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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CANTON, OH – AUGUST 8: Charles Haley poses with his bust with presenter Edward DeBartolo Jr. during the NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 8, 2015 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CANTON, OH – AUGUST 8: Charles Haley poses with his bust with presenter Edward DeBartolo Jr. during the NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 8, 2015 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 2: 1986 49ers NFL Draft Class

Drafted Players Table
Rnd Player Pick Pos Yrs From To College/Univ
2 Larry Roberts 39 DE 8 1986 1993 Alabama
3 Tom Rathman 56 RB 9 1986 1994 Nebraska
3 Tim McKyer 64 DB 12 1986 1997 Texas-Arlington
3 John Taylor 76 WR 9 1987 1995 Delaware St.
4 Charles Haley HOF 96 DE 13 1986 1999 James Madison
4 Steve Wallace 101 T 12 1986 1997 Auburn
4 Kevin Fagan 102 DE 7 1987 1993 Miami (FL)
5 Pat Miller 131 LB 2 1987 1988 Florida
6 Don Griffin 162 DB 11 1986 1996 Middle Tenn. St.
8 Jim Popp 203 TE Vanderbilt
9 Tony Cherry 240 RB 2 1986 1987 Oregon
10 Elliston Stinson 267 WR Rice
10 Harold Hallman 270 LB Auburn

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

Coming in at No. 2 in our all-time list, the 1986 49ers draft class was pretty darned impressive.

Keep in mind, this was in the midst of San Francisco’s dynasty years. Without a first-round pick, then-general manager John McVay was able to stockpile a number of early and mid-round picks and make splashes down the line.

Defensive end Larry Roberts was an underappreciated pass-rusher, who accumulated 28 sacks over his nine-year career with the Niners. And surely most 49ers fans know of fullback Tom Rathman.

Wide receiver John Taylor would likely have been a household name among Niners fans had he not been overshadowed by Jerry Rice. Taylor went on to be a two-time Pro Bowler, including hauling in the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XXIII two seasons later.

Trench guys Steve Wallace and Kevin Fagan were integral pieces, as was cornerback Don Griffin.

Oh, and hitting on defensive end Charles Haley in Round 4 turned out to be a pretty good thing too. All he did was wind up in the Hall of Fame.

As impressive as this draft class was, though, the 49ers were already a stacked team at this point. The No. 1 class on our list forever changed the franchise.