San Francisco 49ers: Which 49ers Lost Their Starting Jobs on NFL Draft Day?

Another NFL draft weekend has come and gone, and now that the smoke has cleared, it’s time to
take a look at how this affects the current starters on the 49ers.

Of course, this comes with the caveat that if there is no training camp, it’s entirely possible that even a first-round pick might see himself in a time-share since he’d have had no time to acclimate himself to a NFL playbook.

I’m also not going to drag out the tired corpse of Alex Smith again, since we know his time is pretty well done. Since Coach Harbaugh gave him a playbook, one assumes he’ll be back even if it’s short-term. The Niners will address that position next season if Colin Kaepernick flames out, though I happen to like what I saw of him on tape and covering the Senior Bowl.

However, we know Smith is, for all intents and purposes, a "dead man walking" and yet, will in all likelihood keep the job this season for a reduced rate.

With that said, let’s be "half glass full with chocolate milk" and assume things settle down and we actually see football and training camps. (In this example, the milk is hallucinogenic.)

Ahmad Brooks

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GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 05: Ahmad Brooks #55 and Nate Clements #22 of the San Francisco 49ers tackle John Kuhn #30 of the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 5, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the 49ers 34-16. (Photo by Jon

Of all the current veterans on the 49ers, Brooks is both the guy who likely threw something at the TV when Missouri defensive end/outside linebacker Aldon Smith was picked, and was the guy who should have seen it coming.

The Niners used a rotation at OLB last season, consisting of Brooks, Parys Haralson, Travis LaBoy and Manny Lawson. Lawson and LaBoy are free agents and likely will not be brought back. Both Brooks and Haralson were OK but not great.

Haralson has been more consistent and productive over the past few years, though he did see a backslide in 2010, in part due to injury.

Brooks will remain with the team as you can never have too much veteran depth, but if Smith looks even remotely like the linebacker the team believes he will be, Brooks will be riding the pine quite a bit.

Shawntae Spencer

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 16: Running back Mike Tolbert #35 of the San Diego Chargers rushes with the ball as cornerback Shawntae Spencer #36 of the San Francisco 49ers trys to tackle him at Qualcomm Stadium on December 16, 2010 in San Diego, California.

The 49ers didn’t go after a cornerback early (in part because Patrick Peterson didn’t drop to them) but still added Chris Culliver in the third round.

Spencer is younger than Nate Clements (and not nearly as overpaid) but Clements is a tackling machine. Cullins is a good cover corner who can play man and blitz on occasion if needed. Spencer was much less productive last year than Clements was, and this isn’t exactly the secondary of the Jets or Packers.

While Culliver still needs to adjust to the NFL, unless he implodes he should have Spencer’s job in very short order. Of course, all three players might be in for trouble if free agency ever starts.

Eric Heitmann

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ST. LOUIS - JANUARY 3: Center Eric Heitmann #66 of the San Francisco 49ers gets ready on the line during the game against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on January 3, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The 49ers beat the Rams 28-6. (Photo by Dil

The center position is really murky right now. Heitmann is the only remaining vet at the position since David Bass is an unrestricted free agent, as is backup Tony Wragge.

It’s likely that the team makes a serious run at Bass, but if they come up short, it’s hard to rely on Heitmann after his severe neck injury, one which put him on injured reserve last season.

Both Daniel Kilgore and Mike Person can play center as well as guard, and if the dominoes fall badly in terms of retaining Baas, I think it likely that one of the rookies gets a shot to start the season.