2008 49er (Team Only) Mock Draft

[DraconisRex]

Okay, tomorrow's the day it starts. And after spending a week or so thinking about it:

Round 1, Pick 29 (29) Kentwan Balmer, DT (UNC) ADP 31

I actually like him and think he's a good fit for the 49ers. He has some versatility to him, he's got good athleticism. He's not ready to start today, but he could provide better relief and back-up than most of the defensive linemen we have on the team and is an insurance policy against Sopoga regressing again. (Also considered: Calais Campbell, DE)


Round 2, Pick 8 (39) Sam Baker, OT (USC) ADP 43

Played a lot of LT at USC. Not the best line prospect out there and really needs a year of NFL strength training to be a RT. But we don't really have a quality back-up beyond Snyder who, well, I wouldn't bet the farm on him... (Also considered: Chilo Rachal, OG)


Round 3, Pick 12 (75) Antoine Cason, FS (Arizona)
Playmaking corner who'll have to go inside to really make it in the NFL due to a lack of recovery speed and closing burst.


Round 4, Pick 8 (107) Mike McGlynn, OG (Pittsburgh)
A meat-and-potatoes guy. Strong, but limited in range. Short arms and low center of gravity make him a natural guard (played RT in college).


Round 6, Pick 8 (174) Kevin O'Connell, QB (SDSU)
Project QB for long-term back-up consideration.


Round 7, Pick 7 (214) Chad Simpson, KR (Morgan State)
Just a potential kick-returner. Nothing more.


NOTE: I used one of the many Mock Draft Munchers on the Internet to get an ADP for the Day 1 players. Any player more than 6 spots lower was passed, even if many fans consider him a need (like Groves who's at 48.5 ADP and not really well considered by most of the draft pundits). Any player listed above the 49ers slot was not considered for that slot, even if the ADP was off by 0.1.

On Day 2 players I used the PFW "Player rankings regardless of position" sheet for simplicities sake. http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Player+Rankings/2008/AllPositions.htm

[Leeding49er]

I don't mind your 1st and 2nd picks.

[ninerlicious]

whoa... cason falling to the 3rd round? talk about a bargain!

[jackacid]

So we're not taking a WR in any round? Hmmm.

[Benji]

Cason in the 3RD????

[roleplay3r1]

Balmer sucks and Cason won't make it to the 3rd.

[DraconisRex]

Balmer sucks and Cason won't make it to the 3rd.

Here's the deal, I put my sources up. My sources, over time, have been pretty decent in slotting players. They're decent because they talk to NFL GMs and get a feel. The picks, like all picks, are just based on potential to make it in the NFL and develop into starters, pro-bowlers and HOFers.

I know the sources are not perfect, but I accept what they say because they have, over time, been good about the slotting. Even though, like the NFL brass and all of fandom, are far from perfect in divining who will succeed and who will fail. There is one caveat that they're definitely not perfect in slotting, as there is this whole "run with the sheep" mentality that they get into. They just won't break away from certain turds and incompetents, no matter how many flags are put up (Gabe Watson, Ernst Shazor, Tedfor QBs for example) because they're afraid of being different than the crowd and, thus, embarrassed.

Still, I'm going to use them as sources. Because I know, frankly, there's no way I could put together the Top-300 prospects in any sort of reasonable or coherent order. I don't have the time. I don't have the skill. And I no longer have the sources to crib. And I can accept that and make the mock and disclose my sources so people can understand why I choose people in certain areas.

And, tomorrow we'll find out for real what happens. And, while this mock draft, which is just a game, and relatively speaking, a meaningless exercise only promulgated because, frankly, in my philosophy of life: if you don't vote, you don't get to complain. Therefore, I "vote" with my mock and, thus, I honestly earn the right to complain instead of being a welfare complainer. A wimp who never says anything. Never foresees problems. Who just, post-facto, makes claims.

Rather, I make the mock as sort of a deal with honesty. A way to be honest and not try to hide my mistakes down the memory hole and pretend I didn't say things, or did say things I didn't. Unlike most people who dig these memory holes with shovels in both hands.

As for the rest, really don't care about your opinion of Balmer. "Balmer sucks" is a dumb-*** opinion lacking argument and insight.

So, enjoy the draft.

[Iceburnztt]

Your sources may have been credible in the past but if Cason made it to our 3rd rnd pick hell will freeze over. We'd be semi-fortunate to snag him at #39. Too many teams need db's to pass up on a bargain like him. Only reason he isnt 1st rnd is because the depth at db this year.