Niner Noise
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Recapping the 49ers’ Actions in the 2017 NFL Draft

By Logan Stanley

Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch during a press conference at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch during a press conference at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2017; Tampa , FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) throws the ball against the Florida Gators during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Tampa , FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) throws the ball against the Florida Gators during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Worst Draft Pick

This is entirely based on the context of the situation and not the player itself. In order to select Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard, the 49ers had to give up assets to do so.

  • San Francisco traded their fourth-round (No. 109) pick and their seventh-round (No. 219) pick to the Minnesota Vikings for their third-round pick (No. 104).

While I do not dislike the actual selection — I’m giving Kyle Shanahan the benefit of doubt when it comes to building his offenses — I am not a fan of trading up and using a third-round pick on a player who the general manager all but guaranteed will not be getting any playing time in the upcoming season. It’s clearly a developmental pick, but to move back into the third round for a selection like that isn’t the most valuable option. It was the first draft mismanagement in my eyes.

And again I want to reiterate this is based on the trade, not Beathard himself. I believe San Francisco could have waited and got Beathard later in Round 4 without having to give up any picks.

Beathard projects as the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Brian Hoyer and backup Matt Barkley.