I'm surprised Harbaugh didn't make a play for Marecic considering they are converting Bruce Miller to FB. Maybe they felt a fourth rounder was too high for a FB with Norris still on the roster.
Lets see...
Rd 1, Pick 7 (7) Smith, Aldon DE
Rd 2, Pick 4 (36) Kaepernick, Colin QB
Rd 3, Pick 16 (80) Culliver, Chris DB
Rd 4, Pick 18 (115) Hunter, Kendall RB
Rd 5, Pick 32 (163) Kilgore, Daniel OL
Rd 6, Pick 17 (182) Johnson, Ronald WR
Rd 6, Pick 25 (190) Jones, Colin DB
Rd 7, Pick 8 (211) Miller, Bruce DL
Rd 7, Pick 36 (239) Person, Michael OL
Rd 7, Pick 47 (250) Holcomb, Curtis DB
We addressed pass rushing, QB options, Line play, CB and S depth, WR depth and rushing, while not actually guaranteeing improvement at any. There is no immediate upgrade at any position that I can see. Aldon Smith is a fine player, but spending most of his time as a down lineman, we don't know yet if he can effectively rush from a 3-4 OL position, especially against NFL tackles.
Overall I am pleased with the draft, if not excited. I was quite hoping that Peterson would fall to us at 7, but if the Cardinals want the first pick of the draft next year so they can get Luck, they took a good first step.
I guess they think they are going to get a QB in free agency. Clearly Vince Young and Kolb will be on the market, although I'm not convinced as other people are that Palmer will be traded. Look at what the Lions did to Barry Sanders. I think McNabb is washed up and going to a new system, West Coast as it may be, is going to result in a similar result as last year in Washington.
Speaking of Quarterbacks, I think based on need and value, we got the best one at the best place in the draft.
The Panthers had to take Newton, but don't count out Clausen yet. However, in their division with Brees, Ryan and now Freeman, and their accompanying receivers, I would have taken Peterson in hopes that he can merely shut down half the field instead of Newton, in hopes that he can save the franchise.
The Titans went a less physical talent in favor of 'intangibles' and leadership with Locker, as they should, having dealt with the messed up psyche of Vince Young for a few years, but could have gotten him much later in round 1 or even early in round 2. They over reached.
The Vikings pick of Ponder says quite a bit about how Frazier feels about Webb, Jackson and Bomar. Again though, a trade into the late 1st or early 2nd maybe even late 2nd, could have certainly landed Ponder. Another over reach.
Gabbert is a great pick for the Jaguars, but he isn't going to play for a couple of years and they didn't really need a QB at this pick. Garrard is a very hot and cold QB that seems to go in season long streaks, but he has been good for them.
Mallet, who is probably the best talent at QB, just went to a team, where, baring catastrophic injury and another rule change, is never going to get on the field. Good pick in the third, but only an insurance policy for the Patriots.
Only the Bengals with Dalton, in my eyes, matches the value and need combination that we got with Kaepernick. They probably have more of a need actually.
Honestly, I would have been just as happy with Enderle or Stanzi, who both went further down in the draft, as I am with Kaepernick. His athletic ability is outstanding and he surpassed both Newton and Tebow in purely athletic feats on the field and in the record books, but for some reason instead of a Steve Young vibe, I am getting a Jim Drunkenmiller vibe.
The biggest problem with this draft is that our two top picks, a 4-3 defensive end converting to 3-4 outside linebacker and a spread "Pistol" quarterback with run first instincts converting to a precision and timing, West Coast, make 5 reads, quarterback are going to get ZERO prep time for the season with the way it looks like the lockout is going to shake out. They are going to be non entities until year two and possibly year three. There are certainly other teams that will be facing this problem as well.
It's all well and good that the team seems to be building for the future, but as we know in this league today, if you don't win a Superbowl withing 3 years, you are probably on your way out.