2011 NFL Mock Draft: Full 7-Round San Francisco 49ers Predictions

Four weeks from today Commissioner Roger Goddell will walk to center stage at Radio City Music Hall and kick off the 2011 NFL Draft by placing the Carolina Panthers on the clock.

Roughly one hour and 10 minutes later the San Francisco 49ers take the clock with the No. 7 pick overall.

The 49ers enter an interesting draft in 2011. The team holds the most selections of any team (12), is under new leadership (Jim Harbaugh/Trent Baalke) and has clearly defined needs at quarterback and outside linebacker to address hopefully within the first 50 selections of the draft.

Due to labor uncertainty in the NFL, we know two absolutes:
1.) Players cannot be traded, only draft picks
2.) The NFL offseason has been and will continue to be cut short by labor negotiations and law suits.

What this means to us is that Jim Harbaugh will be willing to spend those 12 draft picks on players from his former job as head coach of the Stanford Cardinal.

This allows Harbaugh to bring in players who are familiar with his system in a shortened offseason. Those players can then step in to larger roles as rookies and even help teach the veterans on the team the ins-and-outs of the Harbaugh system.

If only Harbaugh's quarterback from Stanford, Andrew Luck, where available, we would all be much happier.

Round 1, Pick 7

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BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 25: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State Univeristy Tigers celebrates after scoring a touchdown by posing as the Heisman Trophy against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Tiger Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Baton Rouge

Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, LSU

While we would love to see the 49ers land a quarterback here, none of the first-round talents in the 2011 NFL Draft excite us.

What's to like about Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton that you cannot find in round two for a lower price tag?

It is becoming more likely that cornerback Patrick Peterson, our No. 1 overall player, will fall to the 49ers.

With teams one through six focusing on quarterbacks, defensive tackles and outside linebacker Von Miller, it looks promising that San Francisco could find the best cornerback prospect since Charles Woodson on the board for them.

49er Team Needs: QB | OLB | CB | DE | FS | OC | NT | RB | WR | FB | OLB

Round 2, Pick 13

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs looks on against the Wisconsin Badgers during the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Andy Dalton, Quarterback, TCU

With four weeks to go before the draft, we are beginning to feel pretty comfortable with our first and second-round selections for the 49ers.

However, as the draft nears, the second-tier quarterbacks in this class are seeing their stock rise from early second-rounders to potential late first-round players. This leads us to believe the 49ers may try to package two or three of their 12 picks for the ability to move back into the first round and draft their quarterback.

Andy Dalton is right in the mix as the leader of the second-tier quarterbacks. Joining him are Christian Ponder (FSU), Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) and Ricky Stanzi (Iowa).

Of the five players in this group, we are infinitely most confident about Dalton's ability in the 49ers' West Coast offense.

Dalton has the mobility, accuracy, football IQ and moxie to step in as a rookie and lead the 49ers.

49er Team Needs: QB | OLB | CB | DE | FS | OC | NT | RB | WR | FB | OLB

Round 3, Pick 12

Chris Carter, Outside Linebacker, Fresno State

Carter fills an immediate need in San Francisco for a pass-rushing outside linebacker.

In Vic Fangio's 3-4 defense, the pressure all comes from the edge, and Carter is the best pass rusher on the board for the 49ers with their third-round pick.

Carter is no Clay Matthews, but he is an able replacement for free agent and perennial underachiever Manny Lawson.

49er Team Needs: QB | OLB | CB | DE | FS | OC | NT | RB | WR | FB | OLB

Round 4, Pick 11

Jaiquawn Jarrett, Free Safety, Temple

Filling another pressing need on the 49ers defense, in round four the team finds an athletic free safety with excellent range from centerfield in Jaiquawn Jarrett.

Jarrett is an underrated player in this class. He has ideal size, great speed and has shown ability on a less than stellar defense at Temple over his career there.

This pick, as well as the team's second selection in round four, could be packaged in an attempt to move back into the first round for a quarterback.

49er Team Needs: QB | OLB | CB | DE | FS | OC | NT | RB | WR | FB | OLB

Round 4, Pick 18 from San Diego Chargers

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Defensive lineman Jerrell Powe of Mississippi runs through a drill during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Jerrell Powe, Nose Tackle, Ole Miss

The 49ers used their franchise tag on nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin before the 2010 season and then saw his play drop off slightly during the year. Franklin will become a free agent as soon as the CBA mess is straightened out and could leave a significant hole in the middle of the 49ers defense. Both physically and literally.

Powe is a perfect replacement for Franklin, and even has a higher ceiling as a pro.

In defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme, it is important for the nose tackle to not only plug the A gap and draw double-teams, but he wants them to get up-field and push the center back into the quarterback.

Powe has the perfect size/speed combination to become the 49ers version of B.J. Raji.

49er Team Needs: QB | OLB | CB | DE | FS | OC | NT | RB | WR | FB | OLB

Round 5, Pick 10

Tim Barnes, Center, Missouri

Tim Barnes fits the mold of what Harbaugh liked in his centers at Stanford, as a slightly undersized but very intelligent player who can direct traffic up-front.

Center is the one position of uncertainty on the 49ers offensive line. Barnes would step in to a competition with David Baas, who has naturally played guard in the past.

49er Team Needs: QB | OLB | CB | DE | FS | OC | NT | RB | WR | FB | OLB

Round 6, Pick 9

Cedric Thornton, Defensive End, Southern Arkansas

The 49ers like their starting defensive ends of Justin Smith and Ray McDonald but there is a need for depth here. There is also a small chance McDonald will not re-sign with the 49ers as a free agent this summer. Should the team get any inclination that McDonald will not be back, defensive end goes from a depth pick to a priority.

As a sixth-round pick, the 49ers would not expect Thornton to step in immediately, but he does show potential as a five-technique defensive end in the Niners 3-4 scheme.

49er Team Needs: QB | OLB | CB | DE | FS | OC | NT | RB | WR | FB | OLB

Round 6, Pick 25 from Seattle Seahawks

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PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Ryan Whalen #8 of the Stanford Cardinal in action against the Oregon State Beavers at Stanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Ryan Whalen, Wide Receiver, Stanford

And let the run on Stanford players begin.

Whalen does fill a need in San Francisco for an improvement over Ted Ginn in the slot, but he also knows the Harbaugh offense and can contribute almost immediately in three and four-wide packages.

Whalen will not blow anyone away with measurables, but he is a smart player who has a chance to be productive in the NFL.

49er Team Needs: QB | OLB | CB | DE | FS | OC | NT | RB | WR | FB | OLB

Round 7, Pick 7 from Detroit Lions

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Anthony Sherman #49 of the Connecticut Huskies runs the ball in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Ph

Anthony Sherman, Fullback, UConn

We would love to see the 49ers land Owen Marecic, the fullback/linebacker from Stanford, but unfortunately he is not likely to make it to the seventh round.

Sherman is a great fit for the West Coast offense. He's an able receiver, has been a lead blocker for stud runner Jordan Todman at UConn and shows great ability as a short-yardage runner.

The 49ers have a long, bright history of fullbacks in the WCO. Guys like Tom Rathman and William Floyd will be happy to see No. 49 running the ball in San Francisco.

49er Team Needs: QB | OLB | CB | DE | FS | OC | NT | RB | WR | FB | OLB

Round 7, Pick 8

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LOUISVILLE, KY - OCTOBER 15: Bilal Powell #15 of the Louisville Cardinals runs for a touchdown during the Big East Conference game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on October 15, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by An

Bilal Powell, Running Back, Louisville

Powell is quietly building a reputation as a late-round sleeper in the 2011 draft class. He was productive at Louisville and avoided the wear-and-tear that many college runners endure.

Powell would not be asked to do much as a rookie. He's a great fit in rotation with Frank Gore and Anthony Davis, though. His ability as an inside runner and receiver make him a very good option in the WCO.

49er Team Needs: QB | OLB | CB | DE | FS | OC | NT | RB | WR | FB | OLB

Round 7, Pick 38

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PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Michael Thomas #3 and Richard Sherman #9 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrate after they beat the Oregon State Beavers at Stanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Richard Sherman, Cornerback, Stanford

Using their first of two compensatory selections, the 49ers reach back into the Stanford pool of players to add depth on special teams and in the secondary with Richard Sherman.

Sherman has great measurables and has competed against pro-style offenses in the Pac-10. We like him as a late-rounder who has the talent to make the 49ers final roster.

49er Team Needs: QB | OLB | CB | DE | FS | OC | NT | RB | WR | FB | OLB

Round 7, Pick 49

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PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 26: Chris Polk #1 of the Washington Huskies runs against Thomas Keiser #94 of the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 26, 2009 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Thomas Keiser, Outside Linebacker, Stanford

As we referenced in the opening slide, San Francisco will be smart to draft former players of Harbaugh's in the late rounds of this draft.

Thomas Keiser not only has the advantage of playing at Stanford, but he also fills a need for San Francisco.

Chris Carter was our round three projection at outside linebacker but it never hurts to add depth in the pass rushing department.

Much like the Patriots, Chargers and Packers have in the past, the 49ers need to build up a strong first and second unit of linebackers.

49er Team Needs: QB | OLB | CB | DE | FS | OC | NT | RB | WR | FB | OLB