Niner Noise
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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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SAN FRANCISCO – JANUARY 6: Running back Roger Craig #33 of the San Francisco 49ers finds room to run against the Minnesota Vikings during the 1989 NFC Divisional Playoffs at Candlestick Park on January 6, 1990 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO – JANUARY 6: Running back Roger Craig #33 of the San Francisco 49ers finds room to run against the Minnesota Vikings during the 1989 NFC Divisional Playoffs at Candlestick Park on January 6, 1990 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 41-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /

Round 2: Running Back Roger Craig

Selected No. 49 overall in the 1983 NFL Draft

Former Niners running back Roger Craig should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While he wasn’t necessarily the most stat-worthy tailback seen in NFL history, Craig’s durability and versatility make this a non-question.

Just look at his stats, games missed and how he contributed in the passing game with San Francisco:

Roger Craig 49ers Rushing & Receiving Table
Game Game Rush Rush Rush Rush Rush Rush Rush Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece
Year Age Tm No. G GS Rush Yds TD Lng Y/A Y/G A/G Rec Yds Y/R TD R/G Y/G YScm Fmb
1983 23 SFO 33 16 13 176 725 8 71 4.1 45.3 11.0 48 427 8.9 4 3.0 26.7 1152 6
1984 24 SFO 33 16 16 155 649 7 28 4.2 40.6 9.7 71 675 9.5 3 4.4 42.2 1324 3
1985* 25 SFO 33 16 16 214 1050 9 62 4.9 65.6 13.4 92 1016 11.0 6 5.8 63.5 2066 5
1986 26 SFO 33 16 15 204 830 7 25 4.1 51.9 12.8 81 624 7.7 0 5.1 39.0 1454 4
1987* 27 SFO 33 14 14 215 815 3 25 3.8 58.2 15.4 66 492 7.5 1 4.7 35.1 1307 5
1988*+ 28 SFO 33 16 15 310 1502 9 46 4.8 93.9 19.4 76 534 7.0 1 4.8 33.4 2036 8
1989* 29 SFO 33 16 16 271 1054 6 27 3.9 65.9 16.9 49 473 9.7 1 3.1 29.6 1527 4
1990 30 SFO 33 11 11 141 439 1 26 3.1 39.9 12.8 25 201 8.0 0 2.3 18.3 640 2
8 yr 8 yr SFO 121 116 1686 7064 50 71 4.2 58.4 13.9 508 4442 8.7 16 4.2 36.7 11506 37

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/22/2017.

Craig was a workhorse for an offense that included Joe Montana, wide receivers John Taylor and Jerry Rice and a slew of other playmakers at various periods.

And yet Craig managed to stay a consistent piece, both on the ground and through the air. He was Marshall Faulk before Marshall Faulk.

And Faulk is a Hall of Famer.

Nevertheless, Craig might unfortunately be remembered for the costly fumble in the 1990 NFC Championship game that cost the Niners a victory over the New York Giants and a trip to a third-straight Super Bowl.

Still, Craig’s efforts with the 49ers haven’t disappeared from team lore.

Honorable Mentions: G Randy Cross (No. 42 overall), CB Eric Wright (No. 40 overall), KR/PR Abe Woodson (No. 15 overall)