Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Reevaluating the 2011 NFL Draft, Five Years Later

By Bryan Knowles

December 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi
December 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi /
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Jan 3, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive back Colin Jones (42) forces a fumble on Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey (43) on a punt return during the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive back Colin Jones (42) forces a fumble on Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey (43) on a punt return during the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 6, Pick No. 190: Colin Jones, DB, TCU

The 49ers had an extra sixth-round pick in 2011 after trading away Kentwan Balmer to the Seattle Seahawks. They found a better player with the traded pick than they did with their own, even if they didn’t get much of his value for themselves.

Colin Jones was relatively unknown coming out of college, with some speed and decent size, but a lack of athleticism and intensity. He was a flyer pick in the sixth round, someone who earned a draft spot with a great series of performances at his Pro Day and other offseason workouts.

The 49ers decided to take him to kick the tires on him and see what he could do.

He made the roster and contributed on special teams as a rookie, but was traded to the Carolina Panthers the next offseason as the 49ers simply didn’t have room for him in their secondary.  In Carolina, Jones has continued to be a special-teams contributor, moving up to a nickel back and occasional spot starter at nickel corner and free safety.

That’s a pretty darn good career for a sixth-round pick who didn’t even have a scouting report on NFL.com prior to the draft. The grade is docked a bit because most of that value hasn’t come in San Francisco, but they at least found the right guy to target, and hey—they got a seventh round pick for him a year later.

Grade: C

Next: Bruce Miller