All the pundits, experts and mock drafts have been filled out but anything can happen on draft day with trades and surprise picks of players drafted higher than expected.  The 49ers lead by Trent Baalke on draft day have a philosophy left over from former general manager Scot McCloughan of choosing the best player available with their current pick rather than picking what the team needs.  This worked out somewhat well last season as the 49ers selected WR Michael Crabtree but there was a glaring hole at right offensive tackle and in the secondary all last season which went unaddressed in free-agency and the draft last year.  Even with former general manager McCloughan fired five weeks ago pseudo GM Baalke will do his best McCloughan impression and pick the best player available whether that be a quarterback (Jimmy Clausen), a running back (C.J. Spiller) or a wide receiver (Dez Bryant) who all could be on the board when the 49ers pick with the 13th selection.  I hope the 49ers do not go that route.

With the 13th pick the 49ers should go after an offensive tackle.  Rutgers offensive tackle Anthony Davis should be available.  Davis is your standard big lineman, but he is also quick on his feet and has the athletic ability and agility to be a Pro Bowl tackle in the NFL.  I have heard concerns about Davis being lazy but with Mike Singletary as your head coach lazy is not in the teams vocabulary.

With the 17th pick (from Carolina) the 49ers should go after Florida cornerback Joe Haden.  Haden is a physical corner who can use his speed to change directions and not let a wide receiver beat him deep. The Niners secondary gave up too many big pass plays last season. With their aging secondary, Haden should start right away and help limit the big plays surrendered in San Francisco.

After each 49ers selection check-in here for updates and thoughts of who the 49ers picked.

Kudos to the NFL for scheduling so many national televised games for the 49ers because it was a big deal last season with the 49ers getting two national televised games.  I wonder if the reason for so many games this year is either A.) Because the NFL recognizes the 49ers are getting better after an 8-8 season and can only go up from here after years of neglect when they went through the debacle decade of the 2000’s or B.)  The NFL is trying to get the 49ers as many Monday night and Thursday night games as possible just in case the voters approve funding for a Niners stadium and the team moves to Santa Clara which means giving up weekday games because of traffic.  I hope it is the former, not the latter because I will be damned if Jed Joke has his way and moves the team out of San Francisco.  The other game that stands out for the 49ers on their 2010 schedule is a regular season match-up against Bay Area rivals the Oakland Raiders.  The Raiders will travel to San Francisco in week 6 on October 17.  Four of the last eight games have the 49ers playing division rivals the Rams and Cardinals.

Looking more closely at the schedule the 49ers may have a lot of national televised games but the beginning and the end of their schedule has the team on the road.  Of the 49ers first eight games before the bye week they will be on the road for five of those games which includes traveling to London that is considered a home game for the Niners.  Four of the last six games the 49ers play in 2010 will be played on the road.  But with five games for the nation to see at least we are not like the Raiders who will be not be on national TV for any games next year.

With the draft tomorrow teams will get better but here is how I think the 49ers will finish this year:

Sept. 12: at Seattle= Win

49ers are good at winning on kick-off weekend.

Sept. 20: New Orleans= Loss

Might be the home opener but it is against the defending champs.

Sept. 26: at Kansas City= Win

The Chiefs are a great team to start a winning streak against…

Oct. 3:  at Atlanta=Loss

…but with traveling to Atlanta and trying to redeem themselves for last year’s big loss the Niners come up short.

Oct. 10: Philadelphia=Win

Will it be Kevin Kolb or Michael Vick under center? Either way 49ers win.

Oct. 17: Raiders=Win

If the Raiders draft a wide receiver with their first pick I say the 49ers win by 20 points.  Any other position drafted the 49ers will win by 10 points.

Oct. 24: at Carolina= Win

No Julius Peppers or a proven quarterback should equal a win.

Oct. 31: vs. Denver (In London)= Loss

The jet-lag and the fish and chips will get to the 49ers ending their first winning streak of the season.

Nov. 7: Bye

Nov. 14: St. Louis= Win

The Rams are still the Lams whether they pick Sam Bradford or Ndamukong Suh.

Nov. 21: Tampa Bay= Win

The 49ers should easily handle the Bucs at home.

Nov. 29: at Arizona= Loss

First match-up against the Cardinals but it is on the road and the Niners have had problems winning in AZ.

Dec. 5: at Green Bay= Loss

By this point in the season we will know whether or not Alex Smith is a bust.  Aaron Rodgers as we know is not.  Either way Rodgers will try sticking it to the 49ers again for not picking him.

Dec. 12: Seattle= Win

Season sweep the Seahawks!

Dec. 16: at San Diego= Loss

As good as the 49ers are in December, the Bolts are better.  If the game was at home the 49ers might have a chance.

Dec. 26: at St. Louis= Win

Any team playing the Rams this season can chalk up a win on the schedule.

Jan. 2:  Arizona= Win

49ers finish the season strong with a win against the Cardinals making up for their week 12 loss.

Final Record 10-6: An improvement from last season but will it be enough to win the division or clinch a wild-card playoff spot.

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