I think there is a tendency to focus too much on the early round picks in assessing the quality of a draft. The big names always stand out. Plus, there is of course the school of thought that the draft can't be assessed right after, and likely not for years. With those as caveats, I gotta say this is a pretty good draft.
Everyone knew the Niners needed a playmaker. A pass rusher, a WR, maybe you could put an OT in that category. I, personally, was not sold on the pass rushers and WRs expected to be there at 10, I was leaning more toward Oher or Raji if he fell. The one no brainer among the WR was Crabtree. He was the one wideout where you could be fairly sure he would be better than any other WR on the team.
As for the rest of the draft, there were guys that I liked at the second pick, Everert Brown, the guy who went 43rd, Clint Sintim, Connor Barwin, but it is hard to argue with a first round pick next year.
Fingers crossed, but if the team improves, two firsts next year will enable the Niners to put the finishing touches on the team, by either taking two starters or by packaging those picks to move up for a star (maybe a QB if the current cast doesn't work out).
Back to the draft, 3rd round pick Glen Coffey seems a bit questionable. He's not really the power back the Niners were thought to be looking for. Personally, I wanted Shonn Greene, who was picked in the 2nd round. But a close second to Greene for me was Andre Brown. I wasn't as high on Rashad Jennings, but Draft Countdown also had Jennings higher than Coffee (8th best RB). (you could argue that they made up for the possible reach of Coffee, by signing 11th ranked Kory Sheets as a FA.)
Speaking of Draft Countdown, I am just using that site as a barometer of the value the Niners got for each draft pick.
The Niners didn't have another pick until the 5th round because of that trade, these next 5 picks is where the niners got some nice value according to Draft Countdown.
5th round:
Scott McKillop - ILB's don't usually get a lot of love on draft day... but for what its worth, McKillop was ranked as the 4th best ILB by DC. Though, Jasper Brinkley was ranked 3rd and went 4 picks later. Other candidates for this spot maybe Jamon Meridith, but he doesn't seem to be the run blocker they were looking for at RT. Likely to replace Ulbrich.
Nate Davis - QB, this has been well documented, some considered him a first rounder 7-8 months ago. DC had him ranked 7th. 5th was the guy I liked McGee who went early in the 4th. Hard to argue with the value getting Davis, a developmental project at QB, in the 5th.
6th round:
Bear Pascoe - TE, this is the second questionable selection, not because Pascoe won't fill a need (big blocking TE), but because he probably could have been available in the 7th. OLB/DE Stryker Sulak would have been an option here, or local CB Coy Francis.
7th round:
Taylor Curtis - S, again, nice value with the 9th ranked Safety from DC. Probably considered more of a 4th or 5th rounder.
Ricky Jean-Francois - DT/DE, ranked 10th best DT on Draft Countdown. Probably a bit of a project. called a boom or bust type, which is not bad for the 7th round.
IMO, a pretty solid draft. Got lucky early, and got good value late.
So, what's missing. No OT, no pass rusher.
I would note that the team has been hanging on to some developmental players at both of those positions who have not gotten on the field much. Particularly Ahmad Brooks, who was considered at least a 2nd round talent at one point.
Also, Chilo Rachal was talked about as a possible RT as well. With the addition of Mavel Smith, I don't know the RT (and overall OL) situation is all that dire.
