Colin Kaepernick: Why San Francisco 49ers QB Was Steal of the 2011 NFL Draft

I have, admittedly, been hard on the San Francisco 49ers' draft efforts in recent years.  

In 2010 I was critical of their decision to move up and grab Anthony Davis.  I felt he was a late first-round talent that would need a few years before being ready to start in the NFL.  Giving up a needed fourth-round pick to move up two spots seemed reactionary by a rookie GM.

While Mays seemed like a good value in the second round, I was surprised they didn't address needs at CB.

The need at CB persisted into 2011, and with the production issues and size of Nate Clements' contract, the situation is likely worse.  Rather than addressing the need in round one with Prince Amukamara, they took a risky move with Aldon Smith.  It looked as though the 49ers were headed down the path of another poor draft.

Round two, however, saved their draft.  While I don't necessarily agree with Trent Baalke that Kaepernick wouldn't have been available one pick later, I won't judge him for the decision to trade up.  In fact, unlike 2010, it was a wise move.  Smith wasn't a must-have player; Kaepernick is.

While the 49ers need to work in free agency to solidify their secondary, their QB position has a bright outlook.  A few years from now Kaepernick could very likely be seen as the steal of the 2011 NFL draft.  It may not make fans forget about taking Alex Smith over Aaron Rogers, but it will at least give them hope going forward.

Kaepernick Could Transform the 49er Offense

When speaking with Matt Maiocco, GM Trent Baalke said they would like to make use of Kaepernick's arm and legs.  "Who's to say we're not going to have him in 'The Pistol?'" said Baalke, referring to the offense Kaepernick ran at Nevada.  

Kaepernick was the first major-college QB to throw for over 2,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons.  

"Coming out of the Pistol offense, it's also going to be a little bit of an advantage for us to have some quarterback-driven runs in our offense that teams are going to have to prepare for," Baalke added.

While it is unlikely that Jim Harbaugh is going to transform his entire offense into a pistol formation, don't be surprised to see him use Kaepernick in select situations almost like what some teams do with a Wildcat formation.

Kaepernick Could Be Ready To Play in 2011

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 02: Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers is sacked by Darnell Dockett #90 of the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on January 2, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty I

The 49ers don't have another QB option as of yet, but they will sign someone in free agency to compete with Kaepernick for the starting job.  Odds are that Alex Smith will be signed to a short-term contract.

If Smith isn't able to run the offense with enough precision to please Jed York, Kaepernick could be ready to step in and start.  

The 49ers have their Bye in Week 7.  Unlike 2010, their opening schedule in 2011 is quite favorable.  Their toughest pre-bye opponent appears to be visiting the Eagles.  They also go to Detroit and Cincinnati, while hosting the Seahawks, Cowboys and Buccaneers.

The 49ers could be above .500 going into their bye week.  If so, and they do it with Alex Smith as the starter, expect him to remain in that spot for the remainder of the season.  But if they struggle with Seattle, Tampa Bay, Cincinnati and/or Detroit, look for the 49ers to start their transition at the QB position in Week 8 instead of 2012.

Kaepernick doesn't have much experience in a pro style offense, but he certainly has all the tools to be effective.  Training camp, preseason and two months of the regular season could be all the time he needs to be ready to start.

Kaepernick Has a Powerful Delivery

Some critics claim that Kaepernick has too big of an arm motion to be effective in the NFL.  The 49ers disagree, obviously, and note his ability to adjust his motion and release point based on the noise in the pocket and traffic in front.

"A quarterback has to be able to work through chaos," Baalke said.  "If a quarterback can't sort through that, he's not going to make it in the National Football League."

The video in this slide backs up the 49ers' beliefs.  Regardless of the "size" of his throwing motion, Kaepernick recognizes his target and releases the ball as fast as elite NFL QBs.  Just as important, he is accurate after delivery.

Overall Draft Value: The Talent of the 1st Round Picks in Round 2

One could argue that all four QBs taken in round one were a reach.  None of them were rated as top-12 overall talents, yet they all were taken early.

Kaepernick may not have quite as much potential as as a few of the top picks, but if not, he isn't far behind. In the NFL it is all about living up to potential, though, and that is where Kaepernick should excel.  He is smart and a hard worker who studies his game.  

When it comes to potential, keep in mind that he doesn't have the speed of...well, actually Kaepernick had the best 40 time at the combine.  He also showed great agility in the shuttle and cone drills, demonstrating superb athletic skills.  He also performed well on the Wonderlic.

But Kaepernick's arm strength isn't as good as...well, a few guys in the NFL.  One would be hard-pressed to show a QB in this draft class has a stronger arm than Kaepernick.  He can throw the ball deep with accuracy, and has great zip on intermediate pass routes.  He's ready to make NFL throws.

Kaepernick didn't play against top competition in college, and that allowed his talent to be questioned.  Don't expect anyone associated with Boise State to buy this argument, though, and he was a top performer during Senior Bowl week.  

Expect Kaepernick to continue to grow in the NFL and show that, indeed, a very good QB can be drafted in round-two of the NFL draft.