49ers all-time best NFL Draft picks by each round

The draft is a gamble. But for the 49ers, it’s been a gamble that has paid dividends. Here are the best of all time in each round for the franchise.

You build through the NFL Draft. That’s the motto of every organization, and year after year, they stick by it.

Free agency is good for that single acquisition that helps put your team over the top. Otherwise, too many careless signings can put you over the salary cap if you’re not careful. And that is a recipe for disaster in terms of retaining players and staying competitive year after year.

So what is it that sets successful teams apart from unsuccessful ones? Is it scouting, is it coaching, or is it just plain luck?

Depending on the situation, it can be any one or all three.

Regardless of the reason, the San Francisco 49ers have had many successful draft hauls throughout history.

By way of the draft, the Niners have produced five Super Bowl-winning teams, uncountable Pro Bowlers, and 13 Hall of Famers. Not to mention, another four players who are absolute shoo-ins for Canton.

For every successful career, there are countless others who were either busts or underwhelming, to say the least. For a long time, the 49ers were on the winning end of getting the right player at the right time and fitting them into the right scheme. Let’s hope that trend continues.

Here are the absolute best Niners drafted in each round in the history of the franchise.