Hi Niner fans, Last season you may remember my ‘if I was Bill Walsh’ section, in which I expressed who I felt the niners should draft and why. This created a lot of controversy in which I received many E-mails, some praising me, others thanking me that I wasn’t the 49ers GM. Well this time I’m expanding this section, doing the expansion draft first, followed by free agents and the draft. Another change is the 49er Clubhouse’s new forum room, so every niner fan can have their say and every other niner fan can read their say and respond.

Firstly the basics of the expansion draft:
- 5 players must be nominated by each franchise for the draft pool
- No punters or kickers
- Maximum of one player who finished the season on a reserve/injured list
- Maximum of one player with 10 or more seasons
- If Houston selects one player from your chosen five, you have the option of withdrawing one player from the draft pool
- If Houston selects another, you again have the option to remove another player

What I’ll be focusing on is reducing the salary cap with two obvious nominations, and other players that may be just squeezed out due to inexperience, injury or too many players at their position.

Well enough of that, let’s dive right into it!

All the best, Rob Baker, 49ers Clubhouse
 

Dave Costa OG
6’5” 307 lbs. 1 season
Drafted: F/A

Career Stats

Year	G/S
2001	14/0

A rookie Free Agent could be replaced easily enough.
 

Reggie McGrew DT
6’1” 301 lbs. 3 seasons
Drafted: round 1, 1999, SF

Career Stats

Year	G/S	Tkl	Solo	Ast	S	Int	Yds	FF	FR
1999	Injury Reserve
2000	10/0	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0
2001	12/0	7	7	0	1	0	0	0	0

This pre-season wrapped up his fate in my opinion. He needs as much practice as possible, he has the talent, he just need something to bring it out. With Dana Stubblefield back at the niners, hopefully (fingers crossed) Junior Bryant, Pro-Bowler Bryant Young and rookie John Schlect, there isn’t a place for him and his contract, which is a high first rounder’s contract, and basically he doesn’t deserve a minimum wage contract in my opinion.
 

Anthony Parker CB
6’1” 200 lbs. 3 seasons
Drafted: round 4, 1999, SF

Career Stats

Year	G/S	Tkl	Solo	Ast	S	Int	Yds	FF	FR
1999	Injury Reserve
2000	16/0	9	9	0	0	0	0	0	0
2001	5/0	8	6	2	0	0	0	0	0

I like Anthony Parker, he has great height, good speed and should challenge for Jason Webster’s starting spot and I’d take him out of the draft pool so quickly if another niner was taken. So if I like him so much, why would I nominate him? Well basically he’s too often injured, and a player on the sidelines is really pointless keeping around. That’s basically it. In three seasons, he’s had the chance to play in 48 games, 49 including playoffs, he’s played 21. He hasn’t given any sign to show that he’s not injury prone, so why waste a roster spot on someone that is under 50% of the time fit? Really this is a pick that if he’s taken, good for him, he’ll have a new start at a new team, if he’s not picked, good, he’ll have an opportunity to prove he’s not injury prone next season.
 

JJ Stokes WR
6’4” 217 lbs. 7 seasons
Drafted: round 1, 1995, SF

Career Stats

Year	G/S	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Rush	Yds	Avg	TD
1995	12/1	38	517	13.6	4	0	0	0	0
1996	6/6	18	249	13.8	0	0	0	0	0
1997	16/16	58	733	12.6	4	0	0	0	0
1998	16/11	63	770	12.2	8	0	0	0	0
1999	16/4	34	429	12.6	3	0	0	0	0
2000	12/3	30	524	17.5	3	1	6	0	0
2001	16/16	54	586	10.8	7	0	0	0	0

Seven seasons, four season in which he’s started over 50% of the games he’s played. 1000 yard seasons: none. Ten TDs or more in a season: none. Over 65 receptions: none. And this guy is worth his contract? HELL NO!!!!! If he was getting paid much less and expected to be a backup WR, yes, keep him. But one of the best outcomes of an expansion draft is teams easing their salary cap woes, and if Houston are nice enough to take him, there will be no cap penalties, and with the money the niners were paying him, we could pick up quite a nice Free Agent.
 

Justin Swift TE
6’3” 265 lbs. 2 seasons
Drafted: round 7, 1999 Den

Career Stats

Year	G/S	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Rush	Yds	Avg	TD
2000	16/1	1	8	8.0	0	0	0	0	0
2001	16/2	11	66	6.0	1	0	0	0	0

With Greg Clark 100% fit next season, and Eric Johnson being the surprise packet of the season, there isn’t mush room left. What I’d like to see is Brian Jennings being worked on more to be the 3rd string TE, and that leaves out Justin Swift.