Posts belonging to Category 49ers

The 49ers ended the season with three active receivers, one of which is now the least popular man in San Francisco. So it comes as no surprise that Jim Harbaugh wants to address the position this offseason.

Following the season, Harbaugh spoke about the issues at receiver and lamented the failure of Braylon Edwards. He stated “we were looking for that big stature receiver” when acquiring Edwards, but due to injuries and ineffectiveness he was released midseason.

Fortunately for the Niners, there are a number of “big stature” receivers who should come off the board in the first few rounds. Here are

Michael Floyd, Notre Dame [scouting report] – There’s a good chance Floyd will be off the board by the time the 49ers are on the clock, but if they’re serious about addressing this concern they may consider trading up. Aside from Justin Blackmon, Floyd is the most well-rounded receiver in this year’s class.

Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina [scouting report] – Jeffery’s stock has fallen dramatically this season, but could still be an option in the late 1st round for the 49ers. His inconsistent play may scare some teams off, but he has the skill set to make an immediate impact in the red zone which is what the 49ers really need.

Dwight Jones, North Carolina [scouting report] - Like Jeffery, Jones has some issues with consistency, but at 6’4″ he could be a relatively cheap option for them in the late 2nd round. He won’t challenge Michael Crabtree for the role of No. 1 receiver any time soon, but if they’re primarily interested in a red-zone threat, Jones could be a good fit.

Michael Crabtree expressed frustration after the San Francisco 49ers loss to the Giants in the NFC Championship Game. His frustration was understandable, but his comments were both out of line and delusional:

All I do is run routes. When you don’t get that many opportunities, it’s hard to talk… Half the time you’re not going to be open. That’s why they call you a playmaker – just give you chances.

Crabtree is in no position to complain about his role.

Clearly Crabtree views himself as a “playmaker” – a title which few others would bestow upon him at this point in his career.

But despite his somewhat disappointing career, there’s no denying that the fact that he is the 49ers No. 1 receiver. And they’ve treated him as such. In 2011, Crabtree was targeted 107 times, 24th most among receivers, and more than any of his teammates (even Vernon Davis, who was thrown at 92 times).

Not only is Crabtree the Niners top receiver, but he’s essentially their only weapon at the position. Nearly half the balls Alex Smith threw to his wide receivers were aimed at Crabtree – a higher percentage than all but four others in 2011.

The question now is: can Jim Harbaugh control Crabtree, or will he become a distraction?

The Niners already attempted to bring in some competition for Crabtree by signing Braylon Edwards last offseason, which failed to work out due to injuries and ineffective play. And they’re likely to either sign or draft a receiver this year as well.

Even if Crabtree remains their No. 1 receiver, he’s all but guaranteed to see a reduced role in 2012. How will his ego react to that?

These are questions which are certainly being discussed behind closed doors in San Francisco, which could lead the team to seriously consider a 1st-round receiver – and possibly could lead them to trade up to ensure they land someone capable of replacing Crabtree in the near future.

The San Francisco 49ers aren’t exactly knocking on the door of Super Bowl, but they are expected to compete for the playoffs in the weak NFC West. With that in mind, I was surprised at the lack of immediate help added in this draft. It’s possible that one only player from this draft sees anything close to significant playing time in 2011.

That player, of course, is 1st-round pick Aldon Smith. I’m still not quite sure how to evaluate Smith. He clearly has the raw talent of a top-10 pick, but it’s just that: raw. While there may not be more than one or two players in this class with more talent, there are at least 10-15 players that are safer bets to develop into Pro Bowlers. Smith is a boom-or-bust prospect and based on his lack of experience and raw athleticism, it’s just too early to say which path he’ll go down. So while I think he’s a great fit for the 49ers 3-4 defense, it’s a risky move.

I was mildly surprised by the selection of Colin Kaepernick in the 2nd round. Entering the draft I expected Jim Harbaugh to pass on this year’s quarterback class to keep open the possibility of adding Andrew Luck in 2012. Although, as the Panthers showed this year, there’s no job security for a 2nd round pick. Due to his arm strength and athleticism, I believe Kaerpernick quickly became one of the most overrated prospects in this year’s class. I have concerns about his throwing motion and his accuracy. Harbaugh has gained a reputation as a quarterback guru, but it could take two to three years to develop Kaepernick and I can’t envision the 49ers organization showing that type of patience coming off the never-ending Alex Smith era.

Chris Culliver was a reach in the 3rd round. They needed to add depth at cornerback, but I’m not convinced Culliver has the athleticism to play the position. He may be better suited to play free safety.

I’m a huge fan of Kendall Hunter and I think he can be a dangerous compliment to Frank Gore. He isn’t an every-down back, but is a threat as a receiver out of the backfield and has home-run hitter potential. Expect Harbaugh will get creative with him this season.

Daniel Kilgore was another reach. He’ll provide depth at both guard and center, but his upside is limited.

I like the addition of Ronald Johnson in the 6th round. He was productive at USC and can be a serviceable 3rd or 4th option for the 49ers. There were better players on the board, but he had decent value in the 6th round so I can’t argue with the selection too much.

Colin Jones isn’t anything special, but he could compete for playing time simply due to the lack of depth in the 49ers secondary. The free safety job should be an open competition in training camp, and I wouldn’t rule out Jones as an option.

Bruce Miller is an interesting selection. He played defensive end at UCF but the 49ers are going to convert him to fullback. I’m not a huge fan of drafting someone who needs to make such a drastic position change, but in the 7th round they didn’t pass up on much to take him.

I like Michael Person. He’ll never be a starter but should provide depth at both tackle and guard.

Curtis Holcomb is a developmental prospect who likely won’t see much playing time early in his career. He’s undersized but had a reputation as a shutdown corner at FAMU.

The 49ers took a lot of risks in this draft, and unfortunately I don’t think many of them will yield high rewards. Smith and Kaepernick could both develop into starters, but their next eight picks produced nothing but career backups. There were simply too many risks and not enough value from this class as a whole. That said, all the whiffs will be forgotten if Kaepernick develops into a Pro Bowler. But if he fails, it’s an early black mark on Harbaugh’s NFL résumé.

5. A trade occurs within the first five picks
The Panthers would love to trade down. The Broncos probably feel the same way. With two quarterbacks possibly coming off the board within the first five picks, someone is going to trade up to ensure they get their guy. My money’s on the Cardinals moving up for Gabbert, possibly to No. 1.

4. The Patriots actually use both 1st-round picks
No one loves trading picks more than Bill Belichick, but this year the Patriots actually need their picks. There is enough talent at positions of need (defensive line, offensive line) that the Patriots will stay put and fill some holes. In the 2nd round is where we’ll see the Pats start making moves. 

The best player in the draft isn't falling as far as you may think

3. Patrick Peterson is off the board within the first six picks
Nearly every mock draft has Peterson falling to the 49ers.  Sorry to ruin your fun 49ers fans, but the best player in the draft isn’t getting past six different teams. If he falls to No. 6 the Browns will gladly end his fall, even if he doesn’t fill a glaring hole.

2. A.J. Green falls to the Washington Redskins
There are multiple scenarios in which this could happen, and I truly believe one of them will come true. In my most recent mock draft I have the Bengals selecting Julio Jones, which allows Green to fall to No. 10.

1. At least three quarterbacks will go in the 1st round
Newton and Gabbert are 1st-round locks. After that, it’s anyone’s guess as to who many come off the board next. However, I am confident that someone will reach for another quarterback in the 1st round. Maybe the Dolphins reach for Mallett or Locker. Maybe the Seahawks do the same. Maybe someone falls in love with Dalton or Ponder. Whatever happens, one of those guys is going in the 1st round, and possibly more.

Jim Harbaugh was brought in to fix the San Francisco 49ers. And it’s no coincidence that they brought in a former quarterback who helped develop Josh Johnson and Andrew Luck at the college ranks.

Make no mistake about it, Harbaugh’s job is to find the 49ers a franchise quarterback and turn him into a star. So could they really afford to go through this draft, which is relatively deep with signal callers even if it’s lacks an elite player, without taking one?

Harbaugh and Baalke have the picks to move up to No. 1

Cam Newton doesn’t appear to be a Harbaugh kind of quarterback, but Blaine Gabbert would fit the mold.

To the best of my knowledge the 49ers have not brought Gabbert in for a workout, however, Harbaugh was present at Missouri’s pro day. It’s unlikely that he’ll fall to No. 7, so could the 49ers trade up?

We haven’t see a pre-draft trade involving the No. 1 pick since the Falcons moved up for Michael Vick, but it could happen this year. The Panthers would presumably love to trade down, since there is not a clear-cut top prospect in the draft and there are a number of teams out there desperate for a quarterback.

Due to the lockout no players or future picks may be traded on draft day. This means that the 49ers, who own a league-high 12 picks have the most ammunition to make move up.

According to the trade value chart the No.1 pick is worth 3,000 points. It’s unrealistic to expect the 49ers to match that point total, but if the Panthers are willing to lower the asking price they could get a nice package in return.

The Niners could offer the 7th, 45th, 108th and 115th picks (still leaving them with their 3rd-round selection) which equals 2,102 points on the trade chart. That trade would give the Panthers a 2nd round pick (which they currently lack after trading it for Armanti Edwards in one of the worst draft-day deals of all time) and a total of eight picks in the first four rounds.

It’s a long shot, and 49ers have not given any strong indication that they want Gabbert, but don’t be shocked if they swoop in a the last minute and climb up to No. 1.

Matt Peterson tracks the offseason needs of every team in the league. Today’s franchise, the San Francisco 49ers. [full archive here].

Season Recap – The 49ers began the season as favorites to win the NFC West, yet never rebounded from a 0-5 start. Though Mike Singletary had all the intangibles of becoming a successful head coach, he failed to produce many victories during his two seasons on the sidelines. Singletary was fired after a 6-10 finish and San Francisco was able to reel in the hottest coaching candidate on the market: Jim Harbaugh. With Harbaugh comes most of his staff of the 2011 Orange Bowl champion Stanford Cardinals. Harbaugh made a pledge to get San Francisco back to the days of the Walsh Era and will have a full plate in front of him this offseason.

Needs:
1. Quarterback – Harbaugh had the luxury of working with star Quarterback Andrew Luck at Stanford and will need to find a similar talent to duplicate the success with San Francisco. Currently only 2002 number one overall pick David Carr is on the roster, and everyone knows he is not the answer. There has been speculation that Harbaugh is interested in resigning Alex Smith, but that remains to be seen. San Francisco could also attempt to make a run for Philadelphia Eagle Kevin Kolb, who supposedly is on the trade block, but would come at a high cost. If San Francisco makes no moves in free agency or through a trade, look for them to select either a QB in the first or second round. Personally, I believe Jake Locker fits the bill at #7 overall. (more…)

In each of my first two postseason mock drafts I’ve had Blaine Gabbert headed to the 49ers with the 7th overall selection. I’m not the only one, however, as its becoming a popular prediction in mock drafts popping up all over the internet.

As the Gabbert-to-San Fransisco speculation heats up, I thought I’d take some time to further explain my reasoning.

First, the Bills and Cardinals – who both need quarterbacks – would have to pass over Gabbert. Buffalo is the wild card here, because Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey were anything but predictable in their first draft together. Despite quarterback being their primary need, I just can’t see them reaching for Gabbert; especially considering how well Ryan Fitzpatrick performed this season.

As for the Cardinals, Ken Whisenhunt knows he is on a short leash and is likely to push hard for the team to sign or trade for a veteran (McNabb? Kolb?). He doesn’t have the final say, but they may be willing to appease him after GM Rod Graves’ hand-picked quarterback (Derek Anderson) was a monumental bust in 2010.

So if Gabbert is on the board, why would the 49ers take him?

One complaint I’ve heard (here’s an example from David Fucillo of Niners Nation) is that Gabbert is too much like Alex Smith, so why go down that road again?

While neither one played in a true pro-style offense in college, I don’t think it’s fair to compare the two. Urban Meyer’s system at Utah was sort of a spread-option scheme, and even more gimmicky than his system at Florida in an effort to make up for a lack of overall talent. Smith’s athleticism made him a great fit, but it also stunted his growth as a true drop-back passer.

Gary Pinkel’s offense at Missouri is more of a true spread offense. While he does take most of his snaps from the shotgun, he primarily stays in the pocket. These days, experience in the shotgun is less of a concern than ever before as more and more NFL offense include a high percentage of plays from the shotgun. There will be an adjustment for Gabbert, but he has a great reputation as a smart kid and a hard worker and I have no doubt that he can make this transition.

Another reason San Francisco can feel good about the possibility of taking Gabbert is the coaching staff. In his short coaching career Jim Harbaugh has done nothing if not help quarterbacks reach their highest potential. At San Diego he developed Josh Johnson into an elite FCS quarterback, which landed him in Tampa Bay where he started a few games prior to the start of the Josh Freeman era. And we’re all aware of what he did with Andrew Luck at Stanford.

Alex Smith never had the benefit of working with an offensive-minded head coach. Additionally, he was forced to transition through multiple offensive schemes due to the revolving door at offensive coordinator, including Jim Hostler, Norv Turner and Mike Martz. Looking back on it, Smith never really had a chance in San Francisco.

All things considered, I think San Francisco is the ideal landing place for Gabbert. The team needs a quarterback (desperately), they have the coaching staff in place to develop him and he has a strong reputation as a kid who is willing to put in the long hours necessary to become an elite quarterback.

I certainly understand the hesitation of fans. Gabbert isn’t Sam Bradford or Andrew Luck and no one expects him to come in and light it up from day one. But I think there are plenty of reasons to be excited about Gabbert’s future, especially if he lands in San Francisco.

Nearly one-third of the league could have new starting quarterbacks by September. Due to a greater demand than supply, it’s likely that not all of these teams find themselves a new signal caller, but here are the top 10 teams we’ve identified as most likely to have a new quarterback in 2011.

10. Broncos
It sounds as though Josh McDaniels was the lone Tebow support in Denver, and with him gone it seems likely that the Broncos will consider other options. John Fox has indicated that he likes Tim Tebow, but he also isn’t ready to commit to a starting quarterback. They’re unlikely to address this need in the draft, but signing a veteran is a strong possibility.

9. Raiders
Jason Campbell is still under contract but their other four quarterbacks (seriously, they have four other quarterbacks on the roster) are free agents. Keeping Campbell is a definite possibility, but you just never know what Al Davis as in mind. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of them trading up into the 1st-round (they already traded their own 1st-round pick) in an effort to land Cam Newton or Jake Locker.

8. Seahawks
Matt Hasselbeck is a free agent and may return, but he doesn’t have much left in the tank. They would certainly love to have Hasselbeck around to groom a young quarterback, but I don’t expect the Seahawks to commit to him as the starter. If he wants a guarantee that he’ll be a starter for the next year or two, he may need to go elsewhere.

7. Dolphins
Owner Stephen Ross has stated that he wants a creative, hurry-up offense in 2011, and that won’t be happening with Chad Henne under center. The Dolphins have grown tired of his slow development and seem ready to move on. Drafting a quarterback (possibly Newton) is a possibility, but they may prefer to bring in a veteran in an effort to turn things around quickly.

6. Bills
With the 3rd pick in the draft the Bills could have their pick of the quarterbacks, and Blaine Gabbert is a definite possibility. But the reason I don’t rank them higher is because I think they’ll strongly consider bringing Ryan Fitzpatrick back for another season. He was one of the biggest surprises of the 2010 season. The Bills may even draft Gabbert, or someone in the 2nd or 3rd round, and let them sit for a year behind Fitzpatrick.

5. Titans
Vince Young is as good as gone, and Kerry Collins is a free agent. However, I wouldn’t rule out Collins’ return. The Titans are in position to draft a quarterback (Gabbert, Newton or Mallett) and I suspect Jeff Fisher will prefer to keep Collins around to help groom their future franchise quarterback.

4. Redskins
After getting benched in favor of Rex Grossman, it’s hard to imagine Donovan McNabb returning to Washington. It’s equally difficult to image the Redskins sticking with Grossman for 2011. With the 10th pick in the draft Mike Shanahan is in position to select his quarterback of the future. Ryan Mallett and Newton are both strong possibilities.

3. Vikings
We know Favre won’t be back (and I actually believe him this time) and Tarvaris Jackson is a free agent. Joe Webb performed far better than anyone could have expected of a guy who was drafted as a wide receiver, but I can’t imagine Leslie Frazier sticking with him for 2011. The Vikings will either draft a quarterback (Newton or Mallett) or bring in a veteran (possibly Kevin Kolb).

2. Cardinals
Ken Whisenhunt wasn’t happy with the Cardinals quarterback situation entering last season and I’m guessing he’s even less pleased after seeing how it played out.  Drafting Blaine Gabbert is a possibility, but I suspect Whisenhunt would prefer to bring a veteran aboard, as he did last offseason. Either way, their opening day starter is definitely not on the current roster.

1. 49ers
Alex Smith and Troy Smith are both free agent and I would be very surprised if either returned.  I currently have them selecting Gabbert in my mock draft, but trading for Kevin Kolb is also possibility. Another option is signing a veteran, such as Matt Hasselbeck or Seneca Wallace, to keep the seat warm for whoever Jim Harbaugh choses to groom for the position.

The only quarterback under contract in San Francisco right now is David Carr.

I think it’s safe to say Carr won’t be Jim Harbaugh’s opening day starter, so how do they plan to address this situation?

If you thought Alex Smith or Troy Smith had a chance to return for 2011, new GM Trent Baalke already shot down that possibility. When asked if the quarterback of the future was already on the roster, Baalke responded by saying “I think it’s obvious that he isn’t at this point.”

The ideal scenario would be to draft someone in the 1st round. But who?

Jim Harbaugh intends to install the west coast offsense, which makes me believe Cam Newton and Jake Locker aren’t options. Their athleticism is certainly intriguing, but neither has demonstrated the consistent accuracy to be a good fit.

Ryan Mallett isn’t a great fit either. He has a rocket arm and struggles with his touch on the shorter passes required in the west coast offense.

That would leave Blaine Gabbert as the only option among the 1st-round quarterbacks. The only probably with that strategy is the fact that Gabbert is the consensus top available quarterback. Both Buffalo and Arizona would need to pass on Gabbert before the 49ers would have a shot at drafting him.

If they determine this isn’t the year to draft a quarterback – at least not in the 1st round – they may turn their attention to the free agent market. Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace are both free agents with experience in the west coast system. Either one would be an upgrade and could keep the seat warm for whoever Harbaugh tabs as the quarterback of the future.

And if they can’t find a free agent to their liking, perhaps the may be interested in Kevin Kolb. Michael Vick is a free agent, but the Eagles are likely to work out a long-term deal. If that happens, Kolb has already stated that he would like to either be the starter in Philly or be sent elsewhere. With just one year left on his contract, San Francisco may be an excellent place for Kolb to prove himself before hitting the open market in 2012.

The 49ers certainly don’t have a shortage of options. This will be an interesting search to keep tabs on throughout the offseason. Harbaugh – a former quarterback himself – will be heavily involved in the process of finding the 49ers next franchise QB, and there is no doubt he would like to find one sooner rather than later.

(polls)

Every year the NFL draft projections change as free agents sign and players get traded, but nothing changes the landscape of the draft – and the league, for that matter – more than a starting quarterback finding a new home.

This year the man on the move is Kevin Kolb.

Everyone expects the Eagles to either re-sign or franchise Michael Vick, and when that happens Kevin Kolb is likely to demand a trade. Where he winds up could have a ripple effect on the draft.

Here’s a look at a few possibilities:

The Bills own the 3rd pick, but it is entirely possible that they would prefer to avoid taking a quarterback. There are a number of 1st-round options, but no one jumps out as an obvious franchise quarterback. They may be content to trade for Kolb and use that pick on A.J. Green – a move which may actually have a more immediate impact on their rebuilding process. If that happened, it would mean the first quarterback wouldn’t come off the board until the 5th pick at the earliest.

The Cardinals, who own the 5th pick, are another option. I believe Ken Whisenhunt would prefer to fix their quarterback situation with a veteran, rather than with a draft pick. He knows he’s on a short leash, and drafting a quarterback would lead to a full rebuilding process which he likely wouldn’t survive. Adding Kolb would immediately put them back in the playoff picture in the NFC West.

The 49ers are in a good position to land a quarterback in the draft, but there’s no guarantee – especially if they have their heart set on someone in particular. In order to avoid the drama, they may prefer to trade for Kolb. That could cause for someone to fall to the Titans and/or Redskins.

The Titans are in a similar position to the Cardinals. They need a new quarterback, but their coach may not be around to see him develop. As a result, Jeff Fisher may push for the franchise to trade for Kolb or someone else who can help them win immediately. That could allow for someone to fall to the Redskins.

The Redskins don’t seem interested in extending the Donovan McNabb era, but they also aren’t in a position to feel comfortable about landing a quarterback in the draft. Trading for Kolb may be a smart move (if the Eagles could justify another trade within the division). If they trade for Kolb, it would increase the chances that a top quarterback falls out of the top 10, which the Vikings and Dolphins would be absolutely thrilled about.