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

Third-Best: Aaron Lynch, OLB, South Florida

2014 fifth-round selection, No. 150 overall

Here’s a pick that’s on pace to be listed even higher when all is said and done.  Aaron Lynch had a very solid season as a rookie pass-rushing specialist, recording six sacks as mostly a rotational sub-package player, and then added six and a half more this season while starting 13 games.  When Aldon Smith made his inglorious exit from the franchise, Lynch stepped right in and played excellently, serving essentially as the 49ers’ entire pass rush last season.  That means he put up big numbers despite being the focus of opposing teams’ pass-protection packages.  That says a heck of a lot about the sophomore.

I’m hedging my bets by having him as the third-best selection, as he’s only been a starter for one injury-shortened year.  I think, thanks to his production and his late selection, that he could easily be moved up a slot on this list when all is said and done.  That’s quite a steal for someone who fell to the fifth round thanks to “questionable effort, motor and desire” and someone who was called out by his college strength coach for lacking “integrity and character”.

What could have been: Linebackers Jeremiah George and Lamin Barrow were taken within six picks of Lynch; they’ve combined for 53 games compared to Lynch’s 30, but have yet to record a single sack.  They have 10 tackles between them, compared to Lynch’s 47.

Next: Striking Out on a Home Run Hitter