San Francisco 49ers: Regrading All 6 NFL Draft Classes of GM Trent Baalke
By Peter Panacy
The 2015 NFL Draft
The Picks
| 1 | 17 | Arik Armstead | DE | Oregon |
| 2 | 46 | Jaquiski Tartt | SAF | Samford |
| 3 | 79 | Eli Harold | LB | Virginia |
| 4 | 117 | Blake Bell | TE | Oklahoma |
| 4 | 126 | Mike Davis | RB | South Carolina |
| 4 | 132 | DeAndre Smelter | WR | Georgia Tech |
| 5 | 165 | Bradley Pinion | P | Clemson |
| 6 | 190 | Ian Silberman | T | Boston College |
| 7 | 244 | Trent Brown | T | Florida |
| 7 | 254 | Rory Anderson | TE | South Carolina |
It’s getting a little harder to assess these players’ impact, since we only have a year-plus of results under our belt. But let’s do what we can.
The 2015 49ers draft class kicked off with the first-round selection of Oregon defensive end Arik Armstead, who could wind up being a significant player if he continues to develop and contribute at his current rate. That’s good.
The rest? Well, it’s a mixed bag.
Defensive End Arik Armstead — 3.5
We’d like to give Armstead a 4-grade here. But the fact he had relatively few snaps his rookie season and has been hampered by a nagging shoulder injury in 2016 makes it tough.
Armstead may never wind up being a perennial Pro Bowler. But he could wind up providing the kind of impact to San Francisco’s defensive line like Ray McDonald used to offer before he was released.
Safety Jaquiski Tartt — 3
Former Samford product Jaquiski Tartt was supposed to deliver the mean streak lacking from the 49ers secondary when he was taken in Round 2. He has that physicality, but his coverage skills are still lacking.
Will he ever make the jump from being an OK player to someone of above-average caliber?
Linebacker Eli Harold — 3
Like Tartt, linebacker Eli Harold has yet to make his stamp on the 49ers defense. He could still be a prolific pass-rusher. The problem is we just haven’t seen it yet. And he didn’t exactly turn heads while fellow linebacker Aaron Lynch was out four games serving a suspension to start 2016.
Tight End Blake Bell — 2
OK, so former quarterback, turned tight end Blake Bell is an experiment in the works. Perhaps he has the intangibles to be a big playmaker. The problem is we haven’t seen any notable production. This is starting to look like a wasted pick.
Running Back Mike Davis — 2.5
Former South Carolina tailback Mike Davis looked like a bust his rookie year. But he had some notable moments in the 2016 preseason. That’s what he’ll need to build on as he looks to climb the depth chart behind No. 1 running back Carlos Hyde.
Wide Receiver DeAndre Smelter — 1
Yet another one of general manager Trent Baalke’s “All-ACL” picks. You guessed it, he’s still dealing with injuries and isn’t on the 53-man roster for the second year in a row.
Punter Bradley Pinion — 3
OK, so punter Bradley Pinion is starting. So he should get a 4-grade, right?
The only problem is San Francisco used a draft pick on a guy who could have probably been had as an undrafted free agent. Another wasted pick.
Offensive Lineman Ian Silberman — 1
Well, at least offensive guard Ian Silberman managed to get into one game with the 49ers before being released in 2016. He’s currently with the New England Patriots.
Tackle Trent Brown — 3.5
On one hand, Denver Broncos All-Pro pass-rusher Von Miller called Trent Brown one of the best linemen he’s seen. On the other, Brown can’t run block. He did beat out former first-round draft pick Anthony Davis, now retired, for the starting job though. That’s worth something.
Tight End Busta Anderson — 1
We’re still waiting to see whether or not tight end Busta Anderson can surpass Bell on the TE depth chart. Maybe soon.