The San Francisco 49ers are trying to build a dynasty. They feel they've got their receivers, linebackers, tight end, and possibly a quarterback. What they really needed was an offensive line. And today, they picked two linemen.
For the 11th pick of the first round, the Niners traded their 2nd and 4th round picks to Carolina for their first round (11th overall), givining the Niners two first round picks. The 49ers elected to choose Anthony Davis (OT) from Rutgers. The 6-5, 323-pound lineman will play for the first time for a team outside of New Jersey where he also played at Piscataway High School. Reports suggest the lineman needs work on the run side of his game but that he's as good a pass blocker as there was in the draft this year. Davis also became Rutgers' highest drafted player ever, ahead of wideout Kenny Britt, who went 30th.
“I guess it’s finally time for me to get away,” Davis said.
With the 17th overall pick, the Niners went for a second lineman, selecting Mike Iupati (OG) Idaho. Coming from Western High School in Anaheim, CA, Iupati is said to command the trenches. He was the first Idaho Vandal to be named an All-American since 1957. In his time at Idaho he also earned several other awards and was nominated for several national awards.
"Mike's performance this season has established himself as potentially the best offensive guard in the upcoming NFL draft," Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale said. "Anyone who watched him play this year knows that he was clearly a difference maker for the Vandals."
It looks like a good draft. If the Niners stay healthy, hold on defense and don't fall apart down the stretch, playoffs baby. I guess that's true for any team, but just two years ago we had a partial squad and were only looking to the future. Well, it's the future. Here's a look at the Niners last 10 years of first rounders.
49ers last 10 years of picks
2000 - #16 Julian Peterson LB; #24 Ahmed Plummer CB
2001 - #7 Andre Carter DE
2002 - #27 Mike Rumph CB
2003 - #26 Kwame Harris OT
2004 - #31 Rashaun Woods WR
2005 - #1 Alex Smith QB
2006 #6 Vernon Davis TE; #22 Manny Lawson LB
2007 - #11 Patrick Willis LB; #28 Joe Staley OT
2008 - #29 Kentwan Balmer DT
2009 - #10 Michael Crabtree WR
2010 - #11 Anthony Davis OT; #17 Mike Iupati OG

