Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders is a fan of the San Francisco 49ers' most recent draft class. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan ended up making just five selections, but for a team that is coming off a trip to the Super Bowl, that may have been enough.
"These two guys, the head coach and the GM, Lynch, they know what they're doing," Sanders told Andrew Siciliano and Brian Billick. "I like the understanding of a good head coach and a guy who formerly played the game. That's a tremendous hook-up."
Sanders was particularly complimentary towards the 49ers' first pick of the draft, and the team's only selection on the defensive side of the football — South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw.
"My son plays for the University of South Carolina," Sanders explained, "and watching this guy rush the passer, he'd show up in and out every day, every game. This guy is a bona fide baller. You go into the draft, you get a couple of receivers (Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings) that can consequently replace (Emmanuel) Sanders, and you get a tight end (Charlie Woerner), and you get a lineman (tackle Colton McKivitz)."
Minutes into Day 3 of the draft, on Saturday, the 49ers delivered a shocker, trading for seven-time Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams to replace the retiring Joe Staley.
Added Sanders: "Then, to top it all off, with the sugar on the top, you go get Trent Williams? You're going to get a seven-time Pro Bowler, man? Possible All-Pro guy to come and sure up your offensive line? Wow. These guys know what they're doing."
Needless to say, Sanders is a big fan of what is happening in Santa Clara.
