49ers Clubhouse - 2000 Draft

San Fransisco is already looking towards the 2001 draft hoping to rebuild a franchise that has been depleted by age and salary cap problems. Though, the 49ers may have trouble doing this because of salary cap violations and are expected to lose 3rd, 4th and 5th round choices leaving them with 1st, 2nd, 6th and two 7th round choices. Expect this number of choices to increase when Bill Walsh trades down to earn more picks. Here are the positions I feel that the niners should look at:

Offensive Guard
This season, the niners line has been awesome, and Ray Brown has lead the charge and is looking for a Pro Bowl appearance. But Brown has 15 years under his belt and isn’t going to around for ever. Phil Ostrowski may fill Brown’s shoes, but he’s currently a backup for the injury prone Dave Fiore. Jeremy Newberry could play there if Chris Dalman plays next season, but Dalman’s career has been full of injuries and he’ll decide his future at season’s end. If Dalman does retire, Newberry will retain his position at center for years to come leaving Browns spot open when he retires. Even if Ostrowski does earn the job, the niners need an above average player to be a backup.
Draft: The niners should look at either a low 2nd or early 3rd pick to fill this. I doubt they will go that high and will probably use a 6th or 7th round pick to fill this need. But I would be surprised if the 49ers don’t pick up a offensive lineman like last draft.
Player: If they do go for an early pick, look for Omar Smith to be a high priority. Smith is quick on his feet and a big guy at the same time.

Defensive End
John Engelburger has been a great find, but the niners need someone to help him on the other side. Anthony Pleasant is a great player and an excellent teacher for the young Ends but he isn’t the solution to the niners problems, and John Milem doesn’t look to be in the niners future starting plans. Chike Okeafor I would like to see start alongside Engelburger, but they both play on the right. Junior Bryant is also an option, but I’d prefer to see him at DT alongside Bryant Young.
Draft: They’ll either draft a DT or an DE high up. I’d draft a DE for the reason’s above, but I’ve heard that their looking for a DT.
Player: Jamal Reynolds would be a great addition, but I doubt this, seeing the niners would have to earn a top 5 pick and not trade down. I really like Roland Seymore. A lower pick would be David Warren, who’d be a steal at around 5th Round, only because he’s been overshadowed by fellow FSU team mates Reynolds and Seymore. He may need a bit of time to blossom, but the niners don’t look to be going far for a few years anyway.

Defensive Tackle
Brentson Buckner is really only around to fill in for Junior Bryant’s injury and next season he probably wont be around. Cedrick Killings is showing he is a great player and a more than adequate backup, but Reggie McGrew has been a bust up till now. He’s been injury prone and has had little playing time. The niners would love a pass rushing tackle to backup the two Bryant’s (Junior and Young) especially if McGrew continues not to show any form. I feel that the niners would be giving up too soon though.
Draft: They’ll either draft a DT or an DE high up. As I said before, the DT looks to be it, but I’d wait until day two before considering a DT.
Player: I have a suspicion at the moment that this will be one of their first round picks (Walsh is hoping to trade down for two). I’m not sure they’d be high enough for Ennis Davis or Richard Seymore. Maybe Gerrard Warren or Damione Lewis my find there way to the Bay.

Linebacker
This depends on what they have in mind for Jeff Ulbrich. If they decide that he’s going to be the replacement for Ken Norton, they’ll need a backup, which can be taken in the lower rounds. If they want Ulbrich to push and eventually take over Winfred Tubbs, they’ll need to look for a player on the first day.
Draft: This is really what I would do and I doubt that the niners will look this way. I’d like to see another backup to help Norton, Tubbs, Peterson and Ulbrich who have all been injured during the season, but I seriously doubt that the niners will go this way.
Player: I’d be looking for someone in round 4, maybe Sedrick Hodge or Brian Allen, but don’t expect this to happen.

Cornerback
The niners backfield is just as bad as last season, the only difference is that they are now beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Ahmed Plummer is going to be a great corner, he occasionally lets through the big plays, but that’ll slow down with experience. I don’t really like the thought of Jason Webster starting, if feel he’s more of a nickel back. I am wondering why Anthony Parker hasn’t had his shot. I would have had him ranked higher on the depth chart the Webster.
Draft: I would draft a CB as the other first rounder, only if Nate Clememts or Jamar Fletcher leave early. The other top CBs that are tipped for the first round don’t rank close to these guys. SF will take a CB though, trying to find someone to help solve their massive problem.
Player: Again, I don’t think that Clements and Fletcher will be around if San Francisco trades down. But if one of these players are leaving early, hopefully Walsh will realise that he has to have a high pick to take one of these great talents which will go a long way to bringing the niners back to the NFL’s elite. Gary Baxter would be good at a low first to high second round.

My choices in the 2001 Draft:

Round 1: I’d be hoping for Clements or Fletcher. If they stay at school, I’d keep the high pick and go for Reynolds at DE

Round 2: If I took a DE, I’d look at a CB like Baxter. If I took a CB, I’d take Roland Seymore very quickly.

Round 6: This would be a Guard, hopefully a player that is more of a project and needs coaching to bring out his talent.

Round 7: I’d go for an OT, just for a backup.

Round 7: I’d actually take another QB to battle with Rattay and Carmazzi for the backup position. Though a player at this position wouldn’t earn that right until being in the NFL for a few years, but I think that it would just give them an extra push in training camp, and the chances are that this player would be released after training camp, but he would have served his purpose if he pushed those two hard enough. I wouldn’t draft a LB here, I feel it’s too low to get a LB to take over from Norton. I’d pass on a DT, because it’s too early to give up on McGrew, and Killings and Nate Hobgood-Chittick are good backups and will push McGrew.

				By Robert Baker, 49ers Clubhouse draft writer Nov.17, 2000 San Fransisco is already looking towards the 2001 draft hoping to rebuild a franchise that has been depleted by age and salary cap problems. Though, the 49ers may have trouble doing this because of salary cap violations and are expected to lose 3rd, 4th and 5th round choices leaving them with 1st, 2nd, 6th and two 7th round choices. Expect this number of choices to increase when Bill Walsh trades down to earn more picks. Here are the positions I feel that the niners should look at: Offensive Guard This season, the niners line has been awesome, and Ray Brown has lead the charge and is looking for a Pro Bowl appearance. But Brown has 15 years under his belt and isn’t going to around for ever. Phil Ostrowski may fill Brown’s shoes, but he’s currently a backup for the injury prone Dave Fiore. Jeremy Newberry could play there if Chris Dalman plays next season, but Dalman’s career has been full of injuries and he’ll decide his future at season’s end. If Dalman does retire, Newberry will retain his position at center for years to come leaving Browns spot open when he retires. Even if Ostrowski does earn the job, the niners need an above average player to be a backup. Draft: The niners should look at either a low 2nd or early 3rd pick to fill this. I doubt they will go that high and will probably use a 6th or 7th round pick to fill this need. But I would be surprised if the 49ers don’t pick up a offensive lineman like last draft. Player: If they do go for an early pick, look for Omar Smith to be a high priority. Smith is quick on his feet and a big guy at the same time. Defensive End John Engelburger has been a great find, but the niners need someone to help him on the other side. Anthony Pleasant is a great player and an excellent teacher for the young Ends but he isn’t the solution to the niners problems, and John Milem doesn’t look to be in the niners future starting plans. Chike Okeafor I would like to see start alongside Engelburger, but they both play on the right. Junior Bryant is also an option, but I’d prefer to see him at DT alongside Bryant Young. Draft: They’ll either draft a DT or an DE high up. I’d draft a DE for the reason’s above, but I’ve heard that their looking for a DT. Player: Jamal Reynolds would be a great addition, but I doubt this, seeing the niners would have to earn a top 5 pick and not trade down. I really like Roland Seymore. A lower pick would be David Warren, who’d be a steal at around 5th Round, only because he’s been overshadowed by fellow FSU team mates Reynolds and Seymore. He may need a bit of time to blossom, but the niners don’t look to be going far for a few years anyway. Defensive Tackle Brentson Buckner is really only around to fill in for Junior Bryant’s injury and next season he probably wont be around. Cedrick Killings is showing he is a great player and a more than adequate backup, but Reggie McGrew has been a bust up till now. He’s been injury prone and has had little playing time. The niners would love a pass rushing tackle to backup the two Bryant’s (Junior and Young) especially if McGrew continues not to show any form. I feel that the niners would be giving up too soon though. Draft: They’ll either draft a DT or an DE high up. As I said before, the DT looks to be it, but I’d wait until day two before considering a DT. Player: I have a suspicion at the moment that this will be one of their first round picks (Walsh is hoping to trade down for two). I’m not sure they’d be high enough for Ennis Davis or Richard Seymore. Maybe Gerrard Warren or Damione Lewis my find there way to the Bay. Linebacker This depends on what they have in mind for Jeff Ulbrich. If they decide that he’s going to be the replacement for Ken Norton, they’ll need a backup, which can be taken in the lower rounds. If they want Ulbrich to push and eventually take over Winfred Tubbs, they’ll need to look for a player on the first day. Draft: This is really what I would do and I doubt that the niners will look this way. I’d like to see another backup to help Norton, Tubbs, Peterson and Ulbrich who have all been injured during the season, but I seriously doubt that the niners will go this way. Player: I’d be looking for someone in round 4, maybe Sedrick Hodge or Brian Allen, but don’t expect this to happen. Cornerback The niners backfield is just as bad as last season, the only difference is that they are now beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Ahmed Plummer is going to be a great corner, he occasionally lets through the big plays, but that’ll slow down with experience. I don’t really like the thought of Jason Webster starting, if feel he’s more of a nickel back. I am wondering why Anthony Parker hasn’t had his shot. I would have had him ranked higher on the depth chart the Webster. Draft: I would draft a CB as the other first rounder, only if Nate Clememts or Jamar Fletcher leave early. The other top CBs that are tipped for the first round don’t rank close to these guys. SF will take a CB though, trying to find someone to help solve their massive problem. Player: Again, I don’t think that Clements and Fletcher will be around if San Francisco trades down. But if one of these players are leaving early, hopefully Walsh will realise that he has to have a high pick to take one of these great talents which will go a long way to bringing the niners back to the NFL’s elite. Gary Baxter would be good at a low first to high second round. My choices in the 2001 Draft: Round 1: I’d be hoping for Clements or Fletcher. If they stay at school, I’d keep the high pick and go for Reynolds at DE Round 2: If I took a DE, I’d look at a CB like Baxter. If I took a CB, I’d take Roland Seymore very quickly. Round 6: This would be a Guard, hopefully a player that is more of a project and needs coaching to bring out his talent. Round 7: I’d go for an OT, just for a backup. Round 7: I’d actually take another QB to battle with Rattay and Carmazzi for the backup position. Though a player at this position wouldn’t earn that right until being in the NFL for a few years, but I think that it would just give them an extra push in training camp, and the chances are that this player would be released after training camp, but he would have served his purpose if he pushed those two hard enough. I wouldn’t draft a LB here, I feel it’s too low to get a LB to take over from Norton. I’d pass on a DT, because it’s too early to give up on McGrew, and Killings and Nate Hobgood-Chittick are good backups and will push McGrew.
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