Round 1
#10 - Michael Crabtree WR University of Texas Tech / WR
Michael Crabtree falling #10 was one of the many early surprises draft day. Michael Crabtree who many scouts thought might have gone to ethier the Seahawks, Raiders, or maybe even the Bengals surprised everybody by still being around when the 49ers were on the clock. Many including the 49ers themselves thought Crabtree would not have maken it past the Raiders, Al Davis proved us wrong again and defied the odds drafting DHB. Michael Crabtree gives the 49ers the long awaited heir to Jerry Rice. Michael Crabtree is the best WR prospect since Calvin Johnson, and has everything you want in a superstar reciever except maybe break away speed. Crabtree has one of the best hands I have ever seen coming out of college, and his hands are like magnets. Unlike the other highly rated Recievers Crabtree is more of a possesion reciever/red zone threat. Also unlike the other recievers Crabtree always came up big in games where he was needed the most - see Texas Tech vs Texas. Crabtree is a immediate impact player, and has great potential in the long run. Shaun Hill for the 49ers was very underrated, and will have even more help with newly signed FA Brandon Jones and Rookie phenom Michael Crabtree. The 49ers have a very talented TE in Vernon Davis who keeps falling short every year, but the athletecism and potential is there who knows maybe this is his breakout year? They have A top tier RB in Frank Gore who will have much needed help with newly aqcuired Glen Coffee (more on that later
). I think this pick is the pick that get the 49ers over the hump and into the playoffs if not this year definatly next yearGrade - A+++
Round 3
# 74 - Glen Coffee University of Alabama / RB
I am a little more critical about this pick. The 49ers wanted a guy who could take pressure off of Frank Gore, and had a silmailer running style where the guy could break tackles and keep the beat going. They certainly got that guy in Glen Coffee, but they were still alot of guys better than Glen overall, and they left a better running back on the board in Andre Brown. They could have also gone to O-line with this pick which surprisigly they did not address at all. Not only that but, Glen Coffee is not without injuries. I assume when you pickup insurance for one of your guys you better make sure your insurance gets more injured then the guy you are trying to protect. When Glen Coffee is all there in the game he is a very solid back, and can make a nice backup for Gore, But in the 3rd round you can get bigger and better things than a oft-injured backup RB.
Grade - C-
Round 4
#146 - Scott McKillop University of Pittsburgh / ILB
Scott McKillop is as rough and rugged as the school he comes from. Scott is a rough blue collar worker with a very high motor, and never gives up just the way Mike Singletary likes them. Scott is a very aggressive ILB with a very high football IQ and great instincts. He is overlooked because his less than steller athletic abilities covering the 40 in 4.73. He is not the most athelitc guy on the field, but you can never make him stop trying. He can be put in running situations, but is a liability in coverage and will get burned easily against fast TE's and RB's. At the very least he will be a very good special teams player, and can develop into a crown favorite.
Grade - B+
Round 5
#171 - Nate Davis University of Ball State / QB
I believe Shaun Hill has been the 49ers guy since Week 8 against seattle. Nate Davis is developed properly can be a solid backup QB. He lacks the size, and pocket presence to be a starting QB. He is moble enough to get out the pocket when in trouble, but his problem is he does not stay in there long enough. He struggles against the rush, which is a very basic need to be a starting QB in the NFL. Davis is very tough, is ok with his accuracy throwing a good deep ball. He might need 2-3 years of development, and i feel the 49ers would have been better off taking a Offensive Linemen here.
Grade - C
Round 6
#184 - Bear Pascoe University of Fresno State / TE
Bear Pascoe is not very much athletically, and not a very good blocker. He has solid hands, but lacks the speed to get into the open to make a grab. He struggles on the block getting pushed around by bigger guys, and getting runned around by quicker. He is a good route runner, and can make the catch in a crown but don't expect him to do much with it after. He can probably make a sqaud as a #3 TE.
Grade - C-
Round 7
#219 - Curtis Taylor - Unviversity of LSU / S
Curtis Taylor stock took a bad fall after the end of the season. Good for the Niners bad for him. Taylor is quite the athlete for a Safety, and posses the qualities of a NFL starter. He needs to retune his technique, and work harder. He has a 6-2 frame and runs the 40 in 4.55. He comes from a prestigious school, and has played the best opponets college has to offer. He was a very big and aggresive hitter playing centerfield for the Tigers. If the 49ers are patient with Taylor, and help him with his technique they have a major steal in their hands
Grade - A-
Round 7
#244 - Ricky Jean-Francois - Univeristy of LSU / 4-3DT 3-4DE
With the last pick of their 2009 NFL Draft the 49ers take another LSU alumni. In the 3-4 scheme Francois will have some adjustments to make to play a line end in San Fransico. Francois like Taylor has shown flashes of being a brilliant prospect, but for the most part has underachieved. He has great quickness for a man his size 6.25 feet/295 4.96 40. Another player who needs his technique stripped down and totally rebuilt from the ground up. He must beat his blocker off the snap, or other wise rendered useless.
Grade - B+
Overall
The 49ers I felt had one of the better drafts overall. They came on strong early and late, and floundered a little in the middle parts. I believe Crabtree is a can't miss prospect, and will be catching touchdowns for them for years to come. They could have gotten better players then Coffee, and even better players in the same position, but the load he will take off Gore will be much appreciated. Scott McKillop is a very active player who never gives up, and they got good value for him. Nate Davis IMO was a wasted pick, at the very least thet could have gotten depth for their O-line which they did not address at all one of their few mistakes this year. At the end the got 2 undercachieving but very athleitc players from LSU who need a couple of years in the NFL to max out their potential. The 49ers did not address all of their needs, but they got good value from most of their picks, and got the steal in the 1st round with Crabtree.
Overall Grade - B+