NFL Mock Draft: Predicting All 7 Rounds for San Francisco 49ers

The 2011 NFL Draft is going to be very telling of the direction head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to take the franchise. In his first draft, he is going to be able to convey to fans where the franchise is headed and what type of leader he is.

In the 2010 NFL Draft, Trent Baalke was thrust into the GM position weeks before it took place. He did an excellent job of bringing in guys that fit the Mike Singletary style. This will be the first year in which Baalke has an entire offseason to prepare. Jed York made it clear that he wanted to see a special relationship between Baalke and Harbaugh. In their first draft together, it is critical that they not only hit the first-round pick out of the park, but also that they draft well in the later rounds.

Bill Walsh built the 49ers by mastering the art of evaluating players later on in the draft. Harbaugh will need to do his best to do the same in order to ensure the 49ers can fill glaring holes and add depth. The 49ers fans are optimistic about Harbaugh's ability to evaluate talent for the most part. It's now up to him to live up to expectations.

First Round, Pick No. 7: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 13: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers runs back an interception against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Tiger Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty I

Patrick Peterson is one of the most talented players coming out in this year's draft. It is unclear whether or not he will be available when the 49ers select, but unless the Bills select him with the third overall pick, he could easily slip to the 49ers at No. 7.

Peterson is the complete package. He is polished, he has blazing speed and he is extremely physical. He has all the tools to be a shutdown corner. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio could be more creative in dialing up blitzes if he could trust a guy like Peterson to lock down elite NFL receivers in man coverage.

Nate Clements never lived up to the hype and could very well be headed out of town. Corner is a glaring need, and while there is going to be a lot of pressure on the 49ers to select a pass rusher early on, Peterson will likely be the best football player on the board.

Second Round, Pick No. 13: Jake Locker, QB, Washington

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PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 26: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies in action against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 26, 2009 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

The 49ers would be lucky to see Jake Locker slip to them in the second round. Locker was projected to be the first pick overall before the season began. One poor season has tarnished his reputation, but his arm, mobility and frame all remain intact.

It appears as though Harbaugh may keep Alex Smith on roster. He is unlikely to make the same mistake Mike Singletary did, by eliminating all competition at the quarterback spot and giving Smith the keys to the franchise. Locker would give him a quarterback to groom for the future and even compete this season for the starting job.

Locker would be coming into a much more favorable position than Smith was in when he arrived. With a first-round receiver, a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end, a top-flight running back and three first-round linemen in front of him, Locker wouldn't be thrown into the fire.

The 49ers could bring in a veteran presence as well, but Locker has the potential to be something special in the NFL. Harbaugh is an expert at evaluating and grooming quarterbacks. Under his wing, Locker could flourish.

Third Round, Pick No. 12: Dontay Moch, OLB, Nevada

Dontay Moch could run the fastest 40 at the combine and he is an outside linebacker. Moch has a lot to prove to scouts, as it is unclear whether or not he has the football skills to back up his speed. He is sure to dazzle with his straight line speed, and if Fangio can somehow harness that and turn him into a dominant pass rusher in the NFL, it would fill the void the 49ers have been unable to fill since Julian Peterson left town.

Moch dominated as a pass rusher, earning WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2009. He is a pass-rushing specialist but he isn't afraid to put his nose down and help out in run coverage. Moch plays with a reckless abandon that makes him very appealing.

Fourth Round, Pick No. 11: Ronald Johnson, WR, USC

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans passes on the run to Ronald Johnson #83 as he is covered by Mitchel Bartolo #27 of the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 16, 2010

The 49ers need a complementary wide receiver to go alongside Michael Crabtree. Ted Ginn Jr. was an afterthought in the 49ers offense and has done little to prove he can be a dominant deep threat in the league.

Ronald Johnson is expected to run somewhere in the 4.4 range but could post an even better time. Johnson can contribute in the return game as well, having returned kicks for USC as a true freshman. Johnson has great hands and accelerates well.

While the 49ers already have Ted Ginn Jr. and Kyle Williams on roster, the offense is expected to become more complex under Harbaugh. Having multiple fast receivers in a four-wide set makes the 49ers more versatile and dangerous.

Fourth Round, Pick No. 18: Sione Fua

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PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 09: Sione Fua #92 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates after he sacked Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans at Stanford Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Sione Fua anchored the Stanford Cardinal's 3-4 defense. He is stout against the run and incredibly hard working. The coaching staff is comfortable with Fua and knows exactly what he brings to the table. The 49ers may be forced to part ways with Aubrayo Franklin this offseason, which would leave a glaring hole at DT.

The 49ers could move Ricky Jean-Francois into the starting lineup. Jean-Francois overachieved and stepped in capably when the 49ers called his number. Even if he emerges into the starting role, bringing in a guy to take reps off him is going to be of the utmost importance.

Fifth Round, Pick No. 5: Zach Hurd, UConn

The 49ers' biggest hole on the team may be at right guard. The team struck gold by selecting Mike Iupati, but Chilo Rachal seems to be having trouble playing up to his potential. The 49ers could plug in interior lineman David Baas, who was filling in for an injured Eric Heitmann last season, but drafting a guy like Hurd gives them a project who could develop into a solid starter.

Hurd is mammoth. At 6'7"; he will be one of the largest linemen in the NFL. He plays with aggression that proves costly at times, but he is an effective run blocker and he is athletic for his build. Hurd is not going to be ready to start right away, but if he can work his way into the lineup in the near future, the 49ers could have one of the biggest and most physical lines in football.

Sixth Round, Pick No. 9: Noel Devine, West Virginia

Noel Devine would provide the 49ers with the change of pace back who can add another dimension to the offense. Devine isn't big by any means, but he isn't exclusively an outside runner. Devine is elusive and, at 5'8", his defenders have a tough time seeing him behind the line of scrimmage.

Devine can also help out in the return game. He is dynamic and has blazing speed. A toe injury has played a part in his draft stock plummeting since he entered West Virginia. Devine is expected to tear up the combine, which may cause him to be unavailable when the 49ers select here.

Sixth Round, Pick No. 25: Wayne Daniels, TCU

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SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 07: Quarterback Ryan Lindley #14 of the San Diego State Aztecs throws a pass against defensive end Wayne Daniels #96 of the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs on November 7, 2009 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. TC

Sort of funny that this pick was gained from Seattle for Kentwan Balmer. Hopefully this pick turns out better than the blunder that let DeSean Jackson slip through the 49ers' fingertips. Some might say Wayne Daniels has bust written all over him. He is one of those guys who is well-known and should be great, but for some reason, he can't put it all together.

Daniels shows flashes of brilliance. He makes plays that scream first round at times but completely disappears at other times. It is unclear what role he will have in the NFL, but he may be worth the risk. He can play either the OLB position or drop down to defensive end. Daniels adds to the linebacker depth and could be a projected late-round pick.

Seventh Round, Pick No. 8: Alex Green, RB, Hawaii

Taking two running backs in this draft may seem odd, especially since it isn't a glaring need. Even so, Alex Green would serve a different purpose than Noel Devine or Frank Gore for that matter. Green could be a situational goal-line back. He probably isn't ever going to be "the guy," but Green could take some of the tough carries off Gore.

Fantasy owners of Gore may cringe at the thought of him having touchdowns taken away, but they should know all too well that it is rare to have Gore for the entire season. Increasing his shelf life is going to pay dividends later on. There is no shame in featuring more than one back in an offense. Taking some of those hits away will leave Gore healthier up to Week 17 and beyond. Green has a number of long runs for a big back, most of them right up the middle. Cue the video.

Seventh Round, Pick No. 30: Buster Skrine, CB, Chattanooga

Buster Skrine went to a smaller school, so he is relatively unknown at this point. Skrine stands at 5'10", but he can flat out fly. He isn't afraid to come up and make a tackle either, which makes him perfect for special teams. Most players selected this late fail to make the roster.

If Skrine can come in and prove he has what it takes to fill one of the spots the team reserves for special teamers, he could find himself breaking into the roster. Special teams has been a high point as far as the punter, kicker, long snapper combination in San Francisco is concerned, but severely lacking elsewhere.