2016 NFL Draft: San Francisco 49ers Picks, Grades and Analysis
By Jerod Brown
The San Francisco 49ers hold 12 picks to start the 2016 NFL Draft. Niner Noise will follow every move made by 49ers’ general manager Trent Baalke and offer continual analysis and grades of each pick.
The 2016 NFL Draft is finally upon us. After months of research and debating who should be the top prospects, the decisions are finally made. The time to watch tape of prospects has passed and the 49ers will have to commit to the board that the scouting department has put together.
San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke knows that his job is on the line and he has to begin to rebuild this roster in a way that is both quick and long-lasting. Fortunately, he’ll start the 2016 NFL Draft with 12 picks at his disposal.
The 49ers have the most picks of any team in the league and, although they likely don’t have room for 12 rookies on their roster, they can use those picks as currency to move throughout rounds in search of their desired players.
The 49ers’ picks to begin the draft look like the following:
- Round 1, Pick No. 7, 7th Overall-DeForest Buckner, Defensive Lineman, Oregon
- Round 1, Pick No. 28, 28th Overall-From Kansas City- Joshua Garnett, Offensive Guard, Stanford
- Round 3, Pick No. 5, 68th Overall-Will Redmond, Defensive Back, Mississippi State
- Round 4, Pick No. 35, 133rd Overall-Compensatory-Rashard Robinson, Cornerback, LSU
- Round 5, Pick No. 3, 142nd Overall-From San Diego-Ronald Blair, Defensive End, Appalachian State
- Round 5, Pick No. 6, 145th Overall-John Theus, Offensive Tackle, Georgia
- Round 5, Pick No. 37, 174th Overall-Compensatory-Fahn Cooper, Offensive Tackle, Ole Miss
- Round 6, Pick No. 32, 207th Overall-From Denver-Jeff Driskel, Quarterback, Louisiana Tech
- Round 6, Pick No. 36, 211th Overall-Compensatory-Kelvin Taylor, Running Back, Florida
- Round 6, Pick No. 38, 213th Overall-Compensatory-Aaron Burbridge, Wide Receiver, Michigan State
- Round 7, Pick No. 28, 249th Overall-From Kansas City-Prince Charles Iworah, Cornerback, Western Kentucky
The 49ers have visited, worked out or spoke with over 65 prospects leading up to the 2016 NFL Draft. The roster is full of holes and just about anybody available at number seven will come in and be an immediate upgrade to the roster. The main needs of the team are quarterback, offensive line, defensive line and linebacker.
Regardless of what Trent Baalke decides to do with his first selection, the real judge of his productivity throughout this draft will be the players he manages to grab later. With seven picks in the fifth and sixth round, the 49ers have an excellent opportunity to bring in quality depth players.
If you need a moment to get caught up on the latest rumors and mumblings from the beginning of the week, we’ve got you covered. Otherwise, relax and enjoy as Niner Noise provides a rundown of every pick from Thursday through Saturday.
Follow along as we offer analysis and grades for every pick that the San Francisco 49ers make throughout the 2016 NFL Draft.
Next: Round 1: Defensive Lineman, DeForest Buckner