Taking stock of Trent Baalke

Here is a list of every player Trent Baalke has acquired since he became the Niners general manager in 2010. I categorized the players by offense, defense and special teams. Is there a pattern in how he acquires players?

OFFENSE

  • Mike Iupati – 17th pick in the first round of the 2010 draft. Pro Bowl alternate in 2011.
  • Randy Moss – signed in 2012 to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. Currently atop the WR depth chart at split end.
  • Braylon Edwards – signed in August 2011 to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. Waived in December 2011.
  • Mario Manningham – signed in 2012 to a two-year, $7.375 million contract. Played mostly with the second team in minicamp.
  • Kyle Williams – 206th pick in 2010. Competing with Manningham to be the No. 3 receiver.
  • Anthony Davis – 11th pick in 2010.  20 sacks allowed and 11 false starts in 32 career starts.
  • Jonathan Goodwin – signed in 2011 to a three-year, $10.9 million contract. Pro Bowl Alternate in 2011.
  • Colin Kaepernick – 36th pick in 2011. Threw five passes his rookie season.
  • A.J. Jenkins – 30th pick in 2011. Competing with five other wide receivers for playing time.
  • LaMichael James – 61st pick in 2012. Competing with four other RBs for carries.
  • Kendall Hunter – 115th pick in 2011. 4.2 yards per carry on 112 carries last season as a change-of-pace back.
  • Brandon Jacobs – signed in 2012 to a one-year, $1.575 million contract. Competing to become the goal line back.
  • Anthony Dixon – 173rd pick in 2010. 3.3 yards per carry in the NFL. Fighting for a roster spot.
  • Josh Johnson – signed in 2012 to a two-year, $2.115 million contract. Competing to become the backup QB.
  • Ronald Johnson – 182nd pick in 2011. Cut at the end of training camp.
  • Daniel Kilgore – 163rd pick in 2011. Currently the primary backup at center and guard.
  • Nate Byham – 182nd pick in 2010. Tore his ACL in 2011 training camp.
  • Joe Looney – 117th pick in 2012. Injured foot in Senior Bowl.
  • Bruce Miller – pick in the 2011 draft. Pro Bowl alternate in 2011.
  • Michael Person – 239th pick in 2011. Backup offensive lineman.
  • Jason Slowey – 199th pick in 2012. Backup offensive lineman.
  • Brian Westbrook – signed in 2010 to a one-year, $1.25 million contract. Gained 490 yards from scrimmage in 14 games, and then retired after the season.

DEFENSE

  • Aldon Smith – 7th pick in 2011. Pro Football Writers of America Defensie Rookie of the Year. Set 49ers rookie sack record with 14.
  • NaVorro Bowman – 91st pick in 2010. First-team All-Pro in 2011.
  • Carlos Rogers – signed in 2011 to a one-year, $5 million contract. Pro Bowl in 2011, 2nd team All-Pro. Re-signed in 2012 to a four-year, $29.3 million contract.
  • Donte Whitner – signed in 2011 to a three-year, $11.75 million contract. Leader of the secondary.
  • Tramaine Brock – signed as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Re-signed in 2012 to a one-year, $540,000 contract. Backup right cornerback.
  • Perrish Cox – signed in 2012 to a two-year, $1.02 million contract. Backup nickel cornerback in minicamp.
  • Chris Culliver – 80th pick in 2011. Backup left cornerback, third CB on depth chart.
  • Demarcus Dobbs – Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2011 to a three-year, $1.395 million contract. Backup defensive lineman and tight end.
  • Darius Fleming – 165th pick in 2012. Tore ACL in OTAs.
  • Larry Grant – signed in 2011. Re-signed in 2012 to a one-year, $1.26 million contact. Third inside linebacker on the depth chart.
  • Curtis Holcomb – 250th pick in 2011. Fighting for a roster spot at defensive back.
  • Phillip Adams – 224th pick in 2010. Cut in 2011.
  • Antwan Applewhite – signed in July 2011 to a small contract, cut in September 2011.
  • Cam Johnson – 237th pick in 2012. Had knee procedure in OTAs.
  • Travis LaBoy – signed in 2010 to a one-year, $1.6 million contract. Not re-signed in 2011.
  • Taylor Mays – 49th pick in 2011. Traded to the Bengals in August for a seventh round draft pick.
  • Trenton Robinson – 180th pick in 2011. Backup safety.
  • Will Tukuafu – signed as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Re-signed in 2012 to a two-year, $1.02 million contract. Backup defensive lineman and fullback.
  • Ian Williams – signed as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
  • Madieu Williams – signed in 2011 to a one-year contract. Not re-signed in 2012.

SPECIAL TEAMS

  • David Akers – signed in 2011 to a three-year, $9 million contract. Pro Bowler, set the franchise record for points in a season.
  • Rock Cartwright – signed in 2012 to a one-year, $950,000 contract. Replaces Blake Costanzo.
  • Blake Costanzo – signed in 2011 to a one-year contract. Pro Bowl alternate. Not re-signed in 2012.
  • Ted Ginn Jr. – acquired in a trade for a fifth round pick. Pro Bowl alternate in 2011.
  • Tavares Gooden – signed in 2011. Re-signed in 2012 to a one-year, $700,000 contract.
  • Colin Jones – 190th pick in 2011. Special teams starter.
  • C.J. Spillman – claimed off waivers in 2010. Re-signed to a three-year, $4.2 million contract. Ace special teams gunner and backup safety.

Baalke’s special teams additions have been stellar. Akers was a grand slam, and Ginn Jr. was a home run.

The acquisitions on defense have been even better. Bowman and Aldon Smith rapidly became two of the top-five players on the Niners last season, while Rogers had the best season of his career.

Baalke’s acquisitions on defense and special teams have been brilliant. But how’s he doing on offense?

He’s doing OK, but not as well. None of his additions to the offense has earned a trip to a Pro Bowl, and I wouldn’t rank any of them in the top-15 players on the team.

Three of Baalke’s guys were Pro Bowl alternates last season – Goodwin, Iupati and Miller. None of them played in the game.

Iupati certainly has a bright future. He’s a very good run blocker, and he could be a Pro Bowler one day.

You just can’t help but notice that Baalke’s skill players – wide receivers, running backs and tight ends – have not become impact starters yet.

Randy Moss has a chance to become Baalke’s first impact skill player on offense next season – he should start at split end.

Baalke also spent his first two draft picks on offensive skill players this year – A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James. They could develop into impact starters down the line, but probably not next season. It’s possible each will get only a few touches a game. If that turns out to be true – it may not — it means Baalke used his first two choices on players who will contribute after next season. But next season clearly is the Niners’ window of opportunity for the Super Bowl – Justin Smith is 32.

It seems to me that so far in Baalke’s brief tenure as the Niners GM, he’s been better at scouting and acquiring players who block and tackle than offensive players who gain yards and score points. If he has any area to grow in – and he’s done beautifully – it would be in getting offensive skill players.

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