Hi Niner fans,
Well it’s getting closer to that time of year again, the draft. Last season I started the ‘If I was Bill Walsh’ column, basically saying who I’d draft if I was GM of the 49ers. Well Bill’s not the GM any more, and Terry’s got the job, so this year I’m the new Terry Donahue. As the weeks narrow down to the two big days, I’ll hopefully update this a couple of times, depending on Free Agent signings and draft trades etc. I would also like to hear your comments on the 49ers Clubhouse Message Board, or drop me an E-Mail if you have a question.

Rob Baker
49ers Clubhouse
 

Round 1   Pick 27
Derek Ross     CB     Ohio St.     JUNIOR
With Tony Parrish now a niner, I don’t really see a need to draft another S so high, especially with Zack Bronson, John Keith, Ronnie Heard and Al Blades. I’ve never been a massive fan of Jason Webster starting, so he’d be moved to a nickelback. Ross would probably be available early second round, but I’m very high on this guy. He’s big, a good cover guy and a product out of Ohio St. who recently have produced top notch CBs such as Ahmed Plummer, Nate Clements and Shawn Springs. I wouldn’t risk trading down to get this stud.

Round 2   Pick 29   Overall 61
Kendell Simmons     OG     Auburn
Seeing I’m GM, I’d keep Ray Brown for one more season and groom Simmons. He has great technique, but has trouble with injuries, which is why he has fallen this low. The 49ers could go and sign Chris Naeole or Ron Stone, but they’ll cost big bucks. Keeping Brown for one, or hopefully two seasons, give Simmons the chance to find out what the NFL is like, and learn from a great OG.

Round 4   Pick 29   Overall 125
Travis Dorsch     K     Purdue
I can see half of you thinking ‘oh my god, why am I reading this’, well hear me out. I am sick and tired of seeing the niners have second-rate kickers and punters just to save a buck. Lets face it, a decent K IS the difference between winning the Super Bowl and a wasted season. Ask New England, thanks to Adam Vinatieri, the Patriots won the AFC Championship game in OT, and who could forget Vinatieri’s Super Bowl winning kick? Look at the four conference championship teams, Oakland, Sebastian Janikowski, New England, Adam Vinatieri, St Louis Jeff Wilkins and Philadelphia’s David Akers. All are reliable, and I’d trust them when the game is on the line. Now, Jose Cortez I don’t want back, he started well, but was a joke at the end. It’s time to stop being cheap and draft a K that we will keep for more than a season. Dorsch can also punt, so if the rookie free agent that I’d pick up after the draft fails, he could even be tried there. 

Round 5   Pick 28   Overall 163
Mike Collins     OG     Wake Forest
Why two OGs? Well Collins can play OT as well as OG, and this is another guy I like a lot. But mainly, the OL isn’t getting any younger; the last OL drafted was Tyrone Hopson in the 1999 draft. It’s time to bring in some new blood.

Round 5   Pick 37   Overall 172
David Pugh     DT     Virginia Tech
After I’d release Reggie McGrew, a backup DT would be needed. On DTs though, I’d keep BY as a DT. He played a great game at Green Bay, but with Andre Carter, John Engelburger and Chike Okeafor, we have three young DEs with promise. Young is one of the best DTs in the league and there isn’t a DT with the niners that could replace him, so why jeopardize one position for another?

Round 6   Pick 29   Overall 191
Ryan Flemming     WR     Air Force
A big receiver at 6’4”, and Streets and Stokes just aren’t performing. Oh, seeing I’m GM, JJ Stokes, you’re released!!! Streets to start with TO, and Flemming and Cedrick Wilson can be rotated around for 4 WR sets. A Free Agent WR (my preference would have been Bobby Shaw before he went of to Jacksonville) to play in 3 WR sets.

Round 7   Pick 28   Overall 223
Scott Fujita     OLB     California
No depth at LB, and depth is desperately needed, especially seeing Alex Lincoln’s future is still in question.

Round 7   Pick 39   Overall 249
Todd DeLamaileure     ILB     Hofstra
Again, depth is needed

Round 7   Pick 46   Overall 256
Nick Murphy     P     Arizona St.
The 49ers need a punter. I’d draft Murphy, pick up an undrafted free agent, and keep Baker, and let them battle for the position in camp.

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Released:
- JJ Stokes  WR
Given his chance, didn’t take it
- Reggie McGrew  DT
After last off-season, I would have gotten rid of him straight away
- Greg Clark  TE
Injuries and Eric Johnson led to his departure
- Junior Bryant  DT
Career ending injury

Not-Resigned:
- Terry Killens  LB  Denver
I would have kept Killens, but he decided that Denver will give him more chances
- Lance Shulters  S Tennessee
Too higher demands , and I don’t have enough patients!
- George McCullough CB
Too much talent out there 
- Rick Mirer  QB  Oakland
Never been a massive fan of Mirer
- Ben Lynch  C
Again, not a massive fan 
- Jose Cortez  K
Started well, ended horribly

Free Agents Signed:
- Tony Parrish  S  Chicago
A nice, if not better replacement for Shulters
- Bobby Shaw  WR  Pittsburgh
He’s gone to the Jaguars, but I would have gone after very early in the piece