2010 NFL Draft: Five Keys to a Successful San Francisco 49ers Draft

The Niners are one of a few teams that are on the brink of getting over the hump and back into the NFL playoffs.

Head coach Mike Singletary has instilled a culture into this team in a short period of time that has the players responding very well and they look to compete with the Arizona Cardinals for the AFC West title.

With two picks in the first round, the Niners can be big players in the first round of the draft if they choose to be, but they can also grab to solid players in the middle of the first too.

The following are five key to a successful draft for the Niners.

Think Defense Early

If the Niners choose to keep both of their first rounders, they should really consider fill their glaring holes in their defensive secondary at cornerback and at safety.

With all the different mocks online right now, many project that the Niners could land both a highly touted corner like Joe Haden and perhaps safety Earl Thomas if he falls out of the top ten.

If they can only get one of the two positions filled in the first, at least the depth for both positions is still good through most of the third round.

Protect the Quarterback

Alex Smith's resurgence back into the starting role may be a fluck, but it may also be for real and if he (or any other quarterback) is to stay healthy, then offensive line help at the tackle and guard positions is needed.

Whether or not the Niners take a tackle or guard in the first round depends on availability, but the tackle depth is still good through the second round. Along with the guard depth through the third at the very least.

Do Not Be Tempted By An Explosive Prospect

With the addition of wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. in a trade with the Dolphins, the Niners filled their urgent need to get a solid return man on special teams.

Some mocks say that the Niners may pursue C.J. Spiller or Jahvid Best for their explosive abilites with the ball, but Ginn has shown that same explosiveness at times too.

Ginn just needs to right coaching to get him in the right position and formations where he is the most useful to the team, and Singletary's staff is most likely already focusing on that now.

As tempting as an explosive rookie may be, unless he is the top talent on the Niners' board, don't give in to the pick.

Do Not Draft Jimmy Clausen

Unless the Niners' brass has some doubt in their mind about Smith as their quarterback, there is no reason to spend one of their two-first round picks on the Notre Dame quarterback.

Plus. the cost of Clausen will be very high if he's taken in the middle of the first.

What the Niners should do is grab a quarterback in the later rounds to develop just in case the Smith experiment does not go successfully.

Take Calls For Trade Options

Never a bad choice when a team has two-first round picks, especially in a draft class this deep.

If another team wants to move up, or pick up another first round pick, the Niners should listen since stocking up picks in the second and third round this year will still net them quality players who could become starters sooner rather than later.