NFL Draft 2011: Would the 49ers Take A.J. Green or Julio Jones in Round 1?

In 2009, the San Francisco 49ers selected Michael Crabtree with the 10th overall pick in the NFL draft.

What was widely perceived as the biggest steal of the entire draft, may not appear to be so in hindsight. Crabtree's NFL career began with a contract dispute that cut out nearly a third of his rookie campaign.

He still managed to put up 625 yards receiving from 11 games, which isn't bad for a rookie, bearing in mind he missed all of training camp.

Many thought he would have a breakout sophomore year, and perhaps even end the 49ers' 1,000-yard receiver drought.

In Crabtree's defense, quarterback play in San Francisco isn't exactly superb. Even so, his 741 yards receiving put him 44th in the league overall.

Crabtree has the tools to be a premier receiver, but it is unclear if he will ever get to that point.

The 49ers could be on the clock and find that Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, Blaine Gabbert, Cam Newton, Marcell Dareus and Robert Quinn are all off the board. There is a strong possibility that Prince Amukamara would be the likely selection, but if A.J. Green is still available, don't they have to think about it?

Green is even more highly touted than Crabtree was, coming out of the draft. He has great hands and is a huge target.

Jim Harbaugh has a lot of pieces to work with and Green would give him a dependable target for whatever quarterback is under center.

Green could be an Andre Johnson-caliber receiver. He could easily be the best offensive player on the board and teams like Cincinnati and Cleveland, who both draft ahead of the 49ers, have to be more than intrigued by the possibility of bringing him in.

Even if Green were to go before the 49ers' pick, Julio Jones will probably still be available.

He's a sub 4.4, 40-yard dash guy, who happens to also be a physical specimen and all-around bully at the wide receiver position.

His consistency needs some work, but he brings tools with him that are rare and uncoachable.

While he doesn't have the polish of Green, his ceiling might be even higher. It's an interesting possibility, considering the 49ers need a guy who can stretch the field.

Jones and Crabtree would have the makings of an elite receiving tandem in the league. It would open up the run game and allow Harbaugh to torment defensive coordinators.

The 49ers have been somewhat neglecting the defensive side of the ball in recent drafts, but sometimes need is outweighed by value. There is no sense in drafting a guy like Robert Quinn if the 49ers feel Green might be an All-Pro receiver.

Receiver is way down on the list of draft day priorities for the 49ers, but if they have a chance to potentially land the Offensive Rookie of the Year, nobody should fault them for doing so.