The Mike Nolan era started off with the
wrong quarterback being drafted.
(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
The 49ers have had a history of great drafting and have also had some very forgettable draft picks. Of course, the 49ers were fortunate enough to draft some great talents in the first round like Ronnie Lott and Jerry Rice. But let's not forget some terrible first round picks like Jim Druckenmiller and Rashaun Woods.
But entering this year's Draft, the 49ers have a lot of holes that they need to fill, but particularly they want to get a pass rusher or a right tackle. There are needs at wide receiver and safety, but the 49ers probably won't draft such a player in the first round.
However, the 49ers have had a very unique history in recent years of the draft. At least starting with the 2005 Draft, the year that Alex Smith went #1, the 49ers have had a very successful draft history-- at least for the most part.
The reason why I am choosing the 2005 season is because that was the year that Mike Nolan took over the team. I find that season as the season where the we can attribute the current state of the 49ers. The 49ers held the #1 pick that year and with that, this is how they drafted.
They took Alex Smith with the first pick, and the team hasn't succeeded much with this number one pick. Of course, there is that debate of whether or not Smith or Aaron Rodgers should have gone number one. I actually believed that the 49ers didn't have to get a quarterback with the first pick. But of course, the pressure for a rookie head coach was too much for Nolan to go against conventional wisdom.
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Comments
I disagree with your assertion than the 49ers have been successful with the draft since 2005. If you look at their first picks since 2005, they have been an absolute disaster, especially when you factor in that 49ers had a very high pick just about every year. Alex Smith, Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis, and Kentwan Balmer - the only one that has lived up to expectations was Patrick Willis. I would have to say at this point all those other guys have been busts.
Given the high cost of picking wrong (not only the salary but training costs as well)I don't understand why the 49ers and more NFL teams don't hire their own scouts as opposed to getting their info primarily from the sindicated scouting combines. Like Obama says, you have to be able to hold people accountable in order to be effective. I would think it is easier to hold your own scouts accountable for their assessments than if they worked for a third party scouting combine.
I don't know if the 49ers had the same GM since 2005, but if that is the case, and I were the owner, I would've fired him a long time ago!
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