2011 NFL Mock Draft: San Francisco 49ers Pull Surprise with Aldon Smith at No. 7

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2011 NFL Mock Draft Gives San Francisco Pass Rushing Help

2011 NFL Mock Draft Pick No. 7: Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri

Who would have thought that Smith would get drafted ahead of Robert Quinn and Da’Quan Bowers?

But the Niners pull off this mock draft’s biggest surprise.

While Quinn was the natural talents and Bowers was the nation’s leading pass rusher, Smith brings something else to the table that the other two don’t: A clean bill of health and no extra baggage.

Smith becomes the safest pick out of the pass rushing options that the 49ers could be coveting. Smith matches the versatility that Quinn has because he can play defensive end as well as slide into the outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme that the 49ers run.

With Patrick Peterson out of the picture and question marks around Quinn and Bowers, Smith becomes the best option for San Francisco.

1. Carolina Panthers: Blaine Gabbert, QB 2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT 3. Buffalo Bills: Cam Newton, QB 4. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, WR	17. New England Patriots: Tyron Smith, OT 18. San Diego Chargers: J.J. Watt, DE 19. New York Giants: Nate Solder, OT 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ryan Kerrigan, DE
5. Arizona Cardinals: Von Miller, OLB 6. Cleveland Browns: Patrick Peterson, CB 7. San Francisco: Aldon Smith OLB/DE 8. Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT	21. Kansas City Chiefs: Akeem Ayers, OLB 22. Indianapolis Colts: Gabe Carimi, OT 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Anthony Castonzo,OT 24. New Orleans Saints: Adrian Clayborn, DE
9. Dallas Cowboys: Mike Pouncey, OG 10. Washington Redskins: Julio Jones, WR 11. Houston Texans: Robert Quinn, OLB/DE 12. Minnesota Vikings: Jake Locker, QB	25. Seattle Seahawks: Danny Watkins, OG 26. Baltimore Ravens: Jimmy Smith, CB 27. Atlanta Falcons: Cameron Jordan, DE 28. New England Patriots: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT
13. Detroit Lions: Prince Amukamara, CB 14. St. Louis Rams: Corey Liuget, DT 15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB 16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Da’Quan Bowers, DE	29. Chicago Bears: Derek Sherrod, OT 30. New York Jets: Cameron Heyward, DE 31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Phil Taylor, DT 32. Green Bay Packers: Brooks Reed, OLB