Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers NFL Draft history: Best player taken in each round

By Peter Panacy

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Former member of the San Francisco 49ers Jerry Rice looks on against the New Orleans Saints during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on September 20, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Former member of the San Francisco 49ers Jerry Rice looks on against the New Orleans Saints during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on September 20, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /
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December 8, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers kicker Phil Dawson (9) celebrates with punter Andy Lee (4) after kicking the game-winning field goal against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 8, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers kicker Phil Dawson (9) celebrates with punter Andy Lee (4) after kicking the game-winning field goal against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 6: Punter Andy Lee

Selected No. 188 overall in the 2004 NFL Draft

For a while, former 49ers punter Andy Lee was the best player on San Francisco’s roster.

Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. One thing is for certain — the Niners were mostly bad during his tenure.

This wasn’t due to Lee, however, who managed three Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro selections during his 11-year 49ers tenure.

Fans saw a lot of Lee, too, considering how inept San Francisco’s offense was for the latter half of the 2000s.

The Niners elected to move on from Lee, after some record-setting seasons, in 2015 when he was traded to the Cleveland Browns. San Francisco replaced him with punter Bradley Pinion, who hasn’t quite been anywhere near as effective and eventually left the team via free agency in 2019.

Honorable Mention: LB Lee Woodall (No. 182 overall)