If the draft falls perfectly for the 49ers on Thursday in the first round of the NFL draft, they end up with an offensive tackle (Anthony Davis?) and a defensive back (Joe Haden or Earl Thomas?).
The 49ers have two picks next Friday, too, when the second and third rounds are held.
I began writing this blog entry this morning. Then, news broke the 49ers had acquired receiver/return specialist Ted Ginn Jr. in a trade from the Dolphins. This is the next paragraph I was constructing:
At that point, the 49ers would like to address the return game and, perhaps, something in the defensive front seven. The club could look for a big defensive lineman. Or they could look for an outside pass rusher.
Now, the 49ers might take a player who has return skills, but it’s no longer such a huge priority with Ginn on the roster.
I thought Mardy Gilyard (
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The 49ers just confirmed the trade for Ginn. They’ll send a fifth-round pick, No. 145 overall, to the Dolphins.
“First of all, I am very thankful that Trent (Baalke) was able to make this work out,” coach Mike Singletary said. “We added a talented player, that fits a need. He’s a bundle of potential and his upside is off the charts. This guy can fly.”
Said Baalke, the team’s director of player personnel: “We are very excited to add a player to our team with the explosiveness that Ted possesses. Ted gives our coaching staff another quality player to utilize on game day.”
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What does this do for those who wanted to see the 49ers’ select Clemson running back C.J. Spiller in the first round? I don’t think it does anything. If the 49ers liked Spiller before today, they’ll like him next week. But I always considered the possibility that the 49ers would draft Spiller as a long shot (much the same way I thought it was a long shot the 49ers would acquire Ginn). But if the 49ers like smaller-speedy guys, they would’ve shown more patience in seeing if talented Kory Sheets could develop.
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Whether the 49ers sign veteran free-agent outside linebacker Travis LaBoy or not, I’d think the 49ers would be wise to select a talented pass-rusher at some point in the first three rounds.
The 49ers’ pass-rush-by-committee was actually pretty effective last season. But they could always use more pop. Parys Haralson is the team’s best pass-rusher. Ahmad Brooks is a promising-yet-unproven commodity. And it seems questionable whether Manny Lawson fits into the team’s long-term plans.
The acquisition of Ginn might mean the 49ers will be more determined to invest in their pass rush in the first couple days. If the 49ers take a pass-rusher in the first round, I’d expect Sergio Kindle (
In the second and third rounds, there could be plenty of options. Here are three of them:
Everson Griffen (USC): He could be a first-round pick. If he starts to slip into the second round, though, the 49ers – because they now have a return specialist – will consider moving up a few spots to select him. I’m not entirely sure where he would fit on first and second downs, but he’d line up on third downs as a defensive end in the team’s four-man front to get after the quarterback.
Ricky Sapp (Clemson): He’s a full year removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL. He took only two pre-draft visits (Jets and Cardinals), but he said he had a nice conversation with 49ers director of pro personnel Trevor Baalke. Sapp is perfect to be an every-down outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.
Koa Misi (
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