Round 5, Pick No. 170: Cornerback Keith Reaser
Original Pick: Cornerback Keith Reaser
It’s time to give Trent Baalke a pass here and possibly even admit one of his “All-ACL team” gambles may end up paying off.
Cornerback Keith Reaser, of course, was recovering from a collegiate injury when the 49ers drafted him in Round 5 back in 2014. He would spend all of his rookie season off the field and wouldn’t see action until the following year.
2015 and 2016 weren’t particularly special, although Reaser did manage to break up five passes over 15 games.
The reason Reaser winds up being an OK pick here is twofold. On one hand, there isn’t exactly a player on either side of Reaser, before the next 49ers pick, justifying a selection or move. And according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat’s Grant Cohn, Reaser has made notable strides since last season and could be a favorite to even start in 2017.
Picking Reaser in 2014 amid this new context wouldn’t have been a horrible move either. The Niners already selected fellow corner Ross Cockrell at this point, so Reaser wouldn’t have been pushed into the fray.