Niner Noise
FanSided

Top 10 Biggest Mistakes the 49ers Have Made Since 2015

By Peter Panacy

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Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Aaron Burbridge (13) runs a route before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Aaron Burbridge (13) runs a route before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 5: Not Drafting a WR High in 2015 and/or 2016

General manager Trent Baalke must be a little gun shy towards drafting a wide receiver, ever since he took A.J. Jenkins with the Niners’ first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Jenkins was a bust, and San Francisco hasn’t gone anywhere close to taking a wideout high in draft classes since. Bruce Ellington is the highest player drafted at this position since Jenkings — No. 106 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Chris Biderman of Niners Wire put together a piece breaking down how the overwhelming majority of impact wideouts have been drafted in either Rounds 1 or 2.

Baalke hasn’t gone that round. Dating back to 2015, the only receivers he’s taken have been DeAndre Smelter (Round 4) and Aaron Burbridge (Round 6).

Smelter, another one of the infamous “All-ACL” picks, has yet to take a snap on the field. Burbridge is buried on the depth chart, despite the Niners’ obvious need for playmaking receiver talent.