Niner Noise
FanSided

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

By Peter Panacy

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)
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 – OCTOBER 18: Cornerback Chris Culliver #29 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Sidney Rice #18 of the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter on October 18, 2012 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 13-6. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – OCTOBER 18: Cornerback Chris Culliver #29 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Sidney Rice #18 of the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter on October 18, 2012 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 13-6. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

One round before Kendall Hunter, Trent Baalke elected to reinforce the Niners secondary with former South Carolina cornerback Chris Culliver.

Culliver’s rookie season wasn’t particularly impressive, and 49ers fans can probably still recall his issues in coverage during San Francisco’s playoff push into early January. 2012 was marginally better, as Culliver began to adjust to pro-level coverage schemes. And in 2013, signs pointed to him finally putting all the pieces together.

The only problem was he ended up missing the entire year, due to an Achilles injury.

2014 proved to be Culliver’s best year with the 49ers and at the pro level — noted by Pro Football Focus’ Jeff Deeney:

This allowed the cornerback to cash in on a big free-agent deal with the Washington Redskins in 2015, although he was released the following year and has been dealing with a plethora of injuries ever since.