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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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6 Jan 1990: Running back Roger Craig of the San Francisco 49ers moves the ball during a playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game, 41-13. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule /Allsport
6 Jan 1990: Running back Roger Craig of the San Francisco 49ers moves the ball during a playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game, 41-13. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule /Allsport /

No. 5: 1983 49ers NFL Draft Class

Drafted Players Table
Rnd Player Pick Pos Yrs From To College/Univ
2 Roger Craig 49 RB 11 1983 1993 Nebraska
3 Blanchard Montgomery 59 LB 2 1983 1984 UCLA
4 Tom Holmoe 90 DB 6 1983 1989 BYU
5 Riki Ellison 117 LB 9 1983 1992 USC
7 Gary Moten 175 LB 2 1983 1987 SMU
9 Mike Mularkey 229 TE 9 1983 1991 Florida
10 Jeff Merrell 259 DT Nebraska
11 Jesse Sapolu 289 C 13 1983 1997 Hawaii

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/23/2018.

We kick off our top five with a 49ers draft class that’s often overlooked in the annals of great ones in franchise history.

The 1983 class has the combination of both impact players and blue-chip contributors most general managers, especially then-GM John McVay that year, want to see. And the list starts off with a player, who should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Roger Craig.

Craig forever changed the way running backs were used on offense, solidifying himself as both an elite-level runner and dynamic pass catcher. And some may argue he was just as important to the 1980s 49ers offense as Joe Montana or Jerry Rice.

Linebacker Blanchard Montgomery was a miss, but McVay made up for it with the fifth-round selection of Riki Ellison, who was a key part of the Niners defense through 1988.

The biggest late-round find, though, has to be center Jesse Sapolu who, behind another center on this list, has to be considered one of the two best to play for San Francisco at the position.

Simply put, this draft class set the tone for the franchise to truly become a dynasty. Hence why it’s included.