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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Best, 5 Worst Draft Picks in the Trent Baalke Era

By Bryan Knowles

Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) intercepts the football against San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) intercepts the football against San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Fourth-Worst: Vance McDonald, TE, Rice

2013 second-round selection, No. 55 overall

Correct me if I’m wrong, but a tight end is supposed to be able to catch the ball, right?

McDonald was brought in to replace the departed Delanie Walker.  The 49ers’ offense worked best when Walker and Vernon Davis were raking in a high volume of targets, allowing the 49ers to go with two tight ends for either run-blocking or passing purposes.  The idea was that McDonald would slide right into Walker’s role to continue that one-two punch.

Since this pick, Walker has caught 217 passes for 2,549 yards and 16 touchdowns.  McDonald has 40 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns.  He also struggles with drops, dropping six passes on 46 targets last season.  That was the second-highest drop percentage of anyone with at least 40 targets, behind only Jeremy Langford.  Langford’s a running back, so catching passes isn’t first and foremost in his job description.  It was supposed to be a key part of McDonald’s game, and unless he can turn that around, his future in the NFL is in jeopardy.

What could have been: Eight picks after McDonald was taken, Travis Kelce went off the board to Kansas City.  He has 139 receptions for 1,737 yards and ten touchdowns in his career.  Getting off of tight ends, the 49ers could have also selected Eddie Lacy, though running back wasn’t precisely a need in 2013.

Next: A Late-Round Lineman Steal