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2016 NFL Draft: 5 Risky Picks for the 49ers

By Trevor Irvine

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the crowd in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the crowd in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Francisco 49ers do not have a great recent record when it comes to the NFL draft. The 49ers need a big upgrade on talent, but who they pick needs to be carefully accomplished. Niner Noise takes a look at the five riskiest picks for the 49ers in this year’s draft.

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 /

The San Francisco 49ers have 12 picks in this year’s NFL draft. They have had at least 10 picks in the last five drafts, which didn’t matter as much in 2011 through 2013 when the team was loaded. But the last two years have been much more important on a depleted team.

From 2010 through 2012, just four players are still on the team today (which excludes the retired Anthony Davis). Not one player drafted in 2012 is still on the team. 2013 to 2015 has been better, but the jury is still out on several injured and under-performing players.

In case you haven’t seen it, you should read the article by Sharon Katz of ESPN.com explaining the NFL teams with the best and worst record for finding late-round steals in the draft. The 49ers ranked 23rd out of the 32 teams, at a whopping 151.5 points behind leader, the Green Bay Packers.

They have also performed poorly against the leaders in the division — a ridiculous 100 points lower than the Seattle Seahawks and 38 points behind the Arizona Cardinals.

It doesn’t take rocket science to explain why the 49ers cupboard has been so bare the last two years, resulting in the 8-8 and 5-11 records, respectively.

General manager Trent Baalke must get this draft right. He cannot just keep picking players with injury concerns or are members of “Team ACL.” The talent pool must be improved this offseason to get head coach Chip Kelly and the other coaches onto the right foot from the beginning.

For this exercise, these players will be selected by whether the certain player has been mocked to the 49ers or has been linked to the team. These players are not ranked in any order. Human nature will appear in some cases because, well, we all have players we find better, or more worth the risk, than others.

Please feel free to compile your list before starting through our rundown of risky draft picks.  Which players do you think will be on the list?

Enjoy our list of the five riskiest players the San Francisco 49ers could draft (or should avoid) in 2016.

Next: Jaylon Smith