Ranking 49ers 10 best second-round NFL Draft picks of all time

No. 7: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick

There is probably a version of former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick‘s career where he ends up atop a list like this. For the first few years, it seemed like no doubt he’d be considered among the top quarterbacks in team history, let alone top second-round draft picks.

And then there were protests, injuries, coaching changes and then the regime change to general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, which led to Kaepernick’s release after a 1-10 record in 11 starts in 2016.

But 2.5-seasons’ run from the middle of 2012 to the end of the Jim Harbaugh era in 2014 was often exciting and successful for San Francisco, quite often led by the dynamic play of Kaepernick.

The 49ers selected Kaepernick with the 36th overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Nevada, and the move was of immediate note because of Alex Smith’s position as the incumbent starter, even if it was for a 6-10 team that was adding its fifth new coach since Steve Mariucci retired after the 2002 season.

And after a hot start to the 2011 campaign, it appeared the pick made even less sense. Then Smith went down with a concussion and Kaepernick took over to lead the team to a near-comeback victory in the Super Bowl.

The next offseason, the 49ers sent Smith to Kansas City.

In hindsight, it’s easier to see why Kaepernick isn’t higher anyway, in spite of how few years he played in the NFL. There are ways his overall stats are eye-popping, such as his 2,300 career rushing yards on just 375 carries, good for over 6 yards per attempt. Or the 120 first downs his legs were responsible for during his six seasons.

The major knock against him was related to his completion percentage, which sits at just 59.8 percent for his career and never rose above 62.4 percent, which was during his abbreviated 2012 run to the Super Bowl. Other numbers, like his career yards per attempt (7.3), passing yards per game (177.8) or his relatively low touchdown numbers (72 through the air), paint a similar picture.

There’s little doubt Kaepernick was a dynamic player for the 49ers during his heyday. For that, he’s more than deserving of a place on this list. But given his precipitous fall, one which came about almost as quickly as his sudden rise, places him squarely in the bottom half of the group.