Before It Even Starts

Before the draft even opens up Thursday, we are already well on a road to success. While I think we’re smoke-screening a bit, we got our return man in Ginn for only a 5th rounder. In comparison, his 3 years of experience, speed, and explosiveness make him a superior value to a 5th rounder in our current draft. He brings three things to the table. One is experience as a WR and depth at WR. We hardly have much better for depth other than him and he has starting experience. Second, his open field ability and speed make him a deadly weapon for our offense if we use him in some reverses/end-arounds/bubble screens and a slot man. Lastly, he brings us a punt and kickoff return man which we sorely need.

In terms of impact for a 5th rounder, that one is a solid A- and puts us a good step towards an effective draft.

Draft #1: My Dream Draft

This one isn’t of the ‘exceptionally outlandish variety’ such as the “imagine all of the top 5 players fall to all of our first 5 picks” type. But it does require a big dosage of suspension of disbelief because chances are, we’d be lucky as all heck for these players to be available, but it’s not entirely impossible.

1A: RT Trent Williams

1B: NT Dan Williams

2: CB Brandon Ghee

3: LB Jamar Chaney

That gives us a stud RT, a franchise NT, a CB with lots of potential in Ghee and a LB in Chaney who has the range to play Mike and the power and build to play Ted. It fortifies our depth across the defense and fixes our biggest offensive problem. In rounds 4, 6 and 7 I’d look to add a DB to replace Hudson, an OG for camp competition, and maybe a RB/KR/PR too. But chances are Williams is gone in the first, Ghee might go early 2nd and Chaney may even got before our pick in round 2 let alone fall to the third round.

Draft #2: My ‘Holmgren Draft’

This one follows the standard that you don’t just band-aid a problem, you go all out and get it stitched up, Neosporined, heavily bandaged and fully rested in a sling…

1A: OT Bruce Campbell

1B: OG Mike Iupati

2: S Reshad Jones

3: OT Sam Young

4: CB AJ Jefferson

You don’t just try to fix a problem, you inundate it. Campbell is a very talented guy who can play RT and eve has the skills to later move to LT as a swing tackle. Iupati, meanwhile, can step in at LG as in instant starter. This provides 2 top 1st round talents along the OL, our single worst offensive unit. Meanwhile, Jones has lots of talent to be a great SS to replace Lewis and Jefferson has some return skills to bring into camp, but is also a physical specimen who could develop as a CB project. In rounds 6 and 7 I’d look to trade at least 1 pick away for a future 5th and the other I would use on a RB. Young meanwhile, I think will be a good mid-round steal for someone. He lacks ideal size but he has a good background, played well at the senior bowl to stick out, and has a head on his shoulders. One year working out and building up his game and he can be an effective pass blocking RT. For us, I’d like him over Snyder. So adding Campbell and Young would be like adding 2 rookie RTs.

Draft #3: My Value Draft

Simply put, at each pick we go with the player who has the best ‘value’ per pick. So in essence, not necessarily the BPA but the one whose likely return will be better.

1A: OT Brian Bulaga

1B: OG Mike Iupati

2: QB Colt McCoy

3: WR Mardy Gilyard

4: ILB Brandon Spikes

No, I’m not forgetful. I’m not a big fan of Bulaga. But all of the pundits have him as one of the top 4 OTs and I also have him as the likeliest to fall to us. Okung never will, Williams is almost definitely not going to make it, and Campbell probably won’t slide past Oakland. But I could see only 3 OTs going. That said Iupati is the best value at 17th  in terms of his potential. That said, the same goes for the next 3 players. all I think are going to end up being better players than their draft position and all hold above average value on my board.

My Aggressive Draft

Teams that are terrible don’t need 1 or 2 impact guys. What they need is to first raise the level of overall talent. That means trading down for more picks and more competition on the roster. It’s the good teams who often lack those 1-2 great guys to fill a big hole and raise the team to a new level. I think we’re a solid 2-3 big impact players away…

1A: (Trade up. Send our 2nd rounder and 1A to OAK to get OT Bruce Campbell)

2A:(Trade back, giving our 1B pick to NE for their pair of 2nd round picks at 44 and 53 and a 2011 4th rounder then we pick RB Dexter McCluster)

2B: ILB Jamar Chaney

This secures us a top OT, adds a RB/KR/PR in McCluster (and more speed and flexibility on the offense) as well as an ILB who we can develop under Spikes this year. Combine this with a new LT deal for NT Franklin and a smart CB signing and hopefully we get OG Chester…and we hit all of our major needs.

My ‘Ideal, Realistic’ 49ers 2010 Draft

…To be included in a post on Wednesday. (sorry for the tease)