Niner Noise
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Where Are They Now? Each San Francisco 49ers Draft Pick Since 2011

By Peter Panacy

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April 27, 2012; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and first round draft pick wide receiver A.J. Jenkins and general manager Trent Baalke pose for a photo at the 49ers headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
April 27, 2012; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and first round draft pick wide receiver A.J. Jenkins and general manager Trent Baalke pose for a photo at the 49ers headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

2012 NFL Draft

If the 2011 NFL Draft was one of general manager Trent Baalke’s best, 2012 has to be considered his worst.

Out of seven total picks, zero remain with the 49ers. And it’s a class which included first-round bust A.J. Jenkins.

The Picks

  1. Wide Receiver A.J. Jenkins, Illinois
  2. Running Back LaMichael James, Oregon
  3. Offensive Guard Joe Looney, Wake Forest
  4. Linebacker Darius Fleming, Notre Dame
  5. Defensive Back Trent Robinson, Michigan State
  6. Offensive Lineman Jason Slowey, Western Oregon
  7. Defensive End Cam Johnson, Virginia

Jenkins is widely viewed as the biggest draft bust of the Baalke era, and the former Illinois wideout never caught a pass for the 49ers after being selected No. 30 overall. The Niners traded Jenkins prior to 2013 to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played two forgettable seasons. He’s currently a free agent.

Former Oregon running back LaMichael James was dynamic in college, and there’s an argument the 49ers didn’t utilize his skill set properly. Upset with his lack of playing time aside from special teams, the Niners let him to go the Miami Dolphins in the middle of the 2014 season. He’s currently a free agent.

August 30, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back LaMichael James (23) carries the ball against the San Diego Chargers during the first quarter at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE
August 30, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back LaMichael James (23) carries the ball against the San Diego Chargers during the first quarter at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE /

Offensive guard Joe Looney also never materialized into anything of much use for San Francisco’s offensive line. The last remaining cast member of this class, Looney signed on with the Tennessee Titans in 2015 and is now with the Dallas Cowboys.

Linebacker Darius Fleming never made it onto the Niners’ 53-man roster in 2012 and ended up playing with the New England Patriots in 2014 and 2015. He’s also a free agent.

Safety Trent Robinson got into three games with the 49ers his rookie season but ended up playing for the Washington Redskins through 2015. He’s now with the Carolina Panthers.

Offensive lineman Jason Slowey ended up being picked up by the Oakland Raiders in 2012 after failing to make the 49ers roster his rookie year. He’s now out of the NFL.

Defensive end, turned linebacker Cam Johnson had a stellar 2013 preseason. But with an overabundance of linebackers that year, the 49ers traded him to the Indianapolis Colts. He played there through 2014 and signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2015. Johnson is now a free agent.

Next: 2013 NFL Draft