49ers: Top 20 NFL Draft picks from former general manager Trent Baalke

San Francisco 49ers: Top 20 NFL draft picks from former general manager Trent Baalke

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 20: San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke speaks to the media during a press conference where Chip Kelly was announced as the new head coach of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on January 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 08: Linebacker Aldon Smith #99 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park on September 8, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

Ah, yes. The age-old story of an infinite talent ruined by demons within.

That’s the case with former Missouri edge rusher Aldon Smith, whose off-the-field issues have long since overshadowed the sheer talent he displayed on the field.

These were concerns Trent Baalke and the 49ers must have had in 2011, when they drafted him at No. 7 overall. Talent trumps risk, though, and that was San Francisco’s obvious mindset.

Early on, this appeared to be justified.

Smith set the franchise’s rookie sack record at 14 and was named Pro Football Writers’ Defensive Rookie of the Year that season. And in 2012, Smith nearly broke the single-season sack record, taking down quarterbacks 19.5 times en route to the Niners’ last Super Bowl run.

Things began to fall apart, unfortunately, and it was sad to see Smith’s once-promising career come to a close with the 49ers in 2015, followed by even more issues and consequences to this day.

Oh, what could have been. That alone justifies a top-five selection.