SF 49ers DRAFT DISASTER!!!

Wow! Just wow! It takes a whole lot to make me speechless but the niners did exactly that tonight. This was a draft day implosion of AL DAVIS proportions! Where to begin...

Let's start with the positives.

Positive #1 - at least we weren't the team that traded up to get Tim Tebow for swapping firsts plus a 2nd, 3rd and swapping 4ths.

Positive #2 - at least we didn't draft Jimmy Clausen. Looks like I wasn't the only one that saw the next coming of Ryan Leaf written all over the wall.

Positive #3 - at least we addressed needs albeit a la Oakland style.

Now on to why this first round has been an epic failure so far.

First off we trade up from #13 to #11 overall in exchange for our fourth rounder (#113). When ESPN first reported the trade I was really happy. I would have bet my house that meant we were taking Earl Thomas. There was a chance that Miami would take him. He is a game changing player on defense in a position of need. Personally I would roll the dice but I think he is going to be a special player so I am ok that we trade up to take Earl Thomas, FS, University of Texas. But we don't. I am perplexed. I don't know what to think. The selection comes across Anthony Davis. I am still confused (and no it wasn't the beer...not yet at least). I am left with questions. So many I can't even begin to explain. Let's make it simple. If you have multiple needs and are in a position that either Earl Thomas (my pick), Anthony Davis (49ers pick) or Bryan Bulaga (marginally up or down from Davis) are guaranteed to be available at #13 then ok...stand pat and hope YOUR GUY is there and save your 4th round pick!!! There was ABSOLUTELY no need to trade up to take Davis at #13. By the way, did I mention I went to Rutgers??!! The kid has no heart. I pray that he proves me wrong. Please, please, please prove me wrong. It still does not change the fact that he is there at #13 and the 49ers didn't need to give up a 4th rounder to get him.

What compounds reaching for Davis (which is my opinion) is that Earl Thomas was still on the board. He is an instinctive, NFL ready, game changing free safety. Is that something the 49ers need? Ummm...yeah! There is only one explanation I will accept for this move. The 49ers have a 'back-room handshake deal' with Oshiomogho Atogwe that he joins the team on June 2nd the day after he becomes an unrestricted free agent. If that is not the case then the 49ers whiffed twice. They missed the 2nd best guy at the position when they had the chance to take him and they gave away a deeper pick where they might find value in another player at the position such as one of the Myrons.

Ok. I have regrouped and somehow managed to put my trust back into the post Scot McCloughan brain trust. On the clock at #17. Time to trade back in my opinion. Recoup something for the previous debacle. The 49ers select G Mike Iupati. And the breath leaves me once again. I am laughed at by all the East coasters that surround me in my proudly worn 49ers jersey. I have nothing to say. Is Iupati a bad pick? Not really but we just spent a first round pick on an offensive lineman. Do you know how many OL have been taken in the top 20 picks outside of the LEFT tackle position in the past 5 years? ZERO! Yup that's right...NONE! The 49ers just took TWO!!!

Disaster! Epic Failure!

So some of you may say we just got much better at two positions of need. Ok. Somewhat sound argument (not to me but I won't fight). If I also told you that it cost you the 49ers 4th round pick to get those two players you would be slightly less happy. If I told you that it will tie up significant money on unproven players on the right side and interior of the 49ers line for the next 5 years and that it will limit the 49ers in signing/resigning top talent at more vital positions you will probably then say "Well I didn't think of that really."

Certain positions are 'plug and play' positions that you try to get on the cheap and that is why you don't see many going to pro-bowls or shifting there after failing to meet expectations elsewhere or due to age. I will use Takeo Spikes as an example. Early in his career he was awesome, considered a tackling machine like Willis. Now he took a pay cut and moved to the other ILB position because he still has some skill left and it is a position where you don't need premium talent. It is not a 'special' position. The 49ers just drafted two players to fill these lesser type positions. You need someone solid but not necessarily 'special'. Although the players the 49ers drafted may be special (we don't know yet) they will definitely be paid as mid-first rounders which is too much. I don't care if they each go to 5 Pro Bowls in their first 5 years. It leaves the 49ers poor everywhere else on the field that matters more. For those who don't understand or agree with this let me ask you a simple question. Would these two players be worth not being able to resign one of either Patrick Willis, Vernon Davis or Joe Staley? Unless the 49ers fail to spend for other more important positions or there is a major bump in the salary cap when it comes back in 2011 that is exactly what these picks mean. Forget a premium pass rusher. Forget a shut down corner. Forget another fear-invoking receiver. Pray that Alex Smith does great and decides to resign for cheap because of franchise loyalty.

Overall and in very frustrated summation the 49ers had a horrible draft! Better than the Jaguars. Better than the Broncos who started off looking like mensas. But that is about it. It pains me to say but I think the 49ers actually got out-drafted by Al Davis!