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.
Greatest 49ers drafted all-time Round No. 7: LB Larry Grant
No, it’s not Brock Purdy. At least, not yet.
Looking back at every seventh-round selection in history made by San Francisco, there are only a few who stand out as the greatest pick of all time, and linebacker Larry Grant is the most deserving, bar none.
Grant was drafted by the 49ers in 2008 but didn’t officially play with them until 2011 when he spent two seasons on the active roster. Grant was good, but with linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman on the field, he saw limited play.
However, in a relief role, Grant was one of the best.
In 2011, Willis went down with a hamstring injury, and Grant took full advantage of the opportunity. During that span, he contributed 29 tackles, two sacks, a pass defended, and forced two fumbles.
More importantly, the Niners won two out of three games without their defensive captain due to Grant’s contributions. He was a well-rounded player who could step in as a leader or fall in line as a team player.
On any other NFL team, Grant would’ve been a Day 1 starter. But for San Franciscco, for a short time anyway, he was a savior.
Honorable Mentions: Brian Jennings
Greatest 49ers drafted all-time Round No. 6: LB Lee Woodall
Lee Woodall bared a strong resemblance to boxing legend Evander Holyfield, but on the field, he hit like “Iron” Mike Tyson.
Not only did he start in his rookie season for the franchise, but he was also named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Super Bowl champion as well.
During the year Woodall was drafted, the 49ers were in the middle of building a super team. After two straight NFC title game losses to the Dallas Cowboys, the front office wasn’t content with standing by and allowing a third to happen.
After adding what seemed like every Pro Bowler over the past decade, Woodall played lights out from the word “go” and fit in famously. To put it plainly, their presence seemed to elevate his game to another level.
The trio of Woodall, Ken Norton Jr, and Gary Plummer just might be the best linebacker squad in team history.
Woodall played eight seasons in front of the Faithful, and per draft standards, is the true definition of value.
Honorable Mentions: Don Griffin
Greatest 49ers drafted all-time Round No. 5: S Merton Hanks
Free safety Merton Hanks locked down his side of the field for eight consecutive seasons with San Francisco. He played heads-up and hard-nosed throughout his tenure intercepting 33 passes and scoring six total touchdowns.
Most of all, he was known for his crazy dances and post-play celebrations.
On the field, he wasn’t just a brilliant mind on defense. Hanks brought versatility to the field in the form of special teams as well. He played punt returner in college and throughout his career.
Hanks also played on that remarkably talented team in the 1990s that won Super Bowl 29 in commanding fashion.
The front seven was comprised of players who were at the top of their game, but a secondary of Hanks, Tim McDonald, Eric Davis, and “Primetime” Deion Sanders was what finally propelled the organization passed the defending-champion Cowboys.
Hanks was an undeniable leader, a resident hype man and one of the major reasons the Niners were able to capture that elusive fifth Lombardi Trophy.
Honorable Mentions: George Kittle
Greatest 49ers drafted all-time Round No. 4: LB Charles Haley
The only NFL player since the 1980s with more Super Bowl rings than linebacker Charles Haley is quarterback Tom Brady. And Haley is also the only player in NFL history to play for two all-decade teams back-to-back and stand out as one of the best on the roster.
In 13 NFL seasons, Haley was a headhunter for both San Francisco and Dallas.
It was all business when he stepped on the field, and he also played with a bit of a mean streak. After all, you don’t win Defensive Player of the Year three times by greeting the opposing offense with charisma and charm.
In fact, Haley was the complete opposite of charismatic. His intensity alone was enough to make any offense uneasy, specifically the quarterback.
In his career, he sacked the opposing quarterback 100.5 times, 66.5 of those coming during his tenure with San Francisco.
He was the kind of player you hated to face, and the one you were glad to have on your team.
They simply don’t make them like Haley anymore.
Honorable Mentions: Steve Wallace
Greatest 49ers drafted all-time Round No. 3: QB Joe Montana
Joe Montana is arguably one of the best to ever play the game. He was a perfect 4-0 on the largest stage in football and was been named MVP on that stage three times.
He was selected to eight Pro Bowls, has been named All-Pro three times, and had over 40,000 career passing yards.
If not for a gruesome injury sustained in his third consecutive title game appearance, “Joe Cool” may have had more championships than anyone in history.
In fact, prior to his injury against the New York Giants, his ceiling seemed to have no end.
Montana is no doubt one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever put on pads. It’s not easy to stand out as the best player on the field when you’re surrounded by All-Pros and fellow Hall of Famers, but that’s exactly what he did week after week.
He was an undeniable leader, an uncontested champion and the ringleader of the “Team of the 80s.”
He had many nicknames, but none of them did him justice. Except for one that is, and in most places it’s uncontested.
Just don’t argue the fact with anyone from the state of Massachusetts.
Honorable Mentions: Frank Gore, Terrell Owens, Tom Rathman, John Taylor
Greatest 49ers drafted all-time Round No. 2: OL Randy Cross
Randy Cross might have only accounted for one of the great protectors on the 1980s All-Decade team, but in terms of locking down the defender, he was thee protector.
With the ability to play both guard and center, his versatility alone made him an asset, but his tenacious gameplay against opposing offenses made him irreplaceable. Cross was not only efficient in the passing game, but as a pulling guard, he was valuable in the rushing attack as well.
His efforts in the regular season were nothing short of spectacular, but the postseason seemed to elevate his game to different heights.
Cross was an every-down lineman and lived for the competition week after week. He was voted to three Pro Bowls by his peers which alone is an impressive feat, but when you factor in the stiff competition he was up against, it makes the honor even more prestigious.
To this day, his name is synonymous with the franchise as a member of the 10-year club, an honor given to members who played 10 years or more for the franchise. This is just another testament to his durability and love for the game.
His name alone will forever be tied to the franchise as one of the All-Time greats. But his efforts on the field will serve as the gold standard to every future lineman for the franchise.
Honorable Mentions: Roger Craig, Keena Turner
Greatest 49ers drafted all-time Round No. 1: WR Jerry Rice
What else can be said about wide receiver Jerry Rice that hasn’t already been said?
He owns just about every record in history for his position. Not to mention, he is the All-Time leader in receptions, yards, touchdowns and touch receptions.
He was NFL Player of the Year, Super Bowl MVP and his bust will live on forever in Canton, Ohio.
His circus catches, his one-handed grabs and his yards-after-catch were what made him elite, but his off-season training is what made him a legend.
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He owns many postseason records as well including the fastest touchdown in Super Bowl history.
Not bad for a guy who learned how to catch while working masonry with his father. Also, not bad for a small-town kid who played for Mississippi Valley State.
Every one of his touchdowns is hanging inside Levis Stadium for all his fans to see, but his lovable character, his tireless work ethic and his love for the game will live on forever.
Honorable Mentions: Ronnie Lott, Bryant Young, Patrick Willis, Joe Staley, Harris Barton