49ers: Redrafting Trent Baalke's 2016 NFL Draft Class

San Francisco 49ers: Redrafting Trent Baalke’s 2016 NFL Draft Class

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 04: Jordan Howard #24 of the Chicago Bears reacts after scoring in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on December 4, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

5. player. 42. . Running Back. Indiana. Jordan Howard

Original Player Selected: OT John Theus

San Francisco’s next two picks in Round 5, offensive linemen John Theus and Fahn Cooper, never amounted to much of anything. So that leaves us with an awfully big what-could-have-been moment.

Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard ended up going five picks after Theus, and Howard subsequently rushed for 1,313 yards and six touchdowns his rookie season. And he’s easily on pace to break that mark this season if he stays healthy.

Such a move would have made sense for the Niners too. Remember, current No. 1 tailback Carlos Hyde missed all but seven games, due to injuries, the previous year. This required the 49ers to start journeymen tailbacks like Shaun Draughn and DuJuan Harris down the stretch.

So yes, a running back would have been a need at the time. And one can only think about that kind of production.

Well, if the offensive line was anywhere the same level of Chicago’s, at least.