I lost the spelling bee in 2nd grade. Thank you for tearing open old wounds. : )
Typically, you take a spelling bee every year. Did you win every other year Jack?
@Jack:
Thank you for tearing open old wounds.
That’s what I am here for.
Just ask bay. On second thought, don’t. I already learned more than I want to know about him and the pig.
lol….
I’d like to take a break from the seemingly nonstop attacks on the team’s current players to attack some former coaches. This comes from Mike Sando at the ESPN NFCWest blog:
Certain former San Francisco 49ers coaches thought Ahmad Brooks the linebacker could not learn their defense.
“A few coaches said that and told me that personally,” Brooks said Tuesday. “That has always been a lie.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/59783/ahmad-brooks-this-is-where-i-should-be
Brooks would not name the coaches.
Anyone want to guess? It sounds like something Nolan would say, but would he have said it in the short period of time he and Brooks overlapped in 2008? Was Manusky that full of himself?
CB,
Brooks was not known for his work ethic earlier in his career. He has always been very naturally talented, but would come into training camp out of shape or over weight. It seems like he is much more aware of his gifts and decided to start capitalizing on them. Late bloomer? Doesn’t matter, you have to be happy for him. Check out this article: http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/02/28/ahmad-brooks-qa-i-had-re-evaulate-myself-as-a-player-and-as-a-person/
@BigP:
Thanks for the link.
I know there were questions about Brooks’ work ethic when he was with Cincy. That’s what led to him being cut and available in 2008. But questioning his work ethic is different from essentially telling him he was not smart enough to learn the defense.
Interestingly, Sando’s presentation of the story attributes the statements to “certain former San Francisco 49ers coaches.” Looking at the quotes supplied by Branch, however, it is not so clear who said it. It could have been Cincy coaches.
If the Branch quotes are verbatim, then I am disappointed in Sando.
CB,
I just remembered him coming to camp out of shape, or at least not as in shape as the coaches wanted him to be. I think it was during the Singletary regime, although Sing seemed to support him. Like you said, that is different than questioning someone’s intelligence. Either way, the light seems to have turned on for him and I know we are both happy for the guy.
@BigP:
… and I know we are both happy for the guy.
Yes, I am.
Now, if they could just ease my concerns about the CB position, I’d be even happier.
Not Nolan. Brooks was Nolan’s guy.
More likely Singletary.
Can’t support your logic this time Grant. You’re saying AB was signed because because they viewed him as the more important signing. Does that mean that CS was more important than him? It just means that they were the first two to agree to a contract. I also don’t see them going after Wright or any other receiver on the first round. The scenario I believe is more realistic is Fleener or one of the guard prospects. DW is a free agent after next season and A. Snyder is not really a starter. If they don’t grab Nicks or Grubbs in free agency, I believe they will go after the guard position with their first round pick or even trade back for more picks. I’ll even throw another wild card out here: DT. The class is deep this year at that position and IS is also a free agent next year, so why not draft his eventual successor? WR seems like too much of an obvious choice, so I don’t think the Niners will go that route with their first round pick.
don’t forget about CB Denarious Jenkins the best CB in the draft will slip to the 20′s and maybe to 30….he has character issues such as arrested for possesion of marijuana i believe twice and once for a fight…..does that sound familiar to a player balke drafted his first year as gm….reminds you of someone that had siilar charter issues that droped him to the 3rd or 4th round….his name would be Navarro Bowman
Not a bad choice. I think it will depend on what they do in free agency. Both the guard and cornerback position have some great choices in free agency and the draft.
DS, All others but 6th grade when I lost a spell off with Mary Brewster. I can’t believe I messed up dreamt. As you know, that is a tough one. : )
WWE crossover sensation Jack Hammer makes his silver screen debut in “Spell Checker.” Lol.
St Jack
Eell I knowest wat u fel lik Jack. I losted jst 1 myeself. lol
Bowman’s rookie deal was a 4 year deal. He isn’t a FA until after the 2013 season.
Once again some one pointing out how bad of a writer grant is, Grant please learn your stuff, i mean you already bite off of other articles so why cant you get this right when there is something called google
I finally got around to fixing the toilet. Replaced the stem,I was tired of it going on flushing on its own in the middle of the night. WD40,and 20 minutes later-fixed.
I thought pork buns and gravy would want to know this.
Would you care to try to estimate today’s relative humidity percentile?
That’s nice Stan.
Stan! How ’bout them Blue Jays! They’re poised to make a run this year!
@Stan…
Real life commentary is perfect for this blog. it’s when you start talking about the inanity (like that, Stan? — did you figure it out yet?) of lesser/irrelevant sports stories that you become truly offensive! there are but 2 teams worthy of consideration in Northern California, and there is another Cohn (zone) that you can discuss the other one on! please continue to refrain from further sports-commentary irrelevance. I’m proud of you. I’m happy for your crapper.
@Stan
Nothing offensive about you, don’t change a thing. I hope your toilet does not over flow with too much pork buns and gravy.
DS, You sure know how to take the fun out of a joke.
You’re far too serious Jack.
I was playing along with it. We can all knock out comedian as your profession. Don’t you know? You go in the direction the audience is leading you to go. You need to read the audience and adjust immediately.
as i thought…
i may not be able to evaluate college WRs, but i can smell a poker player from a mile away. the whole “we already have his replacement on the roster” was pure posturing. sure, Aldon may end up making LT look like a piker, but if you have a good player on a GREAT defense, you dont dismiss those guys lightly.
lets get Rogers and Goldson back on the roster and find a couple of stud receivers.
?
When did TB say that about AB, or anybody else fesnyc?
articles all over the net – Maiocco, and others (cant remember what Grant wrote) – said that Brooks’ replacement “was already on the roster”. the quote wasnt directly from Baalke, but its clear it came from the team. check Maiocco, SFgate, Ninerinsider, and others. it showed up in at least 2 places.
as a betting man, i think we resign Rogers too. all the fans here were freaked out at how little cap room we have, but the way contracts are structured, i think we have more room than the press was suggesting.
Good point. That sounds reasonable.
DS, see Matt Maiocco’s article – i believe it was Feb 22 – it says it loud and clear.
and that’s another reason i prefer Grant to Matt: while Matt gets good scoop, he’s clearly just a mouthpiece for the franchise. When I want Pravda, i go to Maiocco…when i want INSIGHT, i stick to Grant :-)
all grant cares about is 49ersgirl, he could care less about writing a good article…. he has no insight to the niners and that is very obvious with his comment saying brooks was our number one priority when we have been trying to resign gholdson and many others during the season, around the time we resigned boone there were offers are the table to gholdson, brooks, snyder, boone etc….just because they did not sign that contract does not mean there not a priority and just because brooks is the first to sign his offer does not make him the number one priority…..grant bites off a lot of other writers article and then he writes about a blogger who he is in love with in 49ersgirl instead of writing articles about football and the niners
Excellent, I am glad we locked Brooks to keep the front seven intact. Now we need to franchise Dashon. GO NINERS
Well said Chicago. Plus let’s not forget DW wasn’t known for his blocking capabilities until these past two seasons. No reason why Fleener can’t learn to block as well.
Walker really was never used as a Blocker until the last season. He ended up on the Injury List which kind of negated any progress he’d made in that regard. Martz also didn’t use him as much because he wasn’t big on TE’s in his Offensive system.
Insight as to why Brooks turned things around….
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/05/4033620/hungry-and-focused-lb-brooks-turns.html
I think they re-sign Rodgers and Franchise Goldson. They have to the 15th to Franchise someone and they won’t Franchise Rodgers because there is no value in that regardless of what he did last year. I think the number for Corners was over $9 Million and the number for Safeties was $6.5 Million.
They wanted to get Brooks locked up because he was part of the chemistry of the Defense. Ginn probably won’t want to leave because he’s with a team that was so damned close. If Ginn is back there returning Punts instead of Williams? 9ers go to the Super Bowl and Win a Lombardi.
Rogers already said he would be open to re-signing and I don’t see him not re-signing unless the offer is so far below market value that it’s insulting. Also, with Spencer being the possible odd man out that would create some space for the only true Veteran Corner this team has available that played so well this past season. You don’t ignore that when you want to keep the continuity of what you’re doing.
So Brooks signing is more important than Alex Smith’s??
I don’t think so.
Considering the defense carried this team and was the number one reason they won…… yes.
no its not alex is way more important than brooks
Really Jons? Then why did they sign Brooks before Smith?
Is it really that tough to replace the lowest production QB in all of football?
Bay, CJ Spillman was signed before AB and the other outstanding FA’s does that make him *more* IMPORTANT? LOL
Poor bay. He’s taking a beating tonight. It’s almost too painful to watch.
Almost.
bay they offered all there fa’s contracts through out the season, no one knows who there number one priority is unless they are sitting in on the meetings with the coaching staff and front office….i guess boone was the most important since he was actually the 1st one to sign a extension during the regular season and the niners offered there other fa’s contracts at the same time…..so if they dont sign there contract and another player does it akes that player a bigger priority, no it does not
bay just because the players have not agreed to terms does not mean they dont have offers on the table, it is very obvious that you dont know how the signing of players take place. so what you are saying then in your eyes is that boone was the most important player that we had to resign him, you know since he was the first to sign his offer back in early November…then cj spillman is more important than brooks……….now maybe you will see how dumb you sound after reading this
…lol…laughing at Bay’s dunmbass…..
I concur with bay (the one that makes sense) on this one.
Make up your mind on the type of team you want to cheer for, and stick to it. Sounds like a lot of people here don’t think that team is the Niners for you. You clearly have different tastes of what you value in your football team than JH and staff.
I know. Your years of sales experience give you a big boost of false bravado, but you are not going to convince anybody that the Niners are better off following your advice (which is everything JH is against) on the direction of the team.
You sound like you would like to cheer for the NO Saints or Detroit Lions. Go to their blogs and have fun. Watch their teams rack up the yards and live your fantasy football life for real.
It isn’t going to happen here. No matter who the QB is. If it was AL, you wouldn’t get much different. JH did not throw it 40-50 times a game (due to the gameplan, not situation) at Stanford where it is easier to do everything compared to the NFL. AS, CK, Josh Johnson, x QB will not be throwing it 40-50x a game every game, so if that is what you want, please leave. You won’t find it here.
P.S. JM didn’t throw it around 40-50 times a game either. Dan Marino did. Joe Montana won a lot more post season games than Dan did. Which is more important to you? JM did what BW told him to do. And it got him 3 (4 if you count the same basic team and philosophy) Super Bowls.
If you believe in JH, then you must believe in AS. JH does. If JH is as good as we all think, then he is going to win us a lot of Lombardi trophies. And, he flat out wants AS to be his QB while doing so.
I wouldn’t say Brooks’ contract is more important than Alex Smith’s.
I do believe, and apparently Baalke agrees, that keeping this awesome defense intact is more important than worrying about any part of the 29th ranked passing attack in the league.
Baalke is moving fast to keep the unit that carried the team intact. Good man. The passing offense can accept the leftover scraps that remain.
Signing Brooks is a solid move. How much did the front seven improve the defensive backs. Rogers had a great year but I can’t see giving big money to a guy past 30. SI made this graph of baseball players and it showed the decreased productivity once a player reaches his mid to late 30′s. NFL players don’t reach their mid 30′s, they’re long gone by that time. It’s good business to give the money to younger guys. IMO Culliver is a future star, I think of Mike Haynes, Culliver is a little bigger but fluid.
This draft seems to be setting up where good interior lineman will be available at 30, I think the 49ers will jump at the move. Some of these fast receivers that are moving up with a bullet remind me of Heyward-Bey. We can be sure of one thing, at 30 there will be some good players available.
Hey Grant your saying Brooks was the 49ers first priority is not true at all if you actually knew what the niners were doing….The niners have offered many of there FA’s contract extensions before they even resigned Boone in the regular season they had offered Gholdson and many others a contract that they did not sign….Why would the niners trade up in the draft to draft kendall wright who is just another pass dropper like crabtree….this is the deepest draft ever for wide outs so there is no way we trade up to get him, I believe if we move up, it will be for Denorious jenkins CB from North Alabama who I believe and know is thee best DB in this draft….just look up what the sec receivers did against him….julio jones, alshon jefferies and aj green avg 7.2 yards on this guy when they played
NO Saints just signed AArrington and JDrescher *before* DBrees does that make them *more* important??!
GREAT POINT, GRANTS IS NOT SO SMART, anyone of us can do a better job than grant can
you are a donkey. and unintelligent. that makes you half eddie murphy half chunk from Goonies.
Pork bun must be Grants buddy……..awww how cute come to his defenses
Yep.
Again AB is the most improtant because there arent a lot of OLB available. Quit taking everything so serious. Bag the writer but still chime in. WTF? AB IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. If any other player was they would have their contract right now.
I agree and disagree with you md. I agree that what is said shouldn’t be taken seriously. I disagree however on AB being the more important signing. I place him, AS, CR, DG, and BC all on the same level of importance. He just agreed to a deal first before the others did.
ASnyder is very important albeit his $$ numbers will be much lower. Who is the replacement? The chemistry is coming together and drafting or getting someone via FA will set the OL back for weeks/months.
Snyder is getting up there though and never really established himself as a starter. He is a solid backup though.
actually the niners have offered there other FA;s contracts, so because they didnt sign them because they didnt agree with it means there not important……..great thinking dude
No man, I’ve been banned numerous times from his site for various offenses and insults, but your ugly comments are toothless. If you back them up with arguments, then let fly. But don’t just write the first idiotic thing that comes into your peabrain without supporting it. And if you’re going to talk football, heaven forbid, then get your learn on before you start. You are spreading untruths all over this site.
on the surface that is a big contract for brooks….i didn’t expect it to be so big ….will need to see the details and see if it is backloaded…..
contracts like this put a dent into the cap….
i wanted the niners to keep brooks but i also wanted them to pick up a FA WR and a FA guard as well….continuing brooks kind of contracts with the rest of the niner FAs puts a crimp in my perception of how the niners should proceed in getting that WR and right guard(or versatile OL player)….i was looking for the FA WR and OG so niners could direct/control the draft towards there needs like a fleener or a CB in the first round and then a WR later in the middle of the draft….
so count me surprised to the size of this contract….
now i will go back and read all the comments….
well except for maybe …. so and so
Actually he was only guaranteed 17.5 million and the rest is probably based on roster bonus and incentives, such as so many sacks, ints, etc.
@jgwindsor:
It may not be that big of a contract in reality, and Brooks’ cap number may not be so big this year. As you said, we will need to see the details to know for sure, and they likely won’t be available for a few days.
The 9ers can still get a FA WR that fits their business plan – RMeachem can be had for $2-3M per year (avg). And the details as you mention JG will be interesting – I believe it is back end loaded.
Not a big market for OLB… The CB market is richer. Thus my theory of signing AB first. And drafting a WR isnt the way. They NEED one of the Vets available. Bottom line.
I couldn’t have said it better md.
Not knowing the details I’m sure the contract looks bigger than it is…very similar to FGs contract last year. The main thing we know is that the guarantee is $17.5M. Hmm.
Draft Fleener and a top notch right guard who can start right away. Make VD a WR as he has the speed and use VD as a tight end in heavy formations. Pick up a WR in free agency and sign Rogers and Dashon. Keep the team together. A good free agent WR together with a late round WR would make for a great start on next near. Remember, the 2011 49ers scored more points and gave up fewer points than the 81 team. But for two special teams goofs, we would have been in the Super Bowl.
Because we got all the cap space in the world to get expensive FA’s……….right……….not at all
Again, your comments do not reflect a bright light within. You are aware the Niners were $15M under the cap last year, right?
You guys should know by now that the combine is more for the interviews and medical process more than anything, if they want to see how they play they look at the tape….look at there strengths and weaknesses through film, not the combine….the 40 doesnt tell you there on the field speed, no where close….do you see nfl players such as wideouts and dbs getting into a track meet stance, down in the blocks on the field? dont think so
anyone notice reading the comments when Grant is posting a lot Bayarea is nowhere to be found and vice versa ?? Double Poster?? Bayarea alter ego so he can hate on A Smith unchecked??
…with Brooks signed….it looks like haralson is on his last contract with the niners…..
….kinda suprised it is a six-year contract extension worth $44.5 million…..looking forward to see the contract breakdown…
maybe Grant could do us the favor of finding that information instead of getting into this senseless debate on who or what is drafted where………
Or you could if you wanted to. $17.5M guaranteed w most of the money on the last two years.
…NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reported it could be in the range of $7 million-per-year
I think the 9ers should sign Carlos. We can talk about Chris Culliver (2nd yr. player) and other potential draft choices but sign the veteran. We are too close the SB to be rolling the dice. That approach was okay last year when expectations were low. While Balke seems to have a handle on things I hope he does not devalue the skill positions. It bit the 9ers in the behind at the receiver position when he chose to do nothing. For more proof look at Dallas who has a nice pass rush but no secondary!
the 49ers should resign rogers at a the right price tag dashon and draft the best player on the board as long as its not a TE,LB or QB. They would be wise to draft another corner like gilmore from south carolina or depth at d line. Then in the second adress the wr position, they also should pursue pierre garcon in free agency as well as resign Ginn and Morgan.
@nic:
There’s way too much common sense in that comment for this board. My only quibble is that I would still consider a TE and a pass rushing OLB at 30, assuming that Harbaugh/Fangio would find a way to play him sufficient downs.
I also would strongly consider trading back to pick up an additional pick or two.
There was a rumor that they would tag CR early this morning. Don’t know how reliable that is though.