2014 NFL Draft - Official Thread

[GS Warriors 1]

Thread for tonight's NFL Draft.

Tweet from CSN's Matt Maiocco a few hours ago...

[tweet]https://twitter.com/MaioccoCSN/status/464473393430282241[/tweet]

Looks like the team is likely to move up from 30 for a WR, just unknown who that WR will be. Maiocco predicted yesterday that the team would trade up for LSU WR Odell Beckham Jr. in his final mock draft and RealGM's own Jeff Risdon's final mock has the 49ers trading up for Florida St. WR Kelvin Benjamin.

[thesack12]

Yeah Frisco has been connected to a trade up for ODB by several people. I would be very ok with that. Beckham is a proven playmaker, who also has dynamic return ability on special teams. Both those attributes are desperately needed for this team. Its reported that some teams even have ODB as their 2nd ranked WR, behind only Sammy Watkins. It appears as though Frisco may be one of those teams. Its time to get a guy that can be a game breaker and take the top off the defense. Give Kaep a new toy.

As for Benjamin, if thats who they want I don't think it would take a trade up to get him. He seems to be a mid 2nd round type of guy.

Either way, if Frisco doesn't go either WR or CB in the first round, I'll be pretty much done with Baalke. Dude is coming off 2 consecutive bad drafts (2012 being an unmitigated disaster). He has allowed both WR and the secondary to morph from areas of concern to absolute blinding needs within the last couple years. This league has clearly become a passing league, so WR and the secondary is definitely not areas you want to be weak in.

I get and do subscribe to the drafting best player available strategy. That said with the makeup of this draft its extremely likely that either WR or CB will definitely be BPA at whatever point Frisco picks. If that likely event comes true, there is absolutely no reason to go a different direction, none.

Frisco has the most picks of any team in this draft, I believe 12. Realistically, only maybe 6 or so roster spots are available. That being the case Frisco needs to be aggressive. They should identify specific targets they want that will be impact players and go hard after them in trade ups. Extra picks are pointless if there is no room on the roster. I wouldn't be at all upset if they only actually made like 5 picks. They need talent, and guys that will actually contribute.

Frisco absolutely must come out of this draft with: A quality WR who is capable of contributing from jump. They need 2 CB's that at the very least are rotation caliber, ideally one of which would be a starter at some point this season... In order to achieve this its probably not a bad idea to double dip at WR or triple dip at CB. If Frsico keeps the plethera of picks they currently possess, there isnt much reason not to

ILB depth may be worth adressing as well, Who knows when Bowman will get back to full strength. Safety also could use a look. I also think a developmental QB is worthwhile. I have zero faith in Gabbert (WTF was up with that trade anyways?) Even with Aldon Smith's continued problems, I don't think that needs much attention pertaining to this draft. Those issues should be helped smoothed over with the likes of Tank, Lemonier, Dial. If not, then that just makes last year's draft all the more worse.

I am very excited for this draft. Been looking forward to it for months. Its time for the front office to get to work and hopefully shine

[GS Warriors 1]

Beckham Jr. just went to the Giants at #12.

[GS Warriors 1]

Saints traded up with Arizona to take Brandin Cooks of Oregon St., another supposed target is off the board.

[WarFan]

Really surprised they didn't move up. No idea who they're looking at now. Roby would be ok but I don't like the WR value here very much. CAR just took Benjamin, glad he's gone.

Hoping for a trade out.

[WarFan]

Wow. Did not see that coming at all. Actually kind of like it if they want to put him in the slot.

[dr3am]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ChrisBiderman/status/464609825360732160[/tweet]

[GS Warriors 1]

The way the draft went, I was hoping for a trade down.

I like Ward and it does appear that he'll be an immediate contributor on the nickel, and they also get a guy who can replace Bethea in a couple years.

[WarFan]

I like Ward and it does appear that he'll be an immediate contributor on the nickel, and they also get a guy who can replace Bethea in a couple years.

Yup. Most of the WR/DB guys left in this range right now are guys I just don't like. Would have preferred Ward later but I definitely like him as a player.

I thought 16-18 was the range they would be willing to pay the price to trade up into, so I have to think the target was either Beckham or Fuller who went just a little higher. Personally, I would've paid a 3rd rounder to move up and grab Verrett where he went. Those were the 3 guys I've wanted for what feels like months now.

With the two 2nds, give me CB Phillip Gaines and one of these guys: Moncrief, Robinson, Ellington, Lattimer, Bryant, Adams or Landry.

[Cruel_Ruin]

I like this pick a lot. When you are a 12-4 team coming off of three straight NFC Championship games, you tinker with the system and make slight improvements, not tear it down and start from scratch.

Ward is an improvement over Carlos Rogers. Slot corner was our biggest need, and we picked up the top coverage safety in the draft with some serious ball skills. Speed is essential to cover the slot, and Ward ran a 4.45 with a broken foot. In a few years Bethea is going to be over the hill, by then Ward should have put on some weight and experience, sliding him over to Safety should be a piece of cake. Really versatile defender.

WR is a need too, but honestly with an entire year's worth of healthy Crabtree and Boldin with Vernon as a receiving TE as a tandem, we need a #3 WR guy, not a home run superstar. You can find those later in the draft with our bevy of picks. And I haven't exactly given up on Quinton Patton yet either, so perhaps its not a gaping flesh would so much as insurance policy.

[dr3am]

Wow

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/464843314853052417[/tweet]

[GS Warriors 1]

Niners may have found their slot guy or at least an addition to the competition for it between Johnson, Patton, and Lloyd.

[Scott T]

Johnson is more than competition for a spot, he's a legit #1 WR. I'm sure the fact that he has 3 more years on his deal at a decent price is part of the reason the Niners went after him, odds are pretty decent they won't be willing to give Crabtree the money he wants.

[thesack12]

Don't like the Ward pick from any angle really.

1) Ward was neither best player available nor fills an immediate need.

2) They are going to attempt to groom him as the slot corner. Yes, he has CB experience, but that was on the outside. There is a possibility that he never takes to the transition.

3) Supposedly his long term spot is taking over for Bethea. So let me get this straight, now they are drafting with the idea of replacing a guy they literally just signed to a 4 year contract, has yet to even play a down, and isn't even 30 years old yet. I have to question that logic.

4) Ward was widely considered to be a late 2nd/3rd round prospect. That being the case its extremely possible he would have been there for either of their 2nd round picks. Baalke sure seems to have a track record of getting very low value out of his draft picks

5) Not only does he have medical concerns, but he also has attitude concerns. He is fresh off foot surgery, missed the combine, and there is a possibility he misses training camp. Supposedly his focus/game preparation, and general attitude leaves some to be desired. Both of these things strengthens the likelihood he would have been there in the 2nd round for Frisco.

6) In an absolute best case scenario: his foot heals up, he gets his attitude in line and he hits the ground running transitioning to nickel/Slot CB. Sure nickel CB is a need/concern but that is still a non starter/part time player. Thats yet another low impact draft pick, at the top of the draft no less. Frisco made 7 picks in 2012, and came away with 0 starters. They made 11 picks in 2013, and only came away with 1 starter (Eric Reid). Thats 1/18, Im sorry but that is a straight up piss poor return. That has to be worst in NFL.

7) Ward is diminutive in size. He also ha durability concerns

8) Yes the board didn't fall too favorably for Frisoc, but Staying put at #30, should have never happened in the first place. Word leaked by Baalke that they were hot after Beckham and attempted to trade up for him, but "couldn't justify the price." I say thats absolute BS. If they indeed had a guy targeted, u get aggressive and go get him, period. They had/have a large surplus of picks anyways. Half these picks won't make the roster anyways. Even after failing on getting Beckham, there wasn't much reason not to look at other moves. Either moving up for Cooks, or moving up before the CB run started in the early 20's. But lets just say for the sake of argument that they didnt have Cooks or the CB's rated that highly, fine take the deal Seattle got to move back in the early 2nd and still get Ward there, if he was indeed "their guy"

Like I said, I just don't like this pick from any conceivable angle. If Frisco bombs out again tonight in the 2nd/3rd, I'll be to the point of wanting Baalke escorted from the building and banished. The dude's drafting is abysmal.

[thesack12]

As for the Stevie Johnson trade, I like it and I don't like it at the same time.

Stevie plays a very similar style to Crab and Boldin, in that they are bigger physical WR's who run short-intermediate routes, and rely on breaking tackles to compile a lot of their yardage. Frisco has a HUGE need for a gamebreaking, vertical threat speedster. Stevie will help, and I like him as a player. They now have 3 quality wideouts, but they are pretty much the same guy. Its not necessarily a good thing that Kaep and VD are the fastest guys on offense. IMO Frisco still needs to draft a speedster WR in this draft.

Why give the pick up for him in NEXT year's draft? They have a surplus in this draft. Who the hell knows what the situation will be entering next year's draft. Just don't understand the logic involved with that one.

They also have to assume Stevie's cap hit. His hit is not huge by any means, but the team is right there at the edge of the cap.


A trade like this should have been made after Crab went down last offseason. The timing of it now is a little peculiar. I don't want to say that it smells like a bit of "panic" after missing out on the top tier WR's last night, but it does feel like a bit of an unjustified knee-jerk.

But all things considered, at the moment I do like the move for the most part. I like Stevie as a player, and he provides both depth and a legit option at a position of concern.

[dr3am]

I do feel like the Stevie Johnson pickup was more of the 9ers not wanting to give Crabs the money he desires also. Either way this team is stacked

[GS Warriors 1]

Carlos Hyde
Marcus Martin
Chris Borland

So far for the 49ers in day 2. I like all of these picks, seen a lot rank these guys in the top 3 in their respective positions(RB, C, and ILB).

[GS Warriors 1]

Niners trade out of 94 to Browns. Browns take RB Terrance West, Towson. #100 is their next pick, which is the last pick of the day.

EDIT UPDATE; Trade is 94 for 106 and 180.

[GS Warriors 1]

#100 - 49ers select Clemson OL Brandon Thomas

Likely out for 2014, possible top 45 pick or so before the ACL tear last month.

[GS Warriors 1]

FULL TRADE RECAP:

Niners trade 56 to Denver for 63, 171(5th), and a 2015 4th round pick. Denver selects WR Cody Latimer, Indiana

Niners trade 63, 171 to Miami for 57. Niners select RB Carlos Hyde, Ohio St. Miami select WR Jarvis Landry, LSU

Niners trade 61 to Jacksonville for 70, 150(5th). Niners select USC C Marcus Martin, Jags select WR Allen Robinson, Penn St.