Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Regrading Each Niners’ NFL Draft Class from the Last 10 Years

By Peter Panacy

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the podium on stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the podium on stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke speaks at a press conference during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke speaks at a press conference during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2016 NFL draft is fast approaching, and the San Francisco 49ers hope it will be one of the better ones in their recent history. But it’s worth revisiting each draft the Niners have had over the last 10 years and see how each class graded out.

The San Francisco 49ers hope their selections in the upcoming 2016 NFL draft will make this year’s class one of the better ones in franchise history.

They’ll need all the help they can get after coming off a 5-11 season last year and a wholly underachieving and less-than inspiring effort from a roster lacking talent at more than enough positions. Fortunately, the Niners will have as many as 12 picks for this year’s draft.

It’s worth taking a trip back in time to determine how the 49ers got to this point and, more specifically, how the team’s draft picks panned out for the franchise.

To do this, Niner Noise will evaluate each draft class San Francisco has had over the last 10 years dating back to 2005 — a season which also marked a complete overhaul and rebuilding phase that didn’t result in much until the 2011 season under then-head coach Jim Harbaugh.

There have been some excellent and not-so-great draft classes since that date 10 years ago. And the 49ers’ draft approach was orchestrated by a number of different personalities.

General manager Trent Baalke has been the latest. Before him was GM Scot McCloughan. One can even throw in former head coach Mike Nolan, who acted as general manager, into the mix.

Regardless, let’s take a look back at the 49ers’ last 10 draft classes with a fresh point of view in advance of the upcoming 2016 draft.

Next: 2005 NFL Draft