September 15, 2012; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers safety Eric Reid (1) raises his arms to the crowd as the Tigers take the field against the Idaho Vandals during the first half at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Idaho 63-14. Mandatory Credit: Crystal Logiudice-USA TODAY Sports

When the San Francisco 49ers traded up in the first-round to draft FS Eric Reid (LSU), it was a strategic move to replace All-Pro FS Dashon Goldson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Whether they were actually targeting S Kenny Vaccaro (Texas) and decided to settle on Reid remains to be seen, however Reid will now have every opportunity to step in the starting role.

Unlike last year’s first-round pick WR A.J. Jenkins, there is little depth at the safety position, meaning Reid will be thrown to the fire. A trial by error, learn as you go, type of experience, Reid will have to adjust quickly to the NFL, if he hopes to have any chance of success. The game is faster and the players are smarter, making the transition a tough one.

One strength working in Reid’s favor is that he is an NFL ready rookie. He is very smart, physical, and aggressive, similar to another former first-round pick CB Ahmed Plummer (2000), Reid has the football instincts to succeed at the next level. And although he may not be the best ballhawk in the draft, he more than makes up for it with his football IQ. A smart player, Reid will not have the mental lapses in coverage.

Even though Reid possesses the natural instincts, will that be enough to alleviate the loss of Goldson? The verdict is still out, as training camp and OTA’s have yet to begin, but make no mistake, the Reid watch is already in motion.

Let’s just hope he does not have the learning curve of Jenkins, as the Niners simply can’t afford that type of waiting period.

Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Niner fans have aired their concerns about last year’s first-round draft pick A.J. Jenkins not joining Colin Kaepernick for off-season workouts; despite him saying he would do so after the Super Bowl. However, now it has been reported the wide receiver will join Kaepernick at CES Performance near Atlanta on Sunday, February 22.

Kaepernick has been training at the facility since February 12 and has been joined by 49ers receivers Ricardo Lockette and Chad Hall. Both receivers live in Georgia and spent most of last season on San Francisco’s practice squad.

When it comes to Jenkins, I guess it is better late than never showing up to workout with his quarterback. But what took him so long? After he had zero catches this past season and only played on just 37 snaps, it’s not like he needed to rest up for a few weeks before preparing for the upcoming season.

When Jenkins said he wanted to join Kaepernick for off-season workouts, it was so he could return next season as “a totally different” and “to contribute a lot more than I have been.” You would think a former first-round draft pick that saw as much action on the field as a seventh-round draft would have joined Kaepernick on day one for workouts. While it may seem like Jenkins is exhibiting behavior of a lazy player, 49ers GM Trent Baalke said on Thursday at the NFL Combine his work ethic is not a cause for concern:

A.J.’s a young man that’s worked awfully hard, is going to continue to work hard. I believe he’s in Atlanta right now, or on his way to Atlanta where (Kaepernick) is and some of our other players. And they’re going to go at it this offseason. And the biggest growth in players is always between year one and year two. We expect that’s going to happen with A.J., just as we do with all of our young players.

Lance Iversen/The Chronicle

I think it is safe to say that San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh is the ultimate player’s coach. He has the innate ability to get the most out of his players and expects nothing less. However, one player who has been clearly underachieving, is last year’s first-round pick A.J. Jenkins. A huge disappointment, Jenkins has shown absolutely nothing to warrant his first-round selection. Though he only played three games during the regular season, the Illinois product failed to have a single reception. That is right, Jenkins finished the season with a big goose egg! Is it too early to call him the “b “word? I think not. However, with the 49ers projected to have 14 draft picks in the upcoming draft, it will be interesting to see how they prioritize the wide receivers unit.

Aside from Jenkins, the 49ers only have three healthy wide-receivers currently under contract including, WR Michael Crabtree, WR Ricardo Lockette, and WR Chad Hall. And with WR Kyle Williams and WR Mario Manningham coming off season-ending injuries, their ability to regain their form is questionable. So how much faith does Harbaugh have in Jenkins?

Apparently not enough to call his number. Jenkins was only targeted once during his short NFL career, a drop that would have resulted in a first-down, but instead fell incomplete. If the 49ers feel they made a mistake, we will certainly know based on free agency and the NFL Draft, as the 49ers will surely be in the market for a complimentary receiver. There have already been rumors swirling around the 49ers need for a wide receiver, namely Percy Harvin.

Oct 14, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs (16) tries to run past Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Terence Newman (23) during the fourth quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Browns beat the Bengals 34-24. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

However, once the free-agency period begins, other receivers will be on the Niners radar including, WR Greg Jennings, WR Josh Cribbs, and WR Ramses Barden. All of those players are capable of stretching the field much like WR Randy Moss did last year. Furthermore, they are much younger and capable of being groomed into a permanent role instead of a quick fix.

As the 49ers continue in their “Quest for Six,” they will need to figure out if Jenkins is capable of being the player they had envisioned. A first-round talent with an abundance of potential, Jenkins will undoubtedly be labeled a “bust,” much like other 49ers first-rounders, CB Mike Rumph, T Kwame Harris, WR Rashaun Woods, LB Manny Lawson, and DE Kentwan Balmer.