The 49ers for a long time maintained their place as a contender thanks to their ability to replenish talent through the NFL draft. They’re in a position heading into the 2019 draft where they need to tap into some of that old magic and find a few high-quality players to plug in as foundational pieces for an eventual Super Bowl contender.
Just how good have the 49ers been at drafting in their history? We decided to take a look by going through a seven-round draft, and finding the best player the 49ers have selected in each round in their history.
We stuck with seven rounds because that’s the current draft format, and we went by the pick number that was used to acquire each player.
Here’s what we came up with:
Round 1, Pick 16 | Jerry Rice, WR, Mississippi Valley State (1985)
The 49ers have some home runs in their collection of Round 1 picks, but Rice is arguably the greatest football player in NFL history. He played for 21 seasons, went to 13 Pro Bowls, made 10 All-Pro teams, won three Super Bowls, and is the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and total touchdowns. He has to be the pick for the 49ers.
Other candidates:
QB Y.A. Tittle, RB Hugh McElhenny, S Ronnie Lott, DT Bryant Young, TE Vernon Davis, OT Joe Staley, LB Patrick Willis, OLB Aldon Smith
Round 2, Pick 49 | Roger Craig, RB, Nebraska (1983)
San Francisco has never selected a Hall of Fame player in the second round, but Craig is as close as a player can be without being in Canton. He spent his first eight NFL seasons in red and gold and helped revolutionize the running back position in Bill Walsh’s offense. Craig racked up 1,050 rushing yards and 1,016 receiving yards while leading the NFL with 92 receptions in 1985. He was the first player to ever reach the 1,000-yard plateau as a runner and receiver, and only Marshall Faulk has done it since. Craig finished his career with one All-Pro nod, an AP Offensive Player of the Year award, four Pro Bowls and three Super Bowls.
Other candidates:
OL Randy Cross, LB Keena Turner, RB Ricky Watters, OL Jeremy Newberry, QB Colin Kaepernick
Round 3, Pick 82 | Joe Montana, QB, Notre Dame (1979)
Typically Montana would be the no-brainer, don’t even bother explaining pick. He’s a four-time Super Bowl champion who went undefeated and never threw an interception on the NFL’s biggest stage. He was arguably the second-most vital cog that launched the 49ers’ dynasty through the 1980s and 90s. His resumé was, and for some still is, unmatched. The 49ers have crushed third-round picks in team history though, netting a host of high-end starters and four Hall of Famers. Montana is the obvious pick, but the players left out can all certainly make an argument.
Other candidates:
OL Bob St. Clair, LB Dave Wilcox, OL Guy McIntyre, WR John Taylor, RB Tom Rathman, WR Terrell Owens, RB Frank Gore, LB NaVorro Bowman
Round 4, Pick 96 | Charles Haley, DE, James Madison (1986)
The fourth round offered slim pickings, so Haley stood out even more than he normally would have. While about a third of his career sacks and three of his five Super Bowls came in Dallas, his productivity for the 49ers still earns him the spot as their best Round 4 selection. He spent eight of his 13 seasons in San Francisco, won two Super Bowls, racked up 66.5 sacks, made three Pro Bowls and garnered an All-Pro nod. Even with the Dallas years taken out, it’s hard to argue against Haley as one of the best Round 4 picks in 49ers history.
Other candidates:
DL Cleveland Elam, OT Steve Wallace, S Dashon Goldson
Round 5, Pick 122 | Merton Hanks, S, Iowa (1991)
There are a few candidates in Round 5, but Hanks is the most accomplished. He produced 31 interceptions and 474 tackles in eight seasons with San Francisco. His sensational run between 1994 and 1997 earned him four Pro Bowl bids, an All-Pro honor, and a Super Bowl ring. Hanks was also exceptionally durable for the 49ers – missing three games his rookie season, then playing all 16 over his last seven years with the team.
Other candidates:
OT Len Rohde, DL Michael Carter, TE George Kittle
Round 6, Pick 188 | Andy Lee, P, Pittsburgh (2004)
The best part about Lee coming in as the Round 6 selection is that it’s not really particularly close. He went to three Pro Bowls and made three All-Pro teams in 11 seasons with the 49ers. His first seven years with the team came when they were at a low point in the franchise’s history. He led the league in punts three times between 2005 and 2009, and he led the league in punting yards in two of those years. In 2011 he led the NFL in yards-per-punt and has a claim as the best punter in 49ers history. It’s worth noting the last time the 49ers finished .500 or better was in 2014 – Lee’s last year. Not saying his exit is the reason for the team’s rapid descent into the abyss of ineptitude, but it’s an empirical fact that the two events align.
Other candidates:
LB Lee Woodall, FB Fred Beasley, TE Delanie Walker
Round 7, Pick 175 | Fred Quillan, OL, Oregon (1978)
Netting a contributing player in the seventh round is an accomplishment teams will happily take in any draft. The 49ers not only got a starter when they selected Quillan, they scooped up a two-time Pro Bowler and a key cog in the middle of the 49ers’ offensive line that helped them win their first two Super Bowls. He started 129 of his 143 games, and missed only 10 games between 1979 and 1986, including seven in 1982. San Francisco has actually had relatively decent success with seventh-round picks, but Quillan was the best of them.
Other candidates:
LS Brian Jennings, TE Eric Johnson, OL Eric Heitmann
