2012 NFL Draft: Why Did the San Francisco 49ers Choose A.J. Jenkins?

A.J. who? 

That had to have been the thought crossing the minds of many San Francisco 49ers fans last night when their team picked A.J. Jenkins as the 30th overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

It's surprising, unexpected and how the 49ers like to do things. Who remembers the question marks when Aldon Smith was chosen at this time last year? It was a pick questioned by many, except San Francisco General Manager Trent Baalke. He knew who he was getting and what he was doing. Smith's exceptional 14.5 sack season proved that.

Fast-forwarding to yesterday, here come the question marks again, the "Where's my Coby Fleener?" and "What are you thinking?" popping up across social media and fan circles. Why in the world would the 49ers pick a wide receiver when they just signed two in free agency this offseason?

Baalke's likely planning ahead. With Ted Ginn Jr. and Randy Moss signed to just one-year deals and Kyle Williams—well, no need to explain the doubt with him—why not choose Jenkins if you feel the team is already set and he's the ONE person you think can make an immediate difference?

After last year's unexpected 13-3 turnaround, you have to give Baalke and Harbaugh the benefit of the doubt that they know who they're drafting, for now. 

The 49ers did lose Adam Snyder and Chilo Rachal, two former starting offensive linemen, to free agency, but Baalke and coach Jim Harbaugh must feel that the linemen that they already have are ready to start next season. They could also feel that this high of a pick isn't worth choosing a lineman OR they like someone else who isn't projected to be drafted until the later rounds of the draft.

If Jenkins is a bust, so be it. He certainly doesn't seem to be any worse than Kentwan Balmer, Rashaun Woods and Mike Rumph, but if he is, he gets cut. It really won't hurt San Francisco. If worst comes to worst, and Jenkins doesn't show anything this season, will it cost the 49ers that one more win or loss? 

It actually might. In digging to see if Jenkins had a history of fumbles, some of the things that Google returned for the 2011 season were a fumble against Ohio State that led to a Buckeye touchdown which put the game out of reach, a kickoff return fumble against Northwestern and a pair of fumbles in back-to-back plays against Wisconsin.

Here, the thinking is that the 49ers are possibly trying to find an improvement over Williams' shaky hands. What's there to say? After Williams' errors in the NFC Championship, is drafting Jenkins an upgrade? It's hard to say until he steps on the field and plays. He needs to be given a chance. Until then, we can't judge him, or the 49ers front office decision to draft him in the first round, for now.

Lots of 49ers fans' motto this past season has been "In Harbaugh and Baalke we trust," but really, can the hands of Williams and Jenkins be trusted, because a trip to the Super Bowl may rest in either's hands once again, and its a known fact Williams can't be trusted and the jury on Jenkins is still out...for now.