San Francisco 49ers: Rating the First Round Draft Picks This Decade

April 22, 2011   ·   Ted Johnson   ·   Jump to comments

Since 2001, the San Francisco 49ers have selected 13 players in the first round, of which seven are still with the team. That includes outside linebacker Manny Lawson—once the NFL lockout ends, it seems he’s headed to another team through free agency.
In light of the 49ers' 42 percent winning percentage over the last 10 years, the draft has played a role in their middling success. But a look over their selections reveals a wide spectrum in terms of player contribution and impact on the organization.
Next week, the Niners will have the seventh pick, and many see them going for help on the defensive side of the ball. What will really help is selecting an elite player who steps in and plays well. There have been a few who have done it, and some who haven’t.
Here’s my assessment of the Niners’ first-round selections in the last 10 years, from worst to first, with their impact on the team.
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