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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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 16: Chris Borland #50 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a tackle against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium on November 16, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

There’s no way Trent Baalke could have known his third-round investment from the 2014 NFL Draft, former Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland, would have retired after just one outstanding year at the pro level.

Borland’s rookie season was pretty spectacular. With All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman (knee) out for all of 2014, Borland proved his 6-foot-0, 248-pound frame wasn’t too small for life at the NFL level.

All he did was lead the 49ers defense with 84 tackles that year.

One can only wonder what Borland’s budding career would have been like had he not retired the following season.

But for the massive impact he had this lone year, it’s impossible to leave Borland off this list.