*************2013 NFL DRAFT GRADES************

1.18 Eric Reid, S, LSU

I don't love the pick, but they only gave up a 3rd rounder to move up and get a guy that they love. It is a pick that fills a need too.

B

2.40 Tank Carradine, DE/DT/LB, FSU

I'm not quite sure where they will put Carradine, but I love the value here. He should have been a first round pick, and he is a great value here.

A

2.55 Vance McDonald, TE, Rice

I was high on McDonald as a sleeper... not as a 2nd rounder. Great pick, but they didn't have to move up to get him.

C

3.88 Corey Lemonier, DE/LB Auburn

This is a good value on Lemonier who could have gone in the middle of the 2nd round. Sure the team might be loading up on pass rushers, but last I checked it was a luxury that many great teams follow. I hope that they bolster their defensive backs a little more though.

B+
 
4.128 Quinton Patton, WR, LA Tech

It was just stupid that Patton was still there for them.

4.131 Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

I'm glad the kid got drafted. With that said, he was a fair value here given his potential v injury risk.

5.157 Quinton Dial, DE/DT, Alabama

6.180 Nick Moody, LB, FSU

7.237 B.J. Daniels, QB, USF

7.246 Carter Bykowski, OT, Iowa State

7.252 Marcus Cooper, CB, Rutgers


OVERALL GRADE: B

I don't hate this draft like I hate the Seahawks draft, because this one had some good value guys that will play. I see one stater and four other guys that will get good playing time. I do wish that they could have parlayed some of the picks into better value, but it was an ok draft.

 
 
 
 *************2012 NFL DRAFT GRADES************ 

1:30 AJ Jenkins, WR, Illinois

Wow. The 49ers could have taken about 40 other guys and gotten a better value with the pick. Hell, there may be 10 other receivers better than Jenkins (who was a late 2nd rounder at best). The team gave Alex Smith a threat to compete for a starting spot with Crabtree, Moss and Manningham, and at best he will be receiving wicked 13 yard deep bombs from Alex F***ING smith.

F

2: 61 LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

I absolutely nailed this one and have had LaMichael going there for 3 months now. As I said in my mock "Harbaugh's last collegiate loss was to Oregon in 2012 when LaMichael James ran 257 yards and three scores. He is the perfect change of pace for the team."

A 

4.117 Joe Looney, OG, Wake Forest

I like that the team got some guard help, but they reached a bit for Looney here when other guys were out there.

B-
 
5.165: Darius Fleming, DE/LB, Notre Dame

6.180 Trent Robinson, S, Michigan State

6.199 Jason Slowey, C, Western Oregon

7.237 Cam Johnson, DE/DT/LB, Virginia

I'm not sold that Johnson is a perfect fit for the team, but they got a guy that very well could have gone in the 3rd or 4th according to talent.

A-

 
OVERALL GRADE: C+

One thing I liked about the 49ers draft was that they moved around and ended up with a 3rd and a 5th rounder in 2013. With that said, I don't love the draft outside of the LaMichael James pick. I don't care how many OLmen, runners and receivers you add for Alex Smith, because at the end of the day he won't know what to do with it all. He has Randy Moss in his crew which is great, but do we really want to see him throw a deep 14-yard checkdown to Moss and AJ Jenkins. 

The team reached on value, and got maybe a single starter from the draft.



*************2011 NFL DRAFT GRADES************ 
 Picks

1.7 Aldon Smith, DE/LB, Missouri

The team needed a new pass rusher and Smith was very high on some teams boards. It was also obvious that Robert Quinn, Blaine Gabbert and Prince Amukumara were overrated a little bit by the major media sources.

B+

2.36 Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada

I personally didn't believe that Kaepernick was a top-40 pick, but the team needed a quarterback, and got a very good project. The team also only spend a 2nd round pick for him so he doesn't have to be the 'face of the franchise' like Locker, Ponder, Gabbert and Newton.

 B+

3.80 Chris Culliver, CB, South Carolina

Culliver was a 5th rounder by most reports, so this is a reach, but the team has needed a corner for awhile.

C+

4.115 Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State

It seems like every year the team drafts a guy to support Frank Gore, and every year I am happy for the pick.

B+

5.163 Daniel Kilgore, OG, Appalachian State

It is hard to criticize a team for adding offensive OL depth late in a draft, but it could have been a better value.

B-

6.182 Ronald Johnson, WR, USC

The team needed some weapons on offense and getting someone that I thought could go in round 4 here is a good value.

A

6.190 Colin Jones, S, TCU

I think the team could have found a pure safety a little bit earlier, and I think there were other talents out there, but an ok pick nonetheless. 

C+

7.211 Bruce Miller, DE/LB, UCF

Miller is too small to play in the NFL. He was also too small to play in college, and did nothing but prove people wrong. I love prospects like this, and I hope he becomes a star.

A

7.239 Mike Person, OT, Montana State

Very late draft offensive line depth is something to love.

B+

7.250 Curtis Holcomb, CB, FAMU

Last year the 49ers signed UDFA LeRoy Vann (although I believe he was later released) from FAMU, and the team might really like what they are seeing from the program.

B

Draft Grade: B

Overall I really like that the team touched on high potential guys that also fit team needs. I'm not sure that any of their picks will end up as starters in 2011, but if the team thinks that it is a year from competing that this is a top notch draft.

NEW GRADE: C+

The team addressed a couple of their biggest needs, but did they really get better? The team picked a QB in the 2nd round, but was it a way for them to touch on it without committing to a 1st round guy? Could Colin Kaepernick be the next Jimmy Clausen? Who knows. The team added a few pieces, but I still am not sold that they found a starter for 2011.