Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 NFL Draft classes in franchise history

By Peter Panacy

10 Sep 2000: Ronnie Lott of the Ex-San Francisco 49ers talks to the crowd with Dave Wilcox and Joe Montana during the game against the Carolina Panthers at 3Com Park in San Francisco, California. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 38-22.Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport
10 Sep 2000: Ronnie Lott of the Ex-San Francisco 49ers talks to the crowd with Dave Wilcox and Joe Montana during the game against the Carolina Panthers at 3Com Park in San Francisco, California. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 38-22.Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 04: Former 49er greats (L-R) Joe Montana and Dwight Clark look on before the game between the St Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on December 4, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 04: Former 49er greats (L-R) Joe Montana and Dwight Clark look on before the game between the St Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on December 4, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Honorable Mentions

With more than just five great drafts by the 49ers, it’s impossible to leave a handful of classes completely off this list.

While these don’t quite make the top five, it’s worth pointing out just how much impact the following had on the history of the franchise.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

2010 49ers NFL Draft Class

Fans recall the struggles former general manager Trent Baalke had putting together the team in recent years. But he got off to a solid start back in 2010 before he officially took over the title of GM.

In 2010, Baalke nabbed two first-round offensive linemen in Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati. Those two would go on to solidify what became one of the most dominant offensive lines in the NFL during the Jim Harbaugh years.

In Round 3, though, Baalke took a shot on a talented linebacker with a handful of red flags, NaVorro Bowman.

That worked out pretty well.

2011 49ers NFL Draft Class

Baalke’s subsequent draft class was also his last good one. A year after solidifying the Niners offensive line, Baalke grabbed a prolific pass-rusher out of Missouri in Aldon Smith. While Smith’s off-field issues have long since clouded his once-promising career, it’s impossible to overlook the sheer impact he had on the game early on.

Up next, the 49ers grabbed quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who would be a centerpiece for San Francisco’s dominant run between 2012 and 2013.

Blue-chip players like center Daniel Kilgore, cornerback Chris Culliver and defensive end/fullback Bruce Miller also played vital roles in the Harbaugh years.

1985 49ers NFL Draft Class

Aside from one player, the Niners’ 1985 NFL Draft class wasn’t particularly impressive. Late-round pickups Scott Barry, David Wood and Donald Chumley never made an impact at the NFL level, and fifth-round offensive lineman Bruce Collie saw action as a rotational backup until 1989.

But the first name on the list, Jerry Rice, certainly made its mark.

Being arguably the best player to ever play the game, the 1985 class has to be included here.

1979 49ers NFL Draft Class

Ah, yes. The first class for the legendary Bill Walsh, who acted both as general manager and head coach after taking over that year.

Walsh’s first pick, running back James Owens, didn’t exactly pan out in San Francisco. But Walsh’s next selection surely did.

Only perhaps the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Joe Montana.

That alone makes this class worthy of an honorable mention. But the kicker was grabbing wide receiver Dwight Clark in Round 10, who ended up being partially responsible for the single greatest play in 49ers history.

Walsh didn’t cash in on too many other selections from 1979, therefore keeping this class out of the top five. But the two biggest names forever altered the franchise’s legacy forever.