2011 San Francisco 49ers Draft Needs
Written by Jack Jones
The San Francisco 49ers just cannot seem to live up to expectations these days. They were a favorite to take down the weakest division in football in 2011, but finished in third place in the NFC West. With an NFL-most 10 draft picks to work with this April, they should be able to take a big step forward.
Team president Jed York promoted personnel chief Trent Baalke to general manager, while also hitting a home run by getting head coach Jim Harbaugh. He was easily the hottest name in the coaching profession after making Stanford a national contender in his time there. The 49ers hope Harbaugh can have the same kind of success that brother, John, has had with the Baltimore Ravens.
I’m going to preview the five biggest needs that San Francisco has this offseason and likely a couple potential draft picks for them. It starts with the seventh overall selection in the first round. Take a look at our 2011 NFL Mock Draft to see which rookie is their likely selection at this spot.
Top 5 Team Needs
1.) Quarterback – Former No. 1 pick Alex Smith just hasn’t gotten the job done. Smith is a free agent and is likely going to be gone as maybe a change of scenery would do him well. Troy Smith won a few games for the 49ers last season when given the starting job, but it’s clear that he’s not a long-term solution here. Nate Davis signed with the Seattle Seahawks after former head coach Mike Singletary questioned his work ethic. The 49ers could take a chance on Blaine Gabbert from Missouri if he’s still available with the No. 7 pick.
2.) Cornerback – Pass coverage was certainly one of the 49ers biggest issues last season. It starts at cornerback, where former big-money free agent Nate Clements has clearly lost a step. While Clements can probably still get the job done, San Francisco needs to find a replacement for Shawntae Spencer on the other side. He is no match for the big, speedy receivers in this game. Most mock drafts have the 49ers selecting LSU’s Patrick Peterson in the first round, which would be a great fit.
3.) Defensive Line – DT’s Justin Smith and Isaac Sopoaga are quality players up front. The problem is with nose guard Aubrayo Franklin, who is now a free agent and no sure bet to come back. Franklin also reported late to camp last year due to contract issues, so he is certainly in the 49ers dog house. Reserves Ray McDonald and Demetric Evans are starting at free agency as well, so at the very least some depth is needed here.
4.) Outside Linebacker – A big reason for the poor pass coverage on this team was the 49ers inability to get a consistent pass rush. This has been a problem for quite some time in San Francisco. Former first-round pick Manny Lawson is now a free agent, and is clearly not the double-digit sack guy the 49ers hoped for when they drafted him. Parys Haralson and Ahmad Brooks are serviceable at best, and Travis LaBoy has clearly seen better days as he’s past his prime.
5.) Running Back – Frank Gore could be starting to wear down with the heavy workload the 49ers continue putting on him season after season. Gore’s season ended in Week 12 last year due to a dislocated hip, and with the league becoming more of a 2-back one these days it would be wise for San Francisco to look for a quality backup. Brian Westbrook did as good of a job as they could have expected down the stretch in Gore’s place, but he is past his prime and may look for a bigger workload with another team. Fullback Moran Norris may be on his last legs, so the need for a good blocker here is there as well.
Individual NFL Team Mock Drafts
Got something to say?
- Betting Sites
- Betting Systems
- Gambling
- How to Bet
- NFL Mock Draft
- Parlays
- Pleasers
- Predictions
- Prop Bets
- Sportsbooks
- Statistics
- Teasers NFL Capping Info Preseason Super Bowl