Originally posted by NCommand:Originally posted by PhillyNiner:I think this draft became really, really critical to our success this year. We need home runs this year, no slow to develop guys. We could use day one starters at ILB, CB and WR and really need OG,DE, and OLB who can back up right away and compete to start if needed with the uncertainty at those positions. We are teetering right now...one more weight on either side of the balance could push our prospects this season hard towards one side or the other.
I really liked the positions you targeted PN. When you look at the current roster, do you see any rookies that could come in and start over the current slated starters?
Current Offensive Personnel:
QB: Colin Kaepernick; Blaine Gabbert
RB: Carlos Hyde; Reggie Bush, Kendall Hunter, Jarryd Hayne & Kendall Gaskins
H-Back: Derek Carrier
TE: Vernon Davis; Vance McDonald, Garrett Celek, Asante Cleveland & Xavier Grimble
FB: Bruce Miller; Trey Millard
X: Anquan Boldin; Quinton Patton & Chuck Jacobs
Y (SLOT): Bruce Ellington; Trindon Holiday & Lance Lewis
Z: Torrey Smith; Jerome Simpson
LOT: Joe Staley; Erik Pears
ROT: Anthony Davis; Chris Martin & Fou Fonoti
LG: Brandon Thomas/Marcus Martin; & Andrew Tiller
RG: Alex Boone; Joe Looney
C: Daniel Kilgore/Marcus Martin; Dillon Farrell
Current Defensive Personnel:
RDE: Tank Carradine; Kaleb Ramsey & Lawrence Okoye
LDE: Quinton Dial/Darnell Dockett; Tony Jerrod-Eddie
NT: Glenn Dorsey/Ian Williams; Mike Purcell & Garrison Smith
WILL: Aldon Smith; Corey Lemonier
SAM: Ahmad Brooks/Aaron Lynch; Chase Thomas
TED: Michael Wilhoite; Nick Moody
MIKE: Navarro Bowman; Shayne Skov
RCB: Dontae Johnson; Kenneth Acker, Leon McFadden & Cameron Fuller
LCB: Tramaine Brock; Chris Cook & Marcus Cromartie
SLOT/NICKLE: Jimmie Ward; Shareece Wright & Keith Reaser
FS: Eric Reid; Craig Dahl
SS: Antoine Bethea; L.J. McCray
Current Special Teams:
LS: Kyle Nelson
PK: Phil Dawson
P: Andy Lee
PR/KOR: Bruce Ellington/Reggie Bush/Jarryd Hayne; Trindon Holiday & Carlos Hyde
Like every year, the team should throw a couple curveballs in the draft, but I expect -- and some of these of course are givens/expected by most fans -- that the team will go after the following positions in the draft: DE, WR, TE, CB, S, OLB, and ILB.
*ILB Obviously to bolster the depth there created by the loss of Willis, Borland, and insurance for the recovery of Bowman.
*OLB Due to the potential loss of Ahmad Brooks after this season, with Aldon in a contract year, and Lemonier still unproven.
*S Due to Reid's concussion concerns, little depth, and Bethea's age and him stating he's not sure if he has anymore than a year left in him.
*WR Due to loss of Crabtree, Boldin likely leaving after this season, and Ellington and Patton looking promising but still unproven.
*TE Due to Vernon likely playing his last season with us, and McDonald being disappointing. If he stays bad, we'd have no known option for 2016.
*DE Due to the pending retirement of Justin, Dockett's age and recovery from injury, and promising but unproven depth.
*CB Due to Wright and Cook only being on one-year deals, insurance for Brock & Ward's health, and promising but unproven depth in Johnson/Reaser/Acker.