2012 NFL Mock Draft: Full 7-Round San Francisco 49ers Predictions

With only two games left in the season, many of us are already shifting our general focus to next year and the 2012 NFL draft. I'll give you my best prediction about which direction the team will go in my full seven-round San Francisco 49ers mock draft.

2011 has been a surprising year for the 49ers. Not only have the 49ers given the NFL something nobody expected (a championship contender) in head coach Jim Harbaugh's first season, they have done it with the help of a rookie most people didn't think was a good fit in the 3-4 defense the team runs.

Leave it to general manager Trent Baalke to pick up Aldon Smith with the seventh overall pick, a pick many fans booed. Most folks thought the team should pick up cornerback Prince Amukamura out of Nebraska to bolster the team's weak secondary unit.

In addition to the home run he hit with Smith, Baalke also drafted Colin Kaepernick in the second round, Chris Culliver in the third, Kendall Hunter in the fourth and Bruce Miller with the sixth-round selection. All four of these rookies have been or will be major contributors to the 49ers success.

Who will be next year's biggest surprise? Who will the 49ers target in the 2012 NFL draft?

1. Nick Toon, Wide Receiver, Wisconsin

Alex Smith and the 49ers offense have been the weak link for the team this year—when there were issues, anyway. One of the reasons for the team's struggles on offense has been that, besides Michael Crabtree and Kyle Williams, there is a deficiency at the wide receiver position.

Josh Morgan will probably be re-signed, and he's a good option as a number two or three receiver in the NFL. The team still needs to fill the void they were trying to fill when they signed Braylon Edwards to a one-year deal.

I expect the 49ers to target Nick Toon, wide receiver out of Wisconsin, in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. At 6'3" and weighing in at 220 pounds, Toon gives the 49ers a big target on the outside to that can play opposite Crabtree or allow Crabtree to sit in the slot. 

While Toon doesn't possess blazing speed, he is a polished route-runner that will immediately upgrade the 49ers' receiving corps and give Smith another excellent weapon with which to run the offense.

2. Robert Lester, Free Safety, Alabama

Originally, I had the 49ers selecting T.J. McDonald in the first round, but the free safety out of USC has made the decision to stay in school for his final year, a decision I highly commend. 

Since he's no longer an option for the 2012 NFL draft, the 49ers will need to find help at the free safety position elsewhere. Dashon Goldson has been stellar for the team this year, but his strong season will only further his own opinion of himself, giving him even more reason to try and cash in on free agency after the season.

As a replacement, I'd like to offer Robert Lester, free safety out of Alabama. Lester is a junior with big size and speed, and his propensity to get his hands on the ball is something that will make him an immediate fan favorite.

Although Lester's production has slipped somewhat in his junior season, he is still one of the best athletes and players at his position coming out in 2012. Lester can play well in zone and man-to-man, making him an excellent choice for Vic Fangio's creative defensive schemes.

3. Ben Jones, Center, Georgia

Ever since Eric Heitmann went down in Mike Singletary's infamous "nutcracker" drill, the 49ers have been looking for his long-term replacement. 

David Baas was serviceable last year, only to be lost to the New York Giants in free agency (he has since lost his starting job in New York). Jonathan Goodwin has been a good band-aid, but he's not the answer going forward for the team.

Ben Jones, center out of Georgia, is one of the top prospects coming out of the 2012 NFL draft. The 49ers will be thrilled to select him with their third-round choice, provided he's still available to be picked up at the time.

Jones has been nominated for the 2011 Rimington Trophy Award, given to the top center in the nation. He is a durable starter, playing all four years for Georgia. Jones is also a fantastic athlete for a big man, playing with good hip/knee bend and agility. 

4. Josh Chapman, Defensive Tackle, Alabama

One of the things missing from the 49ers' 2011 NFL draft was a nose tackle. Aubrayo Franklin filled the role nicely for a few seasons before leaving for "greener pastures" in New Orleans, and Isaac Sopoaga is as solid as a slab of granite in the center of the defense now, but the team needs to look to the future with this pick.

Josh Chapman is the perfect fit to come in and anchor the 49ers' 3-4 defense for years to come. At just over 6' and weighing close to 320 pounds, Chapman is the perfect size for a nose tackle, and he plays with tremendous leverage, demanding the double-teams required of a nose tackle in a system like the one the team runs.

Chapman isn't a player like Ndamukong Suh or any Gerald McCoy that will blow you away with penetration and quickness, but he does hold the point of attack and can shed blockers to make tackles behind and around the line of scrimmage.

5. Trevor Guyton, Defensive End, California

The 49ers don't seem to need much help at the defensive end position with Ray McDonald and Justin Smith both playing at Pro Bowl levels, but the future is always now in the NFL.

Trevor Guyton is a perfect fit to come in and sit behind these two elite players. He played defensive tackle for the California Bears, but his size and skill set are best suited to play the end in the 3-4 scheme that the 49ers run.

6. Lucas Nix, Offensive Guard, Pittsburgh

One of the things that has been increasingly evident this season for the 49ers is that they desperately need to improve their guard play on the offensive line. Chilo Rachal is terrible, and he shouldn't even make the roster next year. Adam Snyder is great, but he's a free agent after the year and he's getting older.

The 49ers did draft a couple of players last year, Daniel Kilgore and Mike Person, but Person hasn't cracked the active roster and Kilgore has seen limited action.

The best thing about guards is that they can be found in the later rounds. Lucas Nix is a perfect fit to come in and compete for the 49ers next year. He isn't a top-tier player, but he might be a diamond in the rough that can play with toughness and intelligence for the team for years to come.

7. Omar Bolden, Cornerback, Arizona State

The 49ers were one of the worst teams in the NFL in 2010 at pass defense. Then, Baalke brought in Carlos Rogers, Donte Whitner and Chris Culliver in 2011 and the team is much improved.

There is always room for improvement, however, and Omar Bolden out of Arizona State might be the player to bring in to help the team further dominate the opposing passing game.

Bolden was originally one of the top prospects at his position coming into the season, but a knee injury has caused his stock to plummet. He might not fall this far, but if he does, you can be sure the 49ers will be pleased to call his name in the seventh round.