NFL Draft 2011: 10 Players The San Francisco 49ers Could Take in The First Round

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh will be completing his first NFL draft in April. While General Manager Trent Baalke ran the draft last year, he was given the job on short notice, as former GM Scot McLoughan unexpectadly resigned for personal reason just weeks before the draft.

This will be Baalke's first draft where he has more than a few short weeks to prepare. Kicking off the Harbaugh-Baalke relationship with a positive draft would be a great beginning to what is expected to be a long term relationship.

Having a good draft entails making solid selections past the first day. The late Bill Walsh mastered the art of finding talent in unlikely places well after the first round. Even so, the first round is by far the most important selection. It carries the biggest investment and a blunder on draft day can rob a team of bringing in an impact player.

Let's take a look of ten guys the 49ers will likely take come draft day.

Cam Newton, Auburn, Quarterback

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 4: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers throws a first quarter touchdown pas during the 2010 SEC Championship against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarril

Cam Newton is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. He has the speed and arm to be one of the best dual threats in the league and is a proven winner. With a Heisman Trophy and a National Championship in his possession, Newton has done more than enough to prove his worth at the college level.

There are some who question how that will transfer to the pro level. Newton's biggest knock is that he doesn't show the ability to dissect a defense, going through progressions and assessing all of his options before pulling the ball down.

While the 49ers cannot afford to pass on one of the top defenders in the draft, quarterback is their most pressing need. At this point, it doesn't appear as though there is a quarterback in the draft who warrants being selected with the number seven overall pick. Newton has the highest ceiling of any QB in the entire draft. If there is anyone who can propel his stock in the upcoming months enough to be selected at this spot, it's Newton.

Von Miller, OLB, Texas A & M

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ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Jordan Jefferson #9 of the Louisiana State University Tigers throws under pressure from Von Miller #40 of the Texas A&M Aggies during the AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium on January 7, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by C

The 49ers are in dire need of an every down outside linebacker. Von Miller could be that guy. The outside linebacker out of Texas A&M could combine the best attributes of every outside linebacker on the team.

The 49ers would no longer have to rotate in their slew of situational outside linebackers. Miller looks like he could be the complete package. Whether or not he is going to be available at pick number seven is yet to be seen. Miller is one of those guys who could have an incredible combine.

The 49ers' three major needs are quarterback, cornerback, and outside linebacker. The best player on the board will also likely fill one of those needs. Miller would not only fill a need, the 49ers wouldn't have to worry about drafting for need over talent.

Patrick Peterson, CB LSU

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 31: Patrick Peterson #7 of the LSU Tigers celebrates on the field during the Chick-fil-A Bowl against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on December 31, 2008 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Patrick Peterson could be a top three player on the 49ers' draft board before the day begins. Having a player of his caliber slip out of the top five is unlikely, but the 49ers saw a similar situation when Michael Crabtree slipped to them at ten.

Peterson is the complete corner. Big, fast, physical, and tremendously skilled. Unfortunately for Peterson, many teams shy away from corners at the top of the draft. Of the teams drafting ahead of the 49ers, only the Bills at number three seem to be a major threat to taking Peterson. If he makes it out of the top three, there is a good chance the 49ers will have an opportunity to take the next shutdown corner in the NFL.

Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

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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

Robert Quinn sat out his entire senior season and could still go in the top ten. Despite his suspension. there are very few questions about Quinn's character that will hold up past the interview process. Quinn is grounded and even won the Brian Piccolo award in 2007 for courage.

On the field, Quinn is a disruptive force. He has the size and speed to really make an impact from the defensive end spot, though he is versatile enough to stand up if asked to do so. The 49ers are in dire need of a pass rusher. Quinn provides that and might justify a selection at seven.

A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

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AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 13: A.J. Green #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

A.J. Green is the biggest wide receiver prospect to come out of the draft since Michael Crabtree. Ideally, the 49ers would probably like to bring in a deep threat to compliment Crabtree, but Green is a big play guy who could develop into an elite receiver early in his career.

Green stands at 6'4. Not only is he a physical specimen, he has the best hands in the draft. Whoever the 49ers decide to go with at quarterback would be lucky to have such a sure handed target to get the ball to. With Frank Gore coming out of the backifeld, Michael Crabtree, the improved line, and one of the best tight ends in football, the addition of Green makes the 49ers one of the most talented offenses in football.

Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

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PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Linebacker Akeem Ayers #10 of the UCLA Bruins in the game with the Houston Cougars at the Rose Bowl on September 18, 2010 in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 31-13. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Nobody is really sure what to make of Akeem Ayers at this point. He has the size, he has the speed, he has the numbers, but he is still not drawing as much attention as he should be. Ayers can get to the quarterback, but he has shown he is more than capable against the run and in coverage.

The 49ers obviously need a guy who can get to the quarterback other than Justin Smith. Von Miller could already be off the board at this point. If Patrick Peterson is gone and the 49ers see Ayers as a better option than Robert Quinn and Prince Amukamara, they should take him.

Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 5: Prince Amukamara #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers catches the ball for an interception in the first quarter in front of James Kirkendoll #11 of the Texas Longhorns at Cowboys Stadium on December 5, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Ph

If Patrick Peterson is gone when the 49ers select, there is still a good chance Prince Amukamara will still be on the board. Amukamara possesses a lot of the same qualities that make Peterson such an attractive prospect. He is big, fast, and can run the gauntlet of routes backwards.

The dropoff from Peterson to Amukamara is not as significant as some are making it out to be. Both have a tremendous skillset, but the closer we get to draft day, the grayer the lines between the two are likely to become.

If the 49ers decided to go with Amukamara in the first round, he can be a 2011 starter and have an immediate impact on the secondary.

Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 07: Quarterback Garrett Gilbert #3 of the Texas Longhorns tries to tackle lineman Marcell Dareus #57 of the Alabama Crimson Tide who would score after intercepting the ball during the second quarter of the Citi BCS National Champio

Marcell Dareus is best suited for a 4-3 defense, but his bulky enough to anchor a 3-4. If Aubrayo Franklin vacates the roster, DT becomes a glaring hole on the roster. Backup DT Ricky Jean-Francois is a developing talent and provides adequate depth, but without Franklin the 49ers don't even have a justifiable second option.

The addition of Dareus allows the 49ers the option to release Franklin without worrying about the backlash in their run defense. Dareus is a high character guy with a brutal past. The 49ers would be lucky to have a guy with his combination of relentlessness, build, and character.

Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers drops back to pass during the Insight Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (P

With the labor issues swirling around the NFL, it is unclear how free agency will be effected. The 49ers are a team who will want to actively pursue a quarterback through either free agency or trade, but the looming lockout has thrown a wrench in those plans.

Jim Harbaugh probably doesn't want to kick off his coaching regime with Alex Smith as the only option at quarterback. While Gabbert probably doesn't justify a selection this high, the 49ers might reach to fill a need and groom a quarterback for the future.

Jake Locker, QB, Washington

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TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies during the college football game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Huskies 44-14. (Photo by Ch

It is up to Jake Locker to convince teams that the downfall of the Washington Huskies had more to do with his surrounding cast than himself. If Locker chose to forgo his senior season last year, he likely would have been chosen in the early first round.

At this point, Locker has a lot to prove and the criticisms of his game are flowing at an astounding rate. Jim Harbaugh is likely to explore every route to find his signal caller. Locker is intelligent and has a solid build. While his play was spotty last season, Locker could appeal to the better nature of the 49ers. If they were to pursue him, they should think about trading down, but a place in San Francisco could be in the cards for Locker. Harbaugh has first hand experience with Locker, having faced him while they were both in the Pac-10.