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

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Oct 4, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Quinton Dial (92) reacts after making a tackle against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

Fourth-Best: Quinton Dial, DE, Alabama

2013 fifth-round selection, No. 157 overall

In the fifth round, you’re hoping maybe for someone who can contribute on special teams, or someone who can hold down the last couple spots on a roster. You’re not expecting someone who can eventually develop into a starter, but that’s what Dial did last year, starting 15 games and playing very well, filling I at multiple spots on the defensive line to make up for injuries.

Dial’s an ascending player who got better as the year went on, and it’s a bit frightening to imagine how poor the 49ers’ defensive line would have been without him. No, he’s not Justin Smith or Ray McDonald, but he played well in his 662 snaps and definitely earned the three-year extension he got this past offseason. He set career highs in tackles and sacks last season, and has outworked draftmates Tank Carradine and Corey Lemonier to earn a starting slot. He’ll start next season unless the 49ers use an early round pick on a defensive end.

What could have been: Need a defensive end in the fifth-round? Why pick a junior college transfer—and a backup at Alabama—when you can have Brandon Jenkins from Florida State instead? He earned 44 sacks in 20 games in college and could have been a redshirt player for Baalke. He could do great things! Or, he could wash out of the NFL after five games in 2013.

Next: A Floundering Pass Rusher