2016 NFL Draft: 5 Risky Picks the 49ers Should Avoid
By Jerod Brown
Kevin Byard-Safety-Middle Tennessee State University
The 49ers are loaded at safety. If anything, that might be the most secure position on the team. From the starters to the backups, the 49ers have players capable of starting in the NFL.
As we’ve seen, the shrewd approach to building a team is drafting the best available players when on the clock. In the case of the 49ers, a team rebuilding after a mountain of player exits, selecting the best players on the board at each pick might be the most efficient way to turn the franchise around.
Starting free safety Eric Reid has suffered from multiple concussions and, while nobody prepares for player injuries, it is hard to avoid the dangers of head trauma associated with football. In a perfect world, Reid remains healthy and continues to be successful in the NFL.
But things change in a hurry. The 49ers certainly have those concerns in the back of their minds after recent retirements of linebackers Patrick Willis, Chris Borland and also offensive tackle Anthony Davis.
Byard is a big-time player and will almost immediately upgrade any secondary he plays for. But it shouldn’t be the 49ers.
Luke Easterling, one of Bleacher Report’s NFL Draft writers, is crushing on Byard hard, For good reason.
Byard will be drafted high and, although the 49ers might consider him an insurance policy, they have too many holes on the roster to be the team that selects him.
Call this one a product of bad timing, because Byard is fun to watch and will be impressive when he has a chance to compete on Sundays.
The 49ers should avoid drafting Byard. Not because he isn’t worth a pick, but because they are facing too many obstacles to target a safety early.
The 49ers will focus on who to take in the 2016 NFL Draft. Fans will clamor for their favorite prospects to be the team’s selection at number seven in the first round.
With likely twelve picks in the draft, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke has much more to worry about than just the team’s first selection.
There will be players all throughout the draft that tempt the team with skills and size for the next level. Determining who to draft and, more importantly, who not to draft could be the difference between head coach Chip Kelly’s first season being a success or a failure.
The 49ers have a list of players they are interested in but they will also have a list of players to stay away from. The question will be whether they stick to their guns on draft day.
Next: Is 49ers Receiver Eric Rogers Ready For Success?
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Additional draft information courtesy of CBS Sports.