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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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 27: Ronnie Lott attends Nike Brings Broadway Bowl Football Matchup To The Heart Of Times Square on April 27, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Nike)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 27: Ronnie Lott attends Nike Brings Broadway Bowl Football Matchup To The Heart Of Times Square on April 27, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Nike) /

No. 1: 1981 49ers NFL Draft Class

Drafted Players Table
Rnd Player Pick Pos Yrs From To College/Univ
1 Ronnie Lott HOF 8 DB 14 1981 1994 USC
2 John Harty 36 NT 5 1981 1986 Iowa
2 Eric Wright 40 DB 10 1981 1990 Missouri
3 Carlton Williamson 65 DB 7 1981 1987 Pittsburgh
5 Lynn Thomas 121 DB 2 1981 1982 Pittsburgh
5 Arrington Jones 122 RB 1 1981 1981 Winston-Salem St.
6 Pete Kugler 147 NT 8 1981 1990 Penn St.
8 Garry White 203 RB Minnesota
11 Ronnie DeBose 286 TE UCLA
12 Major Ogilvie 313 RB Alabama
12 Joe Adams 322 QB Tennessee St.

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

And the No. 1 49ers draft class of all time? Well, none other than 1981 — the year in which the franchise pulled off its first Super Bowl victory.

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It’s truly amazing to see just how big an impact this class had in reaching this lofty accolade. Considering how important defensive backs Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson were for the team’s defensive efforts that year, you have to put this crop at the very top.

Lott went on to receive both Pro Bowl and All-Pro accolades his rookie season. Wright and Williamson weren’t far behind, eventually earning two Pro Bowl nods later in their respective careers.

Sure, everyone remembers the 49ers offense already in place, thanks to Bill Walsh, Joe Montana and Dwight Clark. But it was going to take some defense to pull off a championship.

Considering the first five picks were all on defense, and knowing the end result, we have to say Walsh did right.

Next: Ranking the 10 best 49ers teams in franchise history

We hope you enjoyed our top five all-time 49ers NFL Draft classes. And we certainly hope we’ll be able to add many, many more to the list in coming years.