Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 5 NFL Draft picks who never lived up to the hype

By Peter Panacy

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 12: Wide receiver Rashaun Woods #81 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the game at 3Com Park on September 12, 2004 in San Francisco, California. The Falcons won 21-19. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 12: Wide receiver Rashaun Woods #81 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the game at 3Com Park on September 12, 2004 in San Francisco, California. The Falcons won 21-19. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /
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Defensive tackle Dave Butz #65 of the Washington Redskins wraps up running back Wilbur Jackson #40 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images)
Defensive tackle Dave Butz #65 of the Washington Redskins wraps up running back Wilbur Jackson #40 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images) /

. Tight End. Fighting Irish . Ken MacAfee. 2. player. 443

The 49ers may be able to absorb the pain associated with drafting Reggie McGrew, given he was a later pick in Round 1.

But former Notre Dame tight end Ken MacAfee was the exact opposite, selected seventh overall by San Francisco in the 1978 NFL Draft. The Niners in the late 1970s were hurting for offensive playmakers, and MacAfee had quite the college resume at Notre Dame, which included being named a three-time All-American. Especially his senior season in which he managed nearly 800 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Yet that kind of success never transpired over to the pro level. During his rookie season, MacAfee posted just 22 receptions for 205 yards with a touchdown, backed up by a somewhat more-impressive 24-catch, 266-yard and four-touchdown campaign in 1979.

Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh, who took over the team in MacAfee’s second year, attempted to shake things up by asking MacAfee to move from tight end to the offensive line.

MacAfee refused and subsequently retired from football.

If there’s a positive note, the 49ers also selected linebacker Dan Bunz later in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft, and he’d go on to have a notable career in San Francisco. That lessens the pain of the MacAfee selection a bit.