How the A.J. Jenkins mistake affected the 49ers’ past two drafts

Let’s pretend the 49ers didn’t make the A.J. Jenkins mistake last year. Let’s pretend they drafted someone else. How would that have affected the 49ers’ past two drafts? Say the 49ers drafted tight end Coby Fleener instead of Jenkins with the 30th pick in 2012. In that case, the 49ers’ wouldn’t have needed to draft tight end Vance McDonald with the 55th pick in 2013, and the 49ers could have…

August 22, 2013
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The problem with LaMichael James and A.J. Jenkins

When the 49ers drafted A.J. Jenkins in the first round and LaMichael James in the second round, all we heard was how the 49ers didn’t need those guys this season. The 49ers are so deep and talented, those two high draft picks could afford to “red shirt” their rookie seasons, just lift weights and learn the system. Forget all of that. The 49ers need Jenkins and James right now. James…

December 3, 2012
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Midterm report card: Trent Baalke

Is Trent Baalke a superior general manager? Of course he is. Are the 49ers flourishing because of him? Of course they are. But I’m grading him on his performance this season, just as I’ve graded everyone else. For him, this season is what he did in the preseason. He re-signed outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks to a six-year extension, and that was a good move. Brooks is a top outside linebacker…

November 5, 2012
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Why the 49ers will not draft a running back

I say the Niners will not take a running back in the upcoming NFL Draft, and here’s why. This season, Frank Gore will be the starter and Kendall Hunter will be the backup. Any running back the Niners could draft would be a third-stringer this season (with the exception of Alabama’s Trent Richardson. He’d be the Niners’ best RB right now, but they’re not getting him – he’s a top-five…

March 26, 2012
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