San Francisco 49ers: Four Drafts and Their Impact on the Organization

March 18, 2011   ·   Ted Johnson   ·   Jump to comments

Few college players are considered solid locks to play well and long in the NFL. No finer example than the second pick in the entire 1998 draft, Ryan Leaf, who proves the point that drafting is a guessing game. Personnel directors, GMs and coaches drooled over Leaf—his height, his arm, his moxy. And he flopped as hard as anyone could flop. Of course, the guy taken in front of him, Peyton Manning, is on his way to Canton.
 
That is why instant analysis of drafts is so meaningless. The draft is a chance to rejuvenate, rebuild, restock and even explore. It is not, however, something that can be judged within a day, a week or even a year.
 
The benefits of a good draft emanate for years as a core of quality players provide stability and clarity. It’s easier to see a team’s needs and weaknesses when contrasted against successful elements. Bad drafts can hasten an organization’s decline because below-standard players can even make good pl...

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