Redrafting the San Francisco 49ers’ horrible 2013 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
Round 4, No. 109: Offensive Lineman David Bakhtiari, Colorado
Original Pick: Wide Receiver Quinton Patton (No. 128 Overall)
The 49ers would have had to trade up to make this deal. But for the pleasure of making it happen in revisionist fantasy, the Niners would send off their sixth-round pick (No. 173 overall — kept from not making the Vance McDonald trade) to land current Green Bay Packers tackle David Bakhtiari.
Bakhtiari, a Bay Area native, has been a full-time starter in Green Bay ever since he was drafted, missing only two games during his pro tenure.
Had the Niners selected him instead of wide receiver Quinton Patton, the eventual 2015 retirement of right tackle Anthony Davis wouldn’t have hurt so bad. Heck, it wouldn’t have hurt at all.
Hindsight tells all, and there’s no way general manager Trent Baalke could have known Davis’ intentions. Yet San Francisco had to be thinking of a possible long-term replacement for veteran left tackle Joe Staley or, at least, a solid swing tackle capable of backing up both positions.
The need for a young wideout at this point in the draft was apparent. But Patton never amounted to much outside of an OK third-tier receiver in San Francisco.