Grading the San Francisco 49ers 2014 Draft

By Vincent Frank on Wednesday, May 14th 2014
Grading the San Francisco 49ers 2014 Draft

The San Francisco 49ers entered the 2014 NFL draft with six picks in the first three rounds and not many needs. They ended up selecting a whopping 12 times throughout the three-day event, which raises questions about whether some of these players will actually be with the team (in any form) when training camp breaks in late summer. 

However, San Francisco was able to add a ton of talent on both sides of the ball as well as a proven 1,000-yard NFL receiver. General manager Trent Baalke continued to show that he was nothing less than a ninja when it comes to navigating the draft board. Let's take a look at San Francisco's 2014 draft haul. 

 

First Round, 30th Pick: Jimmie Ward, Defensive Back, Northern Illinois

We didn't have a first-round grade on Ward when the rankings were conducted shortly prior to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Since then, Ward climbed the boards of many experts, ultimately sneaking into the first round of our final experts mock. 

He's a strong safety by trade, but has the coverage technique and athleticism to play in the slot. And that's precisely where the 49ers plan to play him as a rookie in 2014 before he takes over for Antoine Bethea next to Eric Reid at safety. Ward is a high-upside defensive back that should add yet another dimension to one of the most dominating defenses in the NFL. Grade: B+

 

Second Round, 57th Pick: Carlos Hyde, Running Back, Ohio State

Hyde wasn't our top-ranked running back heading into the draft. That distinction went to Bishop Sankey, who is more in the smallish variety. We all know that's not exactly what Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers like from their running backs. Instead, they decided to go after the physical beast that is Hyde, who should get playing time immediately as a short-yardage option. 

Moving forward, Hyde will team up with Marcus Lattimore to form one of the most dynamic running back duos in the NFL. Of course, that's not going to take place until Frank Gore calls it quits or let go by San Francisco. In any event, the selection of Hyde represented tremendous value for the offensive scheme San Francisco has run over the past three seasons. Grade: A

 

Third Round, 70th Pick: Marcus Martin, Center, Southern California

Martin was the consensus No. 1 center in the draft and could have gone as high as the bottom end of the first round. He has that rare combination of physicality and athleticism that we rarely see from an interior lineman. It might have been a surpirse pick for the 49ers in the third round, but they acquire both value and need here. That's the Trent Baalke way. 

Look for Martin to beat out Daniel Kilgore for the starting center position in training camp and not give the job away for about a decade. He's going to be an All-Pro caliber center in the NFL for a long time. Grade: A

 

Third Round, 77th Pick: Chris Borland, Linebacker, Wisconsin

Yet another value pick. If Borland was just a couple inches taller, he would have likely challenged C.J. Mosley as the top inside linebacker in the draft. A true thumper from the middle of the field, Borland fits what the 49ers love to do in the front seven. He didn't just represent value in the third round, Borland will likely start out of the gate with NaVorro Bowman sidelined for the first few weeks of the season. Grade: A

 

Third Round, 100th Pick: Brandon Thomas, Guard, Clemson

With so many picks, San Francisco was afforded the ability to take chances on player that won't be impact players in 2014. Thomas, who was originally considered an early Day 2 pick, tore his ACL during the scouting process and will miss the entire 2014 season. Moving forward, Thomas projects as a possible replacement for Mike Iupati, who is set to be a free agent following this year. That's exactly what good organizations do...find potential replacements in the mid rounds. Grade: A+ 

 

Fourth Round, 106th Pick: Bruce Ellington, Wide Receiver, Clemson

It's interesting that San Francisco assigned Ellington a running back number this week in "Football School." This means that Jim Harbaugh and Co. will likely look for special teams production from Ellington as a rookie. That makes sense after the 49ers acquired Stevie Johnson in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. Moving forward, Ellington fits nicely as a potential slot guy for Colin Kaepernick in the passing game: Grade: B+

 

Fourth Round, 129th Pick: Dontae Johnson, Defensive Back, North Carolina State

San Francisco was targeting Pierre Desir with this pick, but he went to the Cleveland Browns two picks before. Instead of nabbing a player that was dropping down the draft boards (for some reason), San Francisco reached for this duel-threat defensive back. At 6'2" and 200 pounds, Johnson has the frame and ability to be a physical performer at the next level. Where he might struggle tackling and with technique on the outside. More of a project player, Johnson will see substantial special teams action in 2014. Grade: B- 

 

Fifth Round, 150th Pick: Aaron Lynch, Linebacker, South Florida

What a tremendous pick this was. Lynch would have easily been a top-20 pick if he had not left Notre Dame for South Florida. Issues with work ethic and off-field behavior forced Lynch to drop to the later rounds, but make no mistake about it, he's as dominating of a physical talent of any defensive player in the draft outside of Jadeveon Clowney himself. 

While Lynch likely won't see substantial playing time as a rookie, he has tremendous upside. Look for defensive line coach Jim Tomsula to coach this kid up. If so, this could be the steal of the draft. Grade: A+ 

 

Fifth Round, 170th Pick: Keith Reaser, Cornerback, Florida Atlantic

This is the part of the draft where I became officially lost. Of the four remaining 49ers' picks, I had scouted just two players. With that said, what we are hearing about Reacher is that he's an athletic freak in the defensive secondary that also does a tremendous job laying the wood. He led all defensive backs in bench press reps at the combine, and is very fluid in coverage. A torn ACL suffered during his final college season means that Reaser will redshirt as a rookie in 2014. Grade: INC 

 

Sixth Round, 180th Pick: Kenneth Acker, Cornerback, Southern Methodist

Yet another small-school defensive back, Acker is a former wide receiver who is said to represent solid hands and athleticism on the outside. His primary question mark is whether he can play physical at the line. Grade: INC 

 

Seventh Round, 243rd Pick: Kaleb Ramsey, Defensive Tackle, Boston College

About as athletic as you will find in a 6'3" and 293-pound interior lineman, Ramsey will enter the NFL as a 25-year-old rookie due to numerous injuries while at Boston College. He has a ton of potential, but major injury concerns continues to be a red flag. Grade: INC

 

Seventh Round, 245th Pick: Trey Millard, Fullback, Oklahoma

Millard tore his ACL in October and may not be ready to go by training camp. He is, however, a tremendously versatile offensive weapon that can play both fullback and tight end. Exactly the type of player San Francisco likes to add from a depth standpoint. Remember, current starting fullback Bruce Miller was also a seventh-round pick. Grade: A 

 

Stevie Johnson Trade

This has to be considered part of the 49ers 2014 NFL draft class. Johnson, who put up three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Buffalo Bills prior to a down year in 2013, will immediately become the 49ers No. 3 receiver in 2014 behind Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin. In addition to adding another weapon to what is quickly becoming one of the most talented passing games in the NFL, the 49ers gave up nothing for Johnson. They originally traded down a few spots in the second round to acquire the Denver Broncos fourth-round pick in 2015. In doing, so the 49ers were able to regain the fourth rounder they lost in the Johnson deal. Grade: A+ 

 

Final Grade: A

Flush with picks, San Francisco was able to spend four of them on defensive backs. In taking late-round chances on some under-the-radar commodities, the 49ers are looking to find a steal similar to what the Seattle Seahawks acquired in Richard Sherman a few years back. Teams that possess a ton of picks and just a few needs are able to do this. 

From the first round to the early stages of the third day, San Francisco was able to pick up high-potential players that will be able to make impacts in 2014 and beyond. Jimmie Ward will likely see a ton of playing time from the slot in 2014, acting as an upgrade from what the 49ers had there last year. Marcus Martin will likely start at center from Week 1, again acting as an upgrade from Jonathan Goodwin a season ago. 

In picking up Carlos Hyde, San Francisco was also able to pick up a short-term backup running back that could eventually replace Frank Gore as the featured running back in its physical offensive attack. Chris Borland can fill in for NaVorro Bowman until the All-Pro linebacker returns, at which point Borland will become one of the better all-around backups in the NFL. 

This is the type of draft that can help a team sustatin success for years down the road. In the process, San Francisco's front office has proven themselves to be among the best in the entire league. 

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