Niner Noise
FanSided

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

By Robert Morrison

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 28: Roger Craig #33 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXIV on January 28, 1990 at the Super Dome in New Orleans, LA. The 49ers won the Super Bowl 55-10. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 28: Roger Craig #33 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXIV on January 28, 1990 at the Super Dome in New Orleans, LA. The 49ers won the Super Bowl 55-10. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Eric Davis, 49ers
Cornerback Eric Davis San Francisco 49ers  (Photo by Joseph Patronite /Getty Images) /

No. 5: Cornerback Eric Davis

As we make the turn toward the top of the list, we have yet another member of that 1994 Super Bowl championship team, this time in the form of cornerback Eric Davis.

The 49ers selected Davis with the 53rd overall selection of the 1990 NFL Draft out of Jacksonville State, and the former Gamecock defensive back became an immediate contributor to the 49ers defense, pulling down on interception, forcing two fumbles and recovering one during his rookie season.

After missing most of his sophomore season, Davis came back to be a full-time starter for the next three seasons, snagging 10 interceptions, forcing four fumbles, recovering five and scoring three defensive touchdowns over that span.

In his final season in San Francisco in 1995, the cornerback made both the Pro Bowl and was a first-team All-Pro before heading out to Carolina to play five seasons as a Panther and finishing his career with two decent seasons with Denver and Detroit. He ended his career with 38 interceptions, 12 of which he had as a 49er.

At this point, it’s slightly splitting hairs to place Davis ahead of Watters, but Davis had a similar impact on the 49ers over his time with the franchise, and in the end it was his years with the team which place him just ahead of the 49ers running back.