Niner Noise
FanSided

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

By Peter Panacy

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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Quarterback Bobby Hebert #3 of the Atlanta Falcons taken down by defensive end Todd Kelly #58, Martin Harrison #56 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
Quarterback Bobby Hebert #3 of the Atlanta Falcons taken down by defensive end Todd Kelly #58, Martin Harrison #56 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /

No. 19: Defensive End Todd Kelly

Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round (27th overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft

The 49ers were needing some pass-rushing help to supplement the defense during the 1993 NFL Draft, and the team hoped it had found gold when it selected defensive end Todd Kelly out of Tennessee in the first round.

At 6-foot-2 and 259 pounds, Kelly was likely too small to be an effective defensive end and a little too large to be an outside linebacker. His stats at the pro level suffered as a result.

Over just two years with the Niners, Kelly registered just 4.5 sacks and 22 tackles — hardly the investment for a first-round pick.

What makes this even worse was the fact future New York Giants defensive tackle Michael Strahan was still available when the 49ers picked Kelly.

At least San Francisco made up for with with the first-round selection of defensive end Bryant Young the following year.