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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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Wide receiver Michael Crabtree never ended up being a top receiving force for the 49ers but still managed an effective career in San Francisco. Mandatory Credit: PRESSWIRE
Wide receiver Michael Crabtree never ended up being a top receiving force for the 49ers but still managed an effective career in San Francisco. Mandatory Credit: PRESSWIRE /

2009 NFL Draft

Round 1 – Michael Crabtree, WR
Round 3 – Glen Coffee, RB
Round 5 – Scott McKillop, LB
Round 5 – Nate Davis, QB
Round 6 – Bear Pascoe, TE
Round 7 – Curtis Taylor, DB
Round 7 – Ricky Jean-Francois, DT

San Francisco’s 2009 draft class marked a slight improvement over what happened in 2008. General manager Scot McCloughan was able to cash in on the Oakland Raiders’ selection of wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and nabbed wide reciever Michael Crabtree with the No. 10 overall selection.

The Niners’ second pick of the draft, in Round 3, landed running back Glen Coffee. Coffee appeared to be promising but ended up retiring to pursue other interests after just one season in the NFL.

Quarterback Nate Davis became a fan favorite considering the 49ers’ issues under center, although he never saw the field aside from preseason contests.

Tight end Bear Pascoe never made the 49ers roster but ended up having a nice career with the New York Giants in subsequent years. And defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois enjoyed a four-year term with San Francisco as a decent backup option.

Best Pick: Michael Crabtree

While he never truly emerged as a legitimate top-tier wideout with the 49ers — he had just one 1,000-plus receiving-yard campaign during his time in San Francisco — Crabtree still ended up being one of the prime targets for the Niners offense between 2010 and 2014.

Worst Pick: Glen Coffee

At the time, no one could have envisioned Coffee would call it quits after just one season. San Francisco wanted a nice backup option for running back Frank Gore, and Coffee could have been the guy.

But he wasn’t.

Grade: C-

Next: 2010 NFL Draft