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Best, Worst Picks by 49ers in the 2016 NFL Draft

By Bryan Knowles

Dec 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive end DeForest Buckner (44) celebrates after a sack in the second quarter against the Arizona Wildcats in the Pac-12 Championship at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive end DeForest Buckner (44) celebrates after a sack in the second quarter against the Arizona Wildcats in the Pac-12 Championship at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Kelvin Taylor (21) takes the handoff from quarterback Treon Harris (3) during the second quarter in the 2016 Citrus Bowl at Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Kelvin Taylor (21) takes the handoff from quarterback Treon Harris (3) during the second quarter in the 2016 Citrus Bowl at Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
  1. Kelvin Taylor, RB, Florida (Pick No. 211)

I didn’t have running back listed as one of the team’s primary needs coming into the draft, but that was more a function of how many needs the team had, as opposed to the strength of the running back depth chart. Carlos Hyde looks like the real deal, but there’s a mishmash of unproven talent like Jarryd Hayne and Mike Davis, and veteran journeymen like DuJuan Harris and Shaun Draughn. To say it’s unsettled would be overly generous; there’s plenty of room for a draft pick to carve out significant carries if they perform well.

Taylor was drafted this late because he simply isn’t fast. There’s no beating around the bush there—if he had run a 4.4 40-yard dash instead of a 4.6 40, he’s probably coming off the board in the mid-fourth round, if not earlier. As it is, he was one of the slowest backs in the draft this year, so that’s an obvious negative—but he does all the other running back stuff really well.

He never fumbled in college—never. That’s a little insane, considering he had 510 touches at Florida. He was never hurt, he produced at the college level with a 1,000-yard season last year, he’s got great instincts and vision to find and exploit holes; he’s kind of already a polished NFL-caliber running back. If he was faster or more powerful, he’d be a starting running back for sure.

As it is, though, he’s going to get everything you can block for him, weaving through traffic and not leaving anything on the table. I doubt he’ll ever become a full-time starter like his father, Fred, was, but there’s a ton to like out of a sixth-round pick here.

He’ll be well in the mix for a roster spot with the whole menagerie of not-Carlos Hyde backs, and I could easily see him winning the job of primary change-of-pace guy when all is said and done. Of course, he could end up on the practice squad, too, but I think there’s a lot to like here in the sixth round. When you look at the quality of the players drafted around him, and the quality of the depth chart in general, it’s hard to argue that Taylor wasn’t the best pick the 49ers could have made here.

Next: Addressing Wide Receiver