Head coach Mike Singletary will take the best
player available in this year's Draft.
(AP Photo/George Nikitin)
As the first day of voluntary minicamp got underway on Friday, 49ers head coach Mike Singletary took some time to meet with the media to address some topics concerning the team. Entering his first full season as head coach, Singletary has a lot of pressure in delivering a winner on the field after a very successful second half of last season.
But as the 49ers prepare to answer questions on their current roster, the head coach did touch on a topic about the upcoming Draft.
As reported by Matt Maiocco, Singletary talked about the team's approach to the Draft. Rather than drafting a player that they "need", the 49ers will take the "best player available", regardless of what position they play.
That's an interesting approach to the #10 pick of the Drafrt. Of course, such approach isn't new to the league. Over the years, teams have been drafting the best player on the board when put on the clock. There is no disadvantage in having the best player drafted over a player that may not be the best, but could make sense short term.
Teams rarely draft with the intention of making their pick the face of the franchise during their rookie year. Sometimes, it just happens that that player breaks out and becomes a star. Players like Matt Ryan and Chris Johnson weren't expected to be studa so soon into their careers. But it just so fortunately happened for the Falcons and Titans that these two blossomed. But most of the time, rookies will take a year or two to get accustomed to the NFL lifestyle and eventually take over when their time has come.
That was the approach the 49ers took with Alex Smith when they drafted him in 2005. They didn't throw him into a starting role immediately. Instead, they allowed him to learn on the sideline, then allowing him to play halfway through the first season before he became the team's full-time starter for the 2006 season. Had he not been injured, we don't know what might have happened.
But that's the way the NFL works. Unless the team is expecting instant results from the rookie, there is room for learning for high draft picks. It would be safer to mold the rookies rather than throwing them into the pit with lions so soon.
With the "best player available" approach for the 49ers, the team will look to select a player they feel that can develop into a starter in the future. There are a lot of players out there that the 49ers might not particularly need, but if they were to be available, they probably will get drafted by the 49ers.
At this point right now, the 49ers should draft either a pass rusher or a tackle with their 10th pick. They would be fortunate to have pass rushers like Brian Orakpo, Aaron Maybin or Everette Brown available. Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe would be fine tackles the 49ers could take. Even though there is a lot of negatives that have been placed on Alabama's Andre Smith, he might also be a tackle worth considering.
But looking at the mock drafts over the past few months, there are a few players out there the team might not be looking into that might be available at #10. And if they were the best player available, according to Singletary, they would be drafted.
Let's say Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry is available. Do the 49ers draft him? Curry can play either inside or outside linebacker, but having him on the team might slow down his development as a very talented player. As the team already is trying to get Ahmad Brooks playing time, Curry might cause some sort of conflict. He might have to just wait to play once Takeo Spikes or Patrick Willis don't player-- something I don't see happening in the near future at least. If they put him in the outside linebacker position, we already have Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson ahead of him. And as outside linebackers, their new approach this year is pass rushing-- something that Curry isn't known for.
The same can be said about Boston College's BJ Raji. As a defensive tackle, the 49ers might have to put him right behind Isaac Sopoaga and Aubrayo Franklin on the depth chart. Playing time for him might be limited if Sopoaga continues to play solid ball. But then again, having Raji on the team could really add stability on the team.
Other names to throw out there are wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and Michael Crabtree. The 49ers could use another wide receiver, but do they take one so high up when the team already has a lot of young receivers on the team?
Let's say Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez are still available at #10. Do the 49ers really want to draft one of them and inadvertantly admit that drafting Alex Smith was a mistake? Adding either of them makes it four quarterbacks on the team's roster, with essentially three of them still considered "very young" in terms of NFL experience. That's a dilemma I think the team wants to avoid.
Obviously, you would like to draft the "best player available" in any draft. But for the 49ers, they might not want to do that with any player they see available. At least if a player like Sanchez was supposedly the "best player available" at #10, do you think the 49ers might really draft him? Doubt it. But still, the best player available might not make sense right now, but could make some sense down the road.
Comments
You are assuming that any of the Q.B.s in this years draft is on the top ten of the 49ers draft board in the first place (they are not on mine)…….. You take the best player on your board… If that player can be picked up latter in the round … than you trade back…… forcing a pick is the surest way to a bad pick…. You can fill needs with free agents both currently on the market or after the June cuts…. YOU TAKE THE HIGHEST RATED PLAYER ON THE BOARD, or you trade back….
I am looking at the chance that the other players might be gone. And Sanchez and Stafford are really talented QBs and they could fall at #10. If they are there, the 49ers might draft either one. Of course, the team can always trade, so I won't rule that out.
SAMUEL SO I READ ABOUT UR LIL COMMENT ON THE 49ers drafting curry is a troubling choice, ur most often right but on this ur way of yes Paryles n Manny got the outside on lock an of course willis starts, BUT Takio is old an will retire in 2yrs tops... SO I WOULD DRAFT CURRY AS STARTER NEXT 2 WILLIS , the have Spikes Back up everyone else. he can play any linebacker roll n u r also forgeting injuries...... But i highly dout he'll b there at pick 10 but u never know
Sanchez is a 1yr wonder playing 4 the highest rated team in all of college, even his old coach pete said he's not ready yet.. its like reggie bush he was a unstopable fource with USC an n my eyes isnt n the top 20 back n the NFL so ur way off ALEX is r guy, u sport writers r all the same 2 quick 2 call a guy a bust, But if CURT WARRNER READ ALL HIS SPORTS WRITERS BUST COMMENT HE WOULD HAVE 2 SUPER BOWL RINGS
sam you have some good articles sometimes but i get the feeling you dont double check your "facts". alex smith did not sit his first year. tim rattay played the first couple of games and then alex smith played the rest of the season. that was the year he had one touchdown and 11 ints. it feels like you wrote this article for the sake of writing an article. if we take curry/raji, they are not 2nd string when theyre more talented than spikes/sopoaga, respectively. however, they wont be available so the topic is mute. and taking the "bpa" idea shouldnt be shocker, they've been saying the exact same thing since mcloughan showed up. its just the right thing to say. they will not take a qb. end of subject. next topic.
Samuel: "i am looking at the chance that the other players might be gone."
that doesnt make any sense because as michael said, the qbs arent in the 49ers top ten, and since they hold the 10th pick, there's no way they take a qb. it wouldnt matter if they are there if the niners dont value them at 10.
Mike: I do understand that Spikes is getting old and Curry would work. But I still don't know how much playing time/opportunity he will get if Singletary is so high on Brooks.
carlos: I know Smith played some of the '05 season. I never said he didn't. I just said the team committed to him as a full-time starter in '06.
And for the QBs in the top 10. I would imagine the team would avoid the QB. But what I am wondering is if that option would be there for them. Even though they aren't looking for a QB persay, what if the supposed "best player" was a QB and the rest of the guys that the team was looking for had been drafted?
Well, regardless of that, I would imagine that there would at least be one non-QB the team likes that should be available anyway.
sam: "That was the approach the 49ers took with Alex Smith when they drafted him in 2005. They didn't throw him into a starting role immediately." now im not trying to pick on anyone, but you can see how that can be a little misleading since he was thrown in immediately. i just want people to be getting correct info. and what i was saying is the "best player" is not going to be a qb, im being definitive. im pretty sure a qb isnt one of the top ten players for the niners.
Well, at least when I read it, it didn't click to me like that. But I can see what you mean. I was trying to imply that Smith didn't get named the starter immediately as a rookie, but they allowed him to learn a few and have him play some before giving him the full-time starter role for the following season.
Just by looking at the QB situation now, I wouldn't think the team would want to try to draft a QB in the first round. Unless management feels that Stafford or Sanchez is the answer, I don't see them drafting either of them. However, we don't know what the 49ers truly feel about either of them. Any player is a possibility, even though they seem unlikely.
IM pretty sure Mike isnt that high on brooks he hardly played last year when Mike was head coach in yeah he's got talent an he is young but he also got cut from a bad defense for injuries n lack of production Curry wont B there any ways............... BUT I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY IF WE DRAFT NOSHAWN MORENO nobody says anything bout RB situation gore needs another RB to take some pressure off him Samuel Now why have'nt u said a thing about him if u know football then u now we need a double threat n back feild if we wanna POUND THE ROCK
It seems to me that the 49ers will be looking for a running back in the middle of the draft. By then, Moreno would be gone. Unless the 49ers trade down, they probably won't draft Moreno that high at #10. He should be gone in the first round, so there is a slim chance the 49ers can get him in the second round.
I really like Moreno and it would be sweet to have him on the team. But with the #10 pick, the best available player will not be Moreno. However, if he is there in the second round, the 49ers should act on him.
And carlos, I am going to reword that one sentence to avoid confusion. Thanks for the heads up. Originally in my mind it made sense, but I do see where there can be confusion.
I NOW WHAT UR SAY'N BUT JUST CAUSE TOD MC SHAY AN MEL KIPER GOT HIM GO IN AROUND THE 16 18 spot but take this in 2 count 10 of those first 32 pick will b busts so taking noshawn isn't as big of a reach at ten as u think.... He is the # 1 RB N THE DRAFT DONT U AGREE, An no 1 has the 49ers taking a RB in the first cause of GORE but thats doesn't make since if ur gonna take the "BEST" player now here me out samuel cause i think im on 2 sum then i've watched the draft since i was 10 an im 21 now an every year all u experts are off after pick #5 its really a crab shoot on who's the next star, FOR EXAMPLE JOE FALCO LAST YEAR alot of teams passed on him so Noshawn is my Falco of this year n i want u 2 WRITE A ARTICAL IF THEY TAKE HIM AT 10 an MAKE SURE TO MENCHN IF IM RIGHT DEAL???????
WERE NOT GONNA FIND A WORTHY RB N THE MIDDLE OF THE DRAFT, An the niners Might really like Noshawn , IF UR WILLING 2 SAY THAT ANDRE "TIGOLBITTYS"SMITH WHO COMES 2 the combine 4 a free meal n leaves is worthy an Noshawn isnt ur WRONG,, Smith is a Bust an im gonna b pizzed if they take that tub of lard...
Remember a couple weeks ago when I reported that the Jets and Colts might be interested in Mark Sanchez? If they can trade down their draft pick, then they can get Moreno in the middle of the draft and probably get an extra draft pick from either the Jets or Colts.
U DIDN'T ANSWER MY LAST Q if the 49ers take Noshawn w #10 pick ull say I was right n the artical u write on who we draft DEAL SAMUEL COME ON IF IM THE ONLY 1SMART ENOUGH 2 CALL IT U SHOULD GIVE CREIDT WERE IT DO DEAL?????? i just want u 2 say Mike Lay from Marysville CAL prodicted it what do u say it sounds fair 2 me
Noshawn is gone by the time the colts n or jets pic so i dont see that as possible BUT I JUST WANTED 2 KNOW IF WE GOT A DEAL SAM
I don't know what the 49ers draft board looks like, so I won't commit to anything without knowing what they are thinking. Besides, a player like Andre Smith isn't a bad choice. If you saw what he did this past year, he is still someone worth considering.
Knowshon is also a fine pick too. I still don't expect the 49ers to take a RB with their first pick. But once again, the 49ers might have something up their sleeves that we don't know about.
I'll give you credit if the 49ers do take Moreno at #10. But until then, I can't do much else since the decision is entirely up to the 49ers to make.
If a Q.B. that McCloughan has rated as his number one overall happens to slip to #10 do the Niners take him? They would and they will. It's going to happen. Alex Smith will win back his job, and then try to hold off the youngster next year. By then Smith will either be a good #2 or trade bait.
ANDRE SMITH IS A BUST?? ARE YOU SERIOUS/STUPID? SCREW THE COMBINE, THE COMBINE US WHERE "BUSTS" ARE MADE! WHERE GUYS COME IN WHO DID VIRTUALLY NOTHING DURING THEIR COLLEGIATE CARREERS, BUT HAVE A GREAT SHOWING AT THE COMBINE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY SHOOT UP EVERYONES DRAFT BOARDS, ONLY TO FIND OUT WHAT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN EVIDENT, THE DUDE CANT PLAY BALL! HOWEVER, OTHER THAN THE QB POSITION, HOW OFTEN DO PLAYERS HAVE OUTSTANDING COLLEGE CAREERS AND THEN TURN OUT TO BE ABSOLUTE BUSTS? IM SURE WE CAN NAME SOME OF COURSE, THATS NOT MY POINT. MY POINT IS, THIS DUDE WAS AN ABSOLUTE STUD ON THE FEILD FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS, HE WON THE OUTLAND TROPHY..ETC WATCH THE FILM, HE MAULS DEFENDERS AND HAS A NASTY STREAK YOU WOULDNT GUESS WATCHING INTERVIEWS! THATS WHAT MATTERS! SCREW THE COMBINE IN THIS CASE. THE COMBINE DOES HAVE ITS USES INDEED, FOR PLAYERS YOU DONT HAVE GREAT FILM ON OR WHO YOU'RE ON THE FENCE ABOUT ETC.. THEN LET THE "MEASURABLES" HELP YOU DECIDE. BUT WHEM EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON THE FIELD TELLS YOU SOMEONE'S A STUD, DONT LET THE COMBINE TELL YOU OTHERWISE! I'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, AT ALL LEVELS OF FOOTBALL, GUYS COME IN DURING THE OFFSEASON PROGRAMS AND ARE JUST COMPLETE PHYSICAL SPECIMENS, CHISELED, FAST, GREAT HOPS ETC.. AND GETS EVERYONE BUZZING AND BETTING THIS DUDE IS GONNA BE THE NEXT BIG THING. BUT THEN THE FIRST DAY IN PADS COME AND THAT DUDE AINT DOIN SO HOT, AND USUALLY BY THE END OF THE WEEK HAS TURNED IN HIS GEAR. AT THIS LEVEL, EVERYONE CAN PLAY BALL TRUE INDEED, BUT THE SEPERATION BETWEEN STUD AND BUST SHOULD BE OBVIOUS WELL BEFORE THE COMBINE.
SAM THK 4 say'n ull give me credit if im right bu be4 i jumped on the Noshawn waggin I also think Michael Jenkins is my 1st but i think GB might take him so if jenkins is gone its Noshawn ..............................AND 4 THE GUY BELOW ME I UNDERSTAND HE MULLED GUY N COLLEGE BUT HIS ROOKIE YEAR N THE NFL HE"S TO SOFT 2 MULL ANYONE , ALSO THE COMBINE IS IMPORTANT 2 THE 1's who dominated n college, not the ?? guys ... ALSO ANDRE SHOWED LACK OF HOW DUMB HE WAS, U DONT GO 2 THE COMBINE N RUN WITH UR SHIRT OFF AN THEN LEAVE WITH OUT TELLING ANYONE THAT SHOWS HE THANKS THIS IS A JOKE, an niners take a persons attitude n 2 consideration be4 they pick so i pray we wont take ANDRE "TIGOLLBITTYS" SMITH
There are probably a lot of players who had great collegiate careers and busted at the pros if I even bothered to do the research. But Vince Young, Matt Leinert, Mike williams come to mind...
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