Niner Noise
FanSided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 12
Next
Oct 30, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Louisiana Tech Bulldogs quarterback Jeff Driskel (6) throws the ball against the Rice Owls in the third quarter at Rice Stadium. The Bulldogs won 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Louisiana Tech Bulldogs quarterback Jeff Driskel (6) throws the ball against the Rice Owls in the third quarter at Rice Stadium. The Bulldogs won 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
  1. Jeff Driskel, QB, Louisiana Tech (Pick No. 207)

The first five selections were the ones I was more or less happy with the 49ers taking, without too many major complaints. Past those, we’re starting to get into some more confusion or at least disagreement, though I don’t have particular problems with the Jeff Driskel pick.

Driskel was supposed to be the next Tim Tebow at Florida—and remember, when we’re talking about college players, being considered the “next Tim Tebow” is still a compliment. However, he ran into some trouble at Florida, with a broken leg and then competition from Treon Harris reducing his opportunities. He had a good year as a graduate transfer at Louisiana Tech and he still has all those physical tools that made recruiters want him coming out of high school, so he’s a very solid choice for a late-round developmental quarterback. He’ll probably go on the practice squad this year as he develops, with a chance to fight for a roster spot next year, in all likelihood.

Using a sixth-round pick on a quarterback with a chance to develop is a perfectly solid thing to do. No, it’s unlikely they’ll win the lottery and he’ll be the next Tom Brady, but sixth-round picks also can develop into the Steve Bonos or Marc Bulgers of the world; not someone who will set the world on fire, but very good backups and solid transitional starters. If it turns out, instead, he’s the next J.T. O’Sullivan, it’s not like the 49ers invested too much into him—it’s a solid strategy.

The issue here is that quarterback was arguably the team’s greatest need entering the offseason, and it’s hard to imagine, outside a Brady-like steal, Driskel really effecting the 49ers’ plans at the position. If the 49ers are good, it’s likely because either Blaine Gabbert or Colin Kaepernick has performed perfectly well in Chip Kelly’s system, and the 49ers will be set at quarterback in the short-term without Driskel. If the 49ers are bad, they’ll be drafting highly in 2017 and will likely use their first pick on a quarterback like Deshaun Watson or Brad Kayaa, and the team would likely want a more experienced veteran backup rather than a sixth-round project.

I can’t knock the Driskel pick too much; it was part of three very solid picks in a row at the end of the sixth round. It just feels that if the 49ers wanted to actually address the need at the position, waiting until the sixth round was an odd choice.

Next: Gambling on a First-Round Guard