Niner Noise
FanSided

2016 NFL Draft: Worst-Case Scenarios for 49ers

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) is carted off the field after being injured against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half of the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) is carted off the field after being injured against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half of the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Drafting the All-Redshirt Team

It’s a running gag by now, but Trent Baalke loves drafting his injured players. Some of them have recovered and played well—see Jimmie Ward and Quinton Dial, for example. Others never see the field, like Marcus Lattimore or Brandon Thomas, or struggle when they get there, like Tank Carradine.

There’s nothing wrong with taking a few players with nagging injuries—it means the team can take them at a discount and gives them roster flexibility to keep more developmental players on the team without taking up slots on the 53-man roster. However, Baalke has done this to excess in his tenure as general manager.

It’s not entirely unreasonable to imagine the 49ers using their first three picks on linebacker Myles Jack of UCLA, linebacker Jaylon Smith of Notre Dame and running back Devontae Booker of Utah. Jack tore his meniscus last September. Smith tore his ACL and LCL in the Fiesta Bowl and could miss the entire 2016 season. Booker tore his meniscus in November.

The list of potential injured targets goes on. Western Kentucky tight end Tyler Higbee missed the second half of his season with a knee sprain. Center Max Tuerk from USC tore his ACL in October. Defensive tackle Adam Gotsis from Georgia Tech also tore his ACL in October. Florida State defensive tackle Nile Lawrence-Stample tore his pectoral muscle last season. Boise State guard Rees Odhiambo is recovering from a broken ankle. Safety Kavon Frazier of Central Michigan sat out of the combine with a foot injury.  The list goes on.

Many of these players will be worth the gamble a team takes on them. Others will take years before they’re able to contribute, if they contribute at all. It’s not the end of the world to gamble on one or two potential redshirt players, but it would be nice if Baalke took a step or two back from his recent obsession with drafting hurt players and takes some players who will contribute in 2016.

Next: Plain Old-Fashioned Bad Luck!