Happy draft week! Want to start it off with a good omen?
OK, click this link.
Pro Football Reference lists the top players ever taken at every spot in this year’s draft (scroll to the right) and star-studded 49ers have been selected at No. 7 (Bryant Young), No. 45 (Ricky Watters) and No. 76 (John Taylor). Those, of course, are the spots from where San Francisco will be making its first three picks this week, barring trades.
If you feel this is irrelevant – you know, past draft success has absolutely no bearing on what will happen in 2011 – I’ll offer that PFR’s super-cool list is a great way to avoid starting your work week.
By the way, the 49ers also have pick No. 239. They grabbed Eric Heitmann from that spot in 2002. Some slob claimed that was San Francisco’s best late-round pick over the past decade.
• Based on PFR’s career Approximate Value, Young is the second-best No. 7 pick in NFL history, Watters is the best No. 45 selection and Taylor ranks third among those picked at No. 76.
Here’s a look at the company Young, Watters and Taylor are keeping, listed in order of their career AV:
No. 7: Champ Bailey, Bryant Young, Phil Simms, Troy Vincent, Willie Buchanon, Sterling Sharpe.
No. 45: Ricky Watters, Phil Villapiano, Dave Casper, Ken Jones, Lofa Tatupu, Joe Morris.
No. 76: Ahman Green, Chris Chandler, John Taylor, Fredd Young, Gerald Irons, Doug Cosbie.
• I wrote draft-related stories over the weekend on Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara and North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn, potential consolation prizes if Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, Blaine Gabbert etc. are off the board.
Here’s a story on how the Niners’ offensive personnel fits Jim Harbaugh’s power-based tendencies quite well. However, one big piece is missing from the puzzle. Guess what that piece that is. Hint: It’s a quarterback.
• Speaking of the start of draft week and omens, I’m experiencing some ominous foreshadowing.
I’m making a Fremont-to-Santa Rosa trek this morning in hopes the IT folks at the Press Democrat can fix a sick laptop. Really hoping those dire you’ve-lost-all-your-files-and-are-a-miserable-person messages are off base.
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