SF 49ers 2012 Mock Draft 7-Round Predictions, Free Agency Edition

The 49ers have signed Randy Moss and Mario Manningham to bolster their receiving corps, Perrish Cox to help in the secondary and Rock Cartwright to augment special teams. But there is the feeling that more is to come, and right now, it seems that something is possible in regards to the right guard position, which was vacated when Adam Snyder signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

Last year, general manager Trent Baalke slow-played free agency, waiting until after the frenzy in the opening days of the session to sign key players like Carlos Rogers. And perhaps he’s in that same frame of mind.

One reason could be a report by Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee that Pittsburgh restricted free-agent receiver Mike Wallace wants “Larry Fitzgerald” money, or more to the point, more than Larry, which is eight years for a total of $120 million.

Baalke had to gulp at that comment. Freeing up Wallace from the Steelers is thought to require a front-loaded contract that would make it difficult for the Steelers, who have limited cap room, to match. But $15 million a year seems, uh, high, and thus, Baalke shifts his focus to the draft.

Here are the Niners' needs in light of their recent free-agent acquisitions.

1st Round

The addition of Moss and Manningham eliminate the Niners need to “reach.” Even with these two, the idea of adding another receiver seems quite palatable. Moss, who has been out of football for a year and half, is basically on a one-year contract. Manningham, who had decent numbers as the third receiver on the Giants last year, seems an upgrade, but he’s still not the “oh no” dangerous threat.

This year’s draft contains two top-notch receivers: Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State and Michael Floyd of Notre Dame. Neither are expected to be around when the Niners pick at No. 30. That leaves a bevy of other possibilities, including Alshon Jeffrey of South Carolina, Stephen Hill of Georgia Tech, Mohammed Sanu of Rutgers and Rueben Randle of LSU.

No one in that group seems worthy of a first-round pick. But that will be determined by what Baalke and coach Jim Harbaugh agree on after seeing these athletes workout firsthand as well as talking to them at length.

My Choice: Coby Fleener of Stanford, who is a 6’5” tight end with very good speed, which allows him to play split as well as in the traditional tight end alignment.

2nd Round

Many think that the Niners need to add a cornerback. Chris Culliver, Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown are solid. Not great; just very capable.

But the offensive line has a hole in it right now. Baalke finds himself looking for an impact player, and among those who can play guard, that might mean Kevin Zeitler of Wisconsin, a 314-pounder who can step in and help the ground game.

Other possibilities include nose tackle Alameda Ta’amu of Washington, RB Doug Martin of Boise State or CB Trumaine Johnson of Montana. The addition of Perrish Cox, however, lessens the need for a CB.

This is the choice on which general managers build their resumes. Does a player like Zeitler bring a bigger boost than, say, Doug Martin?

Last year, the addition of Colin Kaepernick in the second, Chris Culliver in the third and Kendall Hunter in the fourth secured the NIners’ 2011 draft, which started with Aldon Smith, as one of the best in team history. History tells us Baalke will want a player who can step in immediately and help.

3rd Round

If he’s available, Trumaine Johnson is the man here. A 6’2” corner with good reach and strength, the Niners find a player they can develop into a press-coverage man aimed at slowing down the likes of Larry Fitzgerald of Arizona, Calvin Johnson of Detroit and other tall, fast receivers.

4th Round

Josh Kaddu, the 6’3” 240-pound linebacker from Oregon is the choice here. He’s fast and seems geared for outside linebacker rather inside as he played for the Ducks.

What I like about him is his speed and his athleticism. He needs time to develop, and since the 49ers have the best linebacking corps in the NFL, this is a perfect spot for Kaddu to learn and grow.

5th Round

The inside running game needs help. Frank Gore wore down last year. Anthony Dixon isn’t quite speedy enough to get outside and lacks that lightning-bolt burst through the interior cracks. 

Robert Turbin of Utah State, at 222 pounds, has the power for inside running. CBSSports’ draft rankings have him listed as a third-round pick, but many a player has dropped. Getting Turbin here would be a real steal.

6th Round

The Niners finished 13-3 last year and earned the right to play a top-notch schedule in 2012 that includes Green Bay, New York Giants, New England, New Orleans and Detroit. Still, Baalke has earned the right to gamble, and perhaps no player comes into the draft with more athletic potential but also with more questions than Tommy Streeter, the 6’5” receiver out of Miami.

CBSSports ranks him as a fourth- or fifth-round pick. He can run like the wind, but it remains to be seen if he can catch. He only had one good year in college before declaring for the draft.

Nonetheless, the Niners may have the front-line talent to let Streeter come in and develop into a top-notch player in two or three years.

7th Round

Getting some help for the interior defensive line seems to be neglected here, and that’s where Baalke can make it up with the project that is Akiem Hicks (95) of Regina. This Canadian college player originally intended to play for LSU, but transferred into a JC and then headed north.

That makes him a question mark, and that’s why he’s ranked as a fifth-round pick.

But he’s also 6’5” and 318 pounds. As the saying goes, you can’t coach that. He’ll get schooled in the proper ways of interior line play by the likes of Isaac Sopoaga, Ray McDonald and Justin Smith.

There’s worse ways to go.