Did 49ers GM Baalke Redeem Himself During NFL Draft?

San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke made 11 picks in the 2016 NFL Draft, but were his selections good enough to redeem himself in the eyes of the 49ers fans? Here we analyze where his reputation stands.

San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke’s reputation among the fanbase has sunk in recent years as a result of the firing of Jim Harbaugh and the team’s fall to the bottom of the NFC West, but if he was feeling the pressure of the fans’ disapproval in this year’s draft, it didn’t show.

Six years ago, Baalke was given Scot McCloughan’s draft board and tasked with putting the 49ers in a position to challenge for the Super Bowl. He proceeded to take two offensive lineman, Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis, in the first round.

Iupati and Davis proved to be foundational pieces in the 49ers’ resurgence under Harbaugh and, with the 49ers’ GM now in charge of a rebuilding job, it was no surprise to see Baalke focus on the trenches once more.

The 49ers’ 2016 draft was not particularly exciting or sexy and is unlikely to have bolstered his reputation among fans, but if the players Baalke took work out, then San Francisco will be on track to contend again in the coming years.

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In taking two defensive linemen and three offensive linemen, Baalke has improved the depth and the quality the 49ers have on both sides of the trenches.

DeForest Buckner should slot straight in as a starter on the D-line having dominated in college — racking up 17 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in 2015 — and has the skill set and physical tools to form a fearsome partnership with fellow former Oregon Duck Arik Armstead and significantly boost the 49ers’ ability to generate interior pressure.

Fifth-round pick Ronald Blair figures to be a decent rotational piece, while on the offensive side of things the Niners addressed needs on the interior and at the tackle spot.

Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stanford offensive lineman Joshua Garnett speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Trading up to get Stanford guard Joshua Garnett may have raised some eyebrows, but he is a physical run blocker who can get to the second level and adds an edge to the interior of the offensive line that was sorely lacking in 2015.

Tackles John Theus and Fahn Cooper can compete with Trent Brown for the starting spot on the right side and — with a guard in Zane Beadles who is familiar in the zone-blocking scheme used by Chip Kelly having been brought in free agency — the 49ers have options they did not have on the O-line in 2015.

Baalke also moved to address a secondary that was routinely picked apart in 2015 — although the lack of a pass rush did not help those on the back end of a defense that finished No. 27 against the pass — spending three selections on corners in Will Redmond, Rashard Robinson and Prince Charles Iworah.

However, picking another player coming off an ACL tear in Redmond and one with significant off-the-field concerns in Robinson will not have quieted the most vehement of Baalke’s critics.

Yet the addition of a trio of corners, with Redmond pencilled in as a potential nickel back, means San Francisco should have more versatility on the back end.

Should Redmond be healthy in time for the start of the 2016 season, then his ability to play in the nickel could allow Jimmie Ward — who occupied that role for all of last term — to play more snaps at safety, with Jaquiski Tartt possibly getting more action at linebacker depending on his weight.

While there is logic in the back-to-back picks Baalke spent on defensive backs, what is likely to have most frustrated his detractors is the apparent disregard shown to skill position players in the draft.

Baalke did not draft an offensive skill position player until the sixth round, taking a quarterback in Jeff Driskel, running back Kelvin Taylor and wide receiver Aaron Burbridge in three consecutive picks.

Taylor could prove to be the change-of-pace back the 49ers need to complement starter Carlos Hyde but leaving it so late in the draft to take a quarterback when Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert — who are nothing more than below average starters based on their 2015 play — are San Francisco’s only options will be seen as short-sighted by many.

There will also be questions asked about Baalke’s decision to wait until the sixth round to address a receiver position where the 49ers possess a host of unproven young players behind top wideout Torrey Smith.

A draft short on flashy skill-position talents is unlikely to appease those who believe Baalke is the predominant reason for the 49ers’ recent struggles.

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But — while it is a stretch to say Baalke redeemed himself in one draft — he has taken the correct approach to rebuilding the San Francisco roster.

And, if the additions up front help improve matters in the trenches and the Niners do not regress further in 2016, then they will have a foundation to build upon for the coming years and Baalke should have more time with which to restock the roster regardless of the external opinions about the head man in the front office.

Next: 2016 NFL Draft: Why the San Francisco 49ers Didn’t Draft an Inside Linebacker

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro Football Reference and Sports Reference unless otherwise indicated.

Trent Baalke: Did 49ers GM Redeem Himself During NFL Draft?

By Nicholas McGee | May 3, 2016

San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke made 11 picks in the 2016 NFL Draft, but were his selections good enough to redeem himself in the eyes of the 49ers fans? Here we analyze where his reputation stands.

More from Niner Noise