2011 NFL Draft: Grading the San Francisco 49ers on Draft Day

Questions loom for Aldon Smith. He is nearly 6’5” and weighs 263 lbs., but is he strong enough inside to play the run? How about pass coverage? That’s one reason why SI.com had him rated behind Robert Quinn of North Carolina, Cameron Jordan of California, J.J. Watt of Wisconsin, Ryan Kerrigan from Purdue and Da’Quan Bowers of Clemson.

Smith just turned 21. He has played less than 25 games. He had a great year in 2009 at Missouri, leading the team in sacks. But a broken fibular early in the 2010 season limited his play. He even came back too early and limped through some of the Tigers’ final games.

Eye-Catching Upside

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KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Jordan Webb #2 of the Kansas Jayhawks is sacked by Aldon Smith #85 of the Missouri Tigers during the game on November 27, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

From SI.com’s Draft Tracker:

“Explosive game-changing player with incredible upside. Athletic and very quick in all his actions. Immediately changes direction, displays speed out to the flanks and effective in pursuit. Flashes on the scene out of nowhere and plays with suddenness. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/draft-2011/players/82803.html]

From NFLDraftScout.com:

“Great length and upper-body development with room to grow and become a top-notch pass rusher. When given the green light to attack the passer, he is able to turn the corner or quickly go outside-in to get a more direct path to the QB. Uses strength to get movement in his bull rush; able to release with his hands to harass a scrambling passer.” [http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1630791]

A for Audacity

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissoner Roger Goodell poses for a photo with Blaine Gabbert, #11 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, holds up a jersey during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo b

General Manager Trent Baalke earns the A for audacity.

No so-called draft “expert” had Smith even close to a selection by San Francisco. When Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who was rated the top quarterback in the draft, remained on the board, the selection of Smith had even more of a “oh wow” impact.

[That surprise only lasted about 10 minutes because Tennessee followed up the 49ers surprise with another, Washington QB Jake Locker. Gabbert went to Jacksonville, who traded with Washington to take him at No. 10.]

B+ for Conformity

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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

Baalke’s B+ comes for conformity. Like 10 other teams, the 49ers know that to succeed in the NFL you need high-quality front-line defensive players. 11 defensive ends or tackles were taken in the first round. That the Niners apparently “reached” for Smith suggests that OLBs Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson are not up to standard.

That said, questions still loom for Aldon Smith.

Wait-and-See = Incomplete for Trent Baalke

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 07: General manager Trent Baalke speaks at a press conference where Jim Harbaugh was introduced as the new San Francisco 49ers head coach at the Palace Hotel on January 7, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Sha

This is Baalke’s second draft, and what can we assess in light of his picks of Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati in ’09, and now Smith? It’s that Baalke is not afraid to take young—all three were 21 or younger when drafted—players who offer long-term growth in the game.

Baalke acknowledged to the Bay Area media afterward that Smith may be a project and could take a year or two to have the terrorizing pressure on quarterbacks that make pass coverage so much easier.

It also suggests that Baalke has specific requisites for his players at certain positions. Davis and Iupati bring size but have great balance. They are intended to be a foundation. Smith is tall, fast and capable of quick changes of direction.

One, Maybe Two Years

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COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 7: Aldon Smith #85 of the Missouri Tigers is congratulated by teammates during the game against the Baylor Bears at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Did the Niners pass on Gabbert not only because they felt the need to improve their defense, or did they not want to fork over huge quarterback money for Gabbert?

Cornerback is a needed priority, and Prince Amukamara of Nebraska was on the board. Baalke passed on him, and it remains to be seen if it was because of what they saw in Amukamara’s skills or the belief in what Smith can bring?

We all know that it takes at least two years to assess the quality of this selection. If there is even any doubt that Smith won’t be a solid player, Baalke will have that "Incomplete" turned into an “F” for failure to capitalize.