Dream scenario unfolds for 49ers in Round 1

By Brad Wilbricht  |   Sunday, April 26, 2009  |  Comments( 3 )

San Francisco 49ers
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The San Francisco 49ers were in desperate need of help on the perimeter and the addition of Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree instantly upgrades their receiving corps. While Crabtree falling to the No. 10 pick in this past weekend's NFL draft was unexpected, San Francisco benefited from the unlikely scenario and nabbed the productive wideout from the Lone Star State.

After the top three offensive tackles were off the board and Crabtree was still available, it was an easy decision for the 49ers’ front office. General manager Scott McCloughan previously stated the receiver position was one area the team would emphasize during the draft. With Crabtree arguably the top prospect left on the board at the 10th pick, San Francisco got extreme value with its first-round selection.

Crabtree was the 49ers’ only pick on the first day of the draft (San Francisco’s second-round pick was previously sent to the Carolina Panthers); however, the addition of the dynamic Crabtree should help energize an already buzzing 49er fan base.

On Day 2 of the draft, San Francisco picked up right where it left off in selecting Alabama running back Glenn Coffee. Like Crabtree, Coffee was a highly productive college player and hails from one of the top programs in the country. Coffee will spell starting back Frank Gore and can be used in a variety of ways on the offense.

Head coach Mike Singletary’s focus is on defense and the selection of former Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Scott McKillop in Round 5 addressed that side of the ball. Also in the fifth round, Ball State quarterback Nate Davis was brought in to compete with incumbents Shaun Hill and Alex Smith. Davis was a capable signal-caller in the collegiate ranks and could compete for the starting job within the next few years.

San Francisco turned to the tight end position with Fresno State’s Bear Pascoe in Round 6 before concluding the draft with a pair of LSU teammates. Safety Curtis Taylor and defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois finalized the 49ers’ draft in the seventh round. Both Taylor and Jean-Francois have tremendous upside and could prove to be steals.

While Crabtree is the headliner of this year’s draft class, players such as Coffee and Davis could make this group special. In addition, several prospects selected in the later rounds boast tremendous potential and could help San Francisco end a recent slide of six consecutive losing seasons.
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About Brad Wilbricht

Brad Wilbricht covers numerous sporting events including the NFL, NFL Draft and college football. His analysis is simulcast through several media outlets across the country. Additionally, Brad is a regular guest on a variety of talk radio shows and can be frequently heard on the airwaves. To ...
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