San Francisco 49ers: 20 worst NFL Draft picks in franchise history

Quarterback Alex Smith (Utah) drafted first overall by the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
Quarterback Alex Smith (Utah) drafted first overall by the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /
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A.J. Jenkins, 49ers
A.J. Jenkins #17 of the San Francisco 49ers(Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Wide Receiver A.J. Jenkins

Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round (30th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft

Recent 49ers draft history easily points to the 2012 first-round selection of wide receiver A.J. Jenkins.

Jenkins struggled to get on the field his first, and only, season in San Francisco and ended up appearing in just three regular-season games and registered zero catches on just one target — a pass he dropped.

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area wrote:

"First-round draft pick A.J. Jenkins probably would not have made the team if he had not been a high draft pick. He made no impact despite season-ending injuries to Kyle Williams and Mario Manningham. Jenkins dropped the only pass thrown his way during the season."

In reality, the entire 2012 Niners draft class went bust. Jenkins merely highlighted what has been considered general manager Trent Baalke’s worst class in his turbulent tenure with San Francisco.

At least Jenkins went on in an attempt to revive his career with the Kansas City Chiefs after being dealt by the 49ers in a 2013 trade. But even that effort flamed out, and Jenkins was out of football following the 2014 season.

Few names define San Francisco draft busts more than Jenkins, aside from the next name on this list.