49ers Draft: Patrick Willis, Joe Staley Top Solid Class

The San Francisco 49ers had an amazing draft.

 

First, they picked up Patrick Willis, the best linebacker in the draft. Willis has amazing speed and a keen nose for the ball. He'll be one the fastest linebackers in the NFL come September, and is a welcome addition to a team that desperately needs help on defense.

 

For an encore, San Fransisco traded up to number 28 and selected Joe Staley. With a franchise running back and quarterback already in place, the Niners apparently decided they needed a beast up front. Staley is a human bulldozer and should be more than able to protect  a young, talent backfield.

 

San Francisco's next four selections were players who will give them more depth on the defensive side of the ball. Ray McDonald (DT), Jay Moore (DE), Dashon Goldson (S), and Joe Cohen (DE) will all be good fits in the Niners' 3-4 scheme, and should provide insurance against the injuries that have plagued Mike Nolan's tenure as head coach.

Cohen and McDonald, both from the national champion Florida Gators, look to be particularly able additions. They know how to win, and cut their teeth in a defensive scheme that gave fits to the best college teams in the country.

The Niners' real wild-card pick came in the person of a player who was arguably the most talented defensive back in the draft: Texas' Tarell Brown. Many experts pegged Brown as a first-round talent, but a variety of off field problems ruined his draft stock. The 49ers took a chance and could be rewarded with a stud defender.

Thomas Clayton was the final selection, which gives the 49ers more depth in their backfield.

Overall, I think San Francisco had a tremendous weekend: They filled a number of holes and acquired a Pro Bowler in Jackson. At this point, they have to be seen as legit contenders in the NFC—and possibly the favorites in an open NFC West race.

If fans and opponents were looking for a statement from this once-proud franchise, they certainly got it.