2011 NFL Draft: 10 Prospects Jim Harbaugh & the San Francisco 49ers Will Target

Jim Harbaugh has a lot of needs as he prepares to build the 2011 version of the San Francisco 49ers. One of those needs is a quarterback. Alex Smith is done in San Francisco by most reports, and even if Troy Smith stays, he won't be anything more than a backup.

Andrew Luck is staying in school, so that option is off the table for Harbaugh, leaving the 49ers with a big decision to make. The 49ers can use their seventh overall pick on Blaine Gabbert, Cam Newton, Ryan Mallett, Jake Locker, or none of the above.

The 49ers could trade down, trusting the quarterback they want still will be on the board later and get more picks out of the deal.

Or, the 49ers just may go in a different direction in the first round, again trusting the quarterback they want will be on the board in the second round.

It's not an easy decision, so let's look at what some of their options are.

10. Jake Locker

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SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies scrambles against the Stanford Cardinal on October 30, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Stanford won 41-0. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

The first of many quarterbacks on this list, Locker didn't have a great senior season and has taken a big drop on a lot of draft boards.

The 49ers have a lot of needs, and Locker could be a second-round pick. This could happen if there's a new collective bargaining agreement and the 49ers trade or sign a veteran while taking Locker on as a project.

9. Greg McElroy

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Greg McElroy #12 of the Alabama Crimson Tide passes the ball during the Capitol One Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans at the Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Like Locker, Greg McElroy wouldn't be a first-round draft pick, but a project while a veteran leads the team for the next year or two.

Harbaugh is presumed to want to run a West Coast offense, for which you need a quarterback with good accuracy.

McElroy has a 70.9 accuracy rate, according to ESPN.com, and that is a big enough number to attract attention.

8. Andy Dalton

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates with the Rose Bowl Championship Trophy after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 21-19 in the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by

Andy Dalton comes under the same philosophy as Greg McElroy.

The 49ers could very well target other areas of need should a new CBA get through before the draft, as stated before. Going after a guy like Dalton would allow the 49ers to wait until the third round to address a quarterback need.

If there is a capable veteran leading the team, a first-round quarterback then is a luxury and you focus on other needs.

7. Patrick Peterson

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers breaks up a pass intended for Korvic Neat #28 of the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Gett

The 49ers need a cornerback.  Nate Clements is 31 years old and not getting any faster, and Shawntae Spencer hasn't shown he can be an elite corner.

Patrick Peterson is one of the best cornerback prospects to come out of college in years, but there's only a very slim chance at this point Peterson still is on the board at the 49ers pick.

It's highly doubtful the 49ers would do anything to trade up for Peterson, but movement around them might let Peterson fall into their lap, so to not have him on their Big Board would be silly.

He's great, the 49ers have a need, and they'll be keeping their fingers crossed he's an option for them on draft day.

6. Robert Quinn

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - SEPTEMBER 19: Robert Quinn #42 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates after a sack with teammate Marvin Austin #9 against the East Carolina Pirates at Kenan Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by St

According to most reports, Robert Quinn still is in crazy good shape despite being suspended for the entire year by the NCAA for a rules violation that isn't even worth going into it's so dumb.

Quinn is considered one of the best defensive end prospects in the draft, and if a team in the top five really wanted him, he'd go that high without anyone blinking an eye.

The 49ers need a good pass rusher, and Quinn would fill that need.

5. Patrick Devlin

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 25: Quarterback Pat Devlin #7 of the Penn State Nittany Lions hands off the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes on October 25, 2008 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Pat Devlin has a 68 percent completion rate, a great number for a prospect to go into a West Coast offense, and he has a great arm, good pocket presence, and all his flaws look coachable.

Devlin definitely will be around in the second round, and the 49ers best move may be to go with a defensive pick in the first round, grabbing Devlin in the second.

4. Cam Newton

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Cameron Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers runs down field against John Boyett #20 of the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (

Okay, let's address the elephant in the room.

Cam Newton has all the physical skills you want to see in a quarterback in 2011, but his intangibles have some questions, and he looks like a project quarterback.

His upside is high enough, though, that some team is going to panic and grab him in the first round.

The only way this is the 49ers is if they trade down and take him in the middle of the first round because Newton just isn't a top 10 pick. He's a project, and you shouldn't be taking a project quarterback with a top 10 pick.

This isn't outside the realm of possibility, but it's highly unlikely.

3. Prince Amukamara

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LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 30: Cornerback Prince Amukamara #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver T.J. Moe #28 of the Missouri Tigers during first half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Lincoln

The reasons for getting Prince Amukamara are the same as for Patrick Peterson. The only difference is Amukamara almost certainly will be on the board when the 49ers pick, so he gets a much higher ranking.

If the 49ers decide to go cornerback with their first pick, Amukamara is probably the guy they get.

2. Marcell Dareus

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 16: Marcell Dareus #57 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

If the 49ers decide not to go after Robert Quinn but want a fast, young pass rusher, that means they're going after Marcell Dareus.

Dareus is fast, and he'll be a starter in Week 1. The 49ers need a good pass rusher as much as they need a passer.

1. Blaine Gabbert

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers celebrates after scoring a 7 yard rushing touchdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the third quarter of the Insight Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe,

Blaine Gabbert was practically unknown a few months ago, but now he's shot to the top of a lot of mock draft boards when it comes to ranking quarterbacks.

With Luck staying in school, Gabbert now is being touted as the most "NFL-ready" quarterback. He's not without questions, some scouts note his footwork is sloppy and he has trouble staying in shape.

The Combine will answer a lot of the questions about Gabbert, though, so for now we'll put him at No. 1 and let the rest unfold.

If Gabbert truly is what is being hyped about him right now, then the 49ers just might take him with their first pick.