Niner Noise
FanSided

Re-evaluating Trent Baalke’s Failure in the Draft as the 49ers General Manager

By Akash Anavarathan

Nov 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke before the game against the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke before the game against the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 8
Next
Nov 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke before the game against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke before the game against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

With a new general manager, John Lynch, about to run his first NFL Draft with the San Francisco 49ers, it’s time to see how the last GM fared in the draft. Trent Baalke was in charge of six draft classes from 2011-2016. Grading those picks will go to show Baalke’s failure in the draft.

A major reason for the 49ers’ downfall since 2014 is their lack of talent and depth. Typically, teams that succeed in the NFL build their teams through the draft. They complement those draft picks by bringing in free agents to fill in the holes.

Trent Baalke was the GM that believed solely in the draft and not spending as much in free agency.

Just for comparison, Lynch has spent more in free agency this year than Baalke did a season ago — yet free agency hasn’t even begun.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Naturally, this should mean Baalke was really good at drafting Pro Bowl-caliber players and replenishing the depth. In actuality, Baalke’s dependence on his ability to draft quality players might have sunk him in the end.

Since taking over in 2011 as the GM, Baalke made a total of 50 draft picks, among the highest by a team over the last five years.

Now that everyone has gotten a chance to see — or not see — all of the players, let’s grade every one of Baalke’s selections. Using an A-through-F scale, here’s how the ex-49ers GM’s selections are being evaluated:

A – Pro-Bowl level pick

B – Solid starter

C – Supplementary piece, primarily backup or reserve player

D – Practice squad player, on the fringe to make the 53-man roster

F – Had no impact on the team

With these guidelines, let’s go ahead and start out with the 2011 NFL Draft, Baalke’s first as the 49ers’ GM.