In hindsight, was Vernon Davis worth the 6th Overall in 2006?

It's a long off-season, but since it's Draft season and Kyle Pitts just tore it up at his Pro Day, and we now have one of the top Tight Ends in the league now, I figured this'd be an interesting discussion piece.

In 2006, we were in Year 2 of the Nolan Regime with Alex Smith and Frank Gore also in Year 2. 2006 ended up being a promising year for our rebuild, with Norv Turner as Offensive Coordinator. Frank Gore emerged that year and ended up rushing for near 1700 yards. In the next few years, we would draft pretty well under Scott McCloughan, but I think the lack of offensive continuity every year really doomed Nolan and then Singletary. Plus, Alex Smith injured his shoulder and we could never put it together on offense until Harbaugh came.

That draft particularly, we chose Vernon Davis over Huff, Whitner, Ngata, and then drafted Manny Lawson later in the round. Seeing some mock drafts pick Kyle Pitts pretty high reminded me that we drafted Vernon at #6. Vernon would have a pretty solid career with us. His best year was a 78 reception, 965 yard, 13 TD season, and he got us our first big playoff win over the Saints. In 9.5 seasons with the 49ers, he put up four seasons with at least 750 yards, and had two seasons with at least 500. Considering that we were built to be a traditional, run-heavy team with Frank Gore at its centerpiece, he was perhaps our most dangerous pass-catcher. He was super fast, super strong, and was a terrific run-blocker. He would end up going to Washington and having a couple pretty solid seasons.

In thinking about it... was he worth it at #6 though? #6 is a pretty high draft position. You expect that guy to be a perennial Pro Bowler in a premium position. In hindsight, I don't know if I would've drafted the other guys that were picked right after him.... perhaps Haloti Ngata. But at the time, we had a pretty good defensive line that included Bryant Young, Isaac Sopoaga, Anthony Adams, Marques Douglas.

When we drafted him, Vernon Davis was meant to be the next elite tight end. He had some very great seasons, but he never struck me as being at the level that Kittle, Kelce, and Gronk are currently at now. Part of me attributes that to our lack of offensive continuity, but it makes me wonder what he and the rest of our offensive could've done had they not been wasted in the Nolan/Singletary eras.

What do you guys think?

Originally posted by Wubbie:
It's a long off-season, but since it's Draft season and Kyle Pitts just tore it up at his Pro Day, and we now have one of the top Tight Ends in the league now, I figured this'd be an interesting discussion piece.

In 2006, we were in Year 2 of the Nolan Regime with Alex Smith and Frank Gore also in Year 2. 2006 ended up being a promising year for our rebuild, with Norv Turner as Offensive Coordinator. Frank Gore emerged that year and ended up rushing for near 1700 yards. In the next few years, we would draft pretty well under Scott McCloughan, but I think the lack of offensive continuity every year really doomed Nolan and then Singletary. Plus, Alex Smith injured his shoulder and we could never put it together on offense until Harbaugh came.

That draft particularly, we chose Vernon Davis over Huff, Whitner, Ngata, and then drafted Manny Lawson later in the round. Seeing some mock drafts pick Kyle Pitts pretty high reminded me that we drafted Vernon at #6. Vernon would have a pretty solid career with us. His best year was a 78 reception, 965 yard, 13 TD season, and he got us our first big playoff win over the Saints. In 9.5 seasons with the 49ers, he put up four seasons with at least 750 yards, and had two seasons with at least 500. Considering that we were built to be a traditional, run-heavy team with Frank Gore at its centerpiece, he was perhaps our most dangerous pass-catcher. He was super fast, super strong, and was a terrific run-blocker. He would end up going to Washington and having a couple pretty solid seasons.

In thinking about it... was he worth it at #6 though? #6 is a pretty high draft position. You expect that guy to be a perennial Pro Bowler in a premium position. In hindsight, I don't know if I would've drafted the other guys that were picked right after him.... perhaps Haloti Ngata. But at the time, we had a pretty good defensive line that included Bryant Young, Isaac Sopoaga, Anthony Adams, Marques Douglas.

When we drafted him, Vernon Davis was meant to be the next elite tight end. He had some very great seasons, but he never struck me as being at the level that Kittle, Kelce, and Gronk are currently at now. Part of me attributes that to our lack of offensive continuity, but it makes me wonder what he and the rest of our offensive could've done had they not been wasted in the Nolan/Singletary eras.

What do you guys think?

He was never worth the #6 pick. He was supposed to revolutionize the position. Too big too fast. People saw his physical attributes and thought he'd learn to be a complete TE. Completely dismissing his short comings.

Now here we are 15 years later

And just like that I turned it into a QB thread. My bad!

no. Great catch against the Saints though.

Should have keep Walker and let Davis go.

In that draft? Yes because it sucked. There was really no one after davis that was worth it. Should have traded the pick for 3 first rounders

Yes.

No, but it ended up being a decent pick anyways. Obviously Cutler or Ngata would've been preferable.

Great athlete. Closer to good than great as a football player. Course he had s**t structure around him with several of those coaching staffs. Woulda been better under Kyle obviously but he still woulda been stiff and awkward lol

Ya. Anytime you get a good 5+ years out of your pick its fine.

Could do a lot worse.

Yes

Yes.

Yes

Probably not, but the draft Is all about drafting quality players regardless of where they are drafted.

Yep.

He was clutch in playoffs. Stiff as a board, but burner speed. He really was hard to defend, but in a very different way than a Kittle or Gates.

Also, dude could block like a mid-tier tackle..

Yes