2012 NFL Offseason: San Francisco 49ers
Draft Grades, Season Previews, Offseason Needs, Free Agents
San Francisco 49ers (Last Year: 13-3)
2012 NFL Draft Grade: C+
Goals Entering the 2012 NFL Draft: San Francisco doesn't really have any pressing needs that it needs to address. It'll be best player available, early and often.
2012 NFL Draft Accomplishments: So much for the best player available. The 49ers reached for A.J. Jenkins at No. 30. I don't know how highly every team rated Jenkins, but I know for a fact that the Jaguars rated him as a third-round prospect.
San Francisco didn't have very many good value picks overall. Trenton Robinson and Cam Johnson were steals, but both were late-round acquisitions. As for the early rounds, Joe Looney filled one of the few holes at No. 117, but LaMichael James seems rather redundant after the team drafted Kendall Hunter last year.
The 49ers didn't have a poor draft, by any means, but it should have been so much better. Their offseason as a whole has been rather questionable, so I guess this past weekend matched signing Randy Moss and Perrish Cox, and not being able to land Peyton Manning.
2012 NFL Draft Individual Grades:
30. A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois: C- Grade
This is bizarre. Did the 49ers know that Coby Fleener, Cordy Glenn and Stephen Hill were still on the board, or were they thrown off because the first round was going by so quickly? I don't get it. This is a huge reach. Here's where A.J. Jenkins ranked on the major big boards: 67, 76, 57, 73 and 70. Yeesh.
61. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon: C Grade
Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, Brandon Jacobs... where does LaMichael James fit in? James fits the range, but I feel like the 49ers could have used this selection more wisely. I mean, with James and Hunter, how many small running backs can you possibly have on your roster?
117. Joe Looney, G, Wake Forest: B Grade
Joe Looney had injury concerns entering the 2012 NFL Draft, and that's why I put him in the sixth round of my mock. He must have checked out well with the 49ers though. If he's healthy, this is a good pick. San Francisco lost Adam Snyder in free agency and needed to find a capable replacement.
165. Darius Fleming, DE/OLB, Notre Dame: C+ Grade
It's never a bad idea to add another pass-rusher, but Darius Fleming had just nine sacks in the past two years. I'm not crazy about this selection, but I don't hate it.
180. Trenton Robinson, S, Michigan State: A Grade
Trenton Robinson was ranked as high as No. 115 on a major big board, and he was No. 130 on the consensus chart. He provides great value in the sixth round, and he fills a need because the 49ers had to improve their safety depth.
199. Jason Slowey, C, Western Oregon: C Grade
The 49ers need a successor for Jonathan Goodwin, who is just a short-term solution at center. There were better prospects available at the position, however.
237. Cam Johnson, DE/OLB, Virginia: A+ Grade
Talk about a steal - Cam Johnson was No. 50 on Mike Mayock's big board. It's unbelievable that he fell to the middle of the seventh round. His work ethic is a concern, but still, he should have gone much earlier than this.
*** 2012 NFL OFFSEASON NEEDS BELOW COMMENT BOARD ***
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Tom
05-24-2012
12:57 am
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Actually Matt, Jones had Bowman ranked as a first round talent. http://miamiherald.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b26169e20133ed728264970b-pi
Matt
05-23-2012
02:38 pm
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I know for a fact that the Jaguars had a first round grade on Blaine Gabbert...how's that working out for them? Jerry Jones had Bowman rated as a third round prospect as well...think it's time to trust in the 49ers FO a little.
Greek G
05-19-2012
11:12 pm
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I wonder if Cam Johnson fell on draft boards after it was discovered at the Combine that he carries the Sickle Cell trait (active, not recessive).
LOL
05-15-2012
11:28 pm
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The Jaguars rated him as a third-round prospect. This is your criteria for rating this pick?? Your a donkey! The Rams rated him the same as Blackmon, and the Pats rated him as the third WR on their board. Keep following what the Jags are doing tho!! Donkey
ryan
05-13-2012
11:55 pm
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jenkins was harbaughs guy he always wanted, if we passed him up the rams would not have chosen wide receiver Quick, they would've taken jenkins.
Lotharun
05-07-2012
03:47 pm
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With all due respect to the work Walter does on this site, I'm glad Trent Baalke runs the 49ers draft and not him.
RocjSF
05-02-2012
11:42 pm
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You act like who the jags have rated as a third round pick matters. I'd take everyone the jags have rated late, considering they drafted Tyson Alualu with their first round pick in 2010, 10th overall! WE know talent and utilize OUR first round pic
Omar
05-01-2012
11:00 am
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You are having some trouble with ILB and Rush Linebackers.
Fleming played ILB last year and I supose the 49ers drafted him as that. Same with DeMario Davis and the Jets
Mukul
04-30-2012
09:24 pm
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Before, I figured Jenkins might be a bit of a reach but I'd trust that he was good.
Now that you mention that the Jags have a 3rd round grade of him, he's virtually guaranteed to be a good player. I'd be worried if the Jags had a 1st round grade on him.
urawful
04-30-2012
08:43 pm
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did walter really just reference the jaguars draft board? SMDH cause thats the team the 49ers should follow...
Sam
04-30-2012
06:13 pm
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Three additional picks next year should move the grade up one to B+.
Havoq
04-30-2012
04:02 pm
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Grading drafts after they happen is like grading students for the term on the first day of class, and I've been out of that business for a few years now. ~Peter King
Tom W
04-30-2012
03:29 pm
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Jenkins is the perfect 3rd down option, he has huge, reliable hands, he can stretch the field deep, and has a knack for finding holes in zone defenses. LaMichael James was a pure value pick, he has more strength and more breakaway speed than hunter. The 2 are only similar in stature, their running styles are very different. Great draft by the 49ers, B+
P52 will tackle you
04-30-2012
02:49 pm
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You know for a fact that the Jags had Jenkins as a 3rd rounder? Well I know for a fact that the Niners had him as a first rounder. Also that the Rams were going to take him 33rd overall, and another unnamed team had him rated higher than Michael Floyd. We get it, you overreacted to the pick because it surprised you. Instead of doubling down on it, just admit that you were wrong and the pick isn't insane.
Also you keep acting like the Randy Moss signing is disastrous... There isn't a dime of guaranteed money in Moss' deal. At literally any point, if he does anything to detract from the team, they can cut him with no repercussions; it's a zero-risk signing. The upside is that while Moss is a jerk, he's never been stupid, and he also doesn't have a ring. He knows this is his last shot at a championship, and I imagine he wants it bad enough at this point to keep his mouth shut. So if he still has the ability, he will make a positive impact. And if he doesn't, they cut him, no harm done. The same goes for the Cox signing; no guaranteed money, and he's fighting for a roster spot. They essentially signed him to an exclusive tryout. If he in any way starts to be a distraction, they can cut him loose at no penalty. Calling zero-risk signings with finite upside questionable is pretty questionable...
R Niner fan
04-30-2012
12:32 pm
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Really who cares about the grades anyway?
We'll see next season how the Wr's drafted later do, and also who LeMichael James does. I am betting James is going to be a HUGE add (ala Daren Sproles) who complements Gore/Hunter et al in the backfield really nicely. |
Season Summary:
What Jim Harbaugh did was amazing. The 49ers are not some one-year wonder that will collapse into oblivion the following season. Their defense is amazing and will continue to carry them in a weak division. Now, if they can only get some consistency from the quarterback position...
Offseason Moves:
Offseason Needs:
- Wide Receivers: Getting Braylon Edwards for only $1 million seemed like a great deal at the time, but he was a major bust. The 49ers need a receiver to go along with Michael Crabtree, Kyle Williams and Josh Morgan. As you may have seen in the NFC Championship, San Francisco really needs to improve in this area. Signed Mario Manningham and Randy Moss
- Right Guard or Right Tackle: The right side of San Francisco's offensive line is awful. Both right guard Adam Snyder, a free agent, and right tackle Anthony Davis stink. Davis is still young though, so he should probably get another year in the lineup. He could be moved to right guard though if San Francisco brings in someone like Mike Adams toward the end of the first round this April.
- Rush Linebacker: This is only a need if free agent Ahmad Brooks isn't re-signed. This will be moved atop this list if Brooks leaves. Re-signed Ahmad Brooks
- Quarterback: It's amazing what Jim Harbaugh has done with Alex Smith. Smith is a free agent, so expect the 49ers to bring him back. They may want to add someone else though like Josh Johnson. Re-signed Alex Smith; signed Josh Johnson
- Free Safety: Dashon Goldson is a big coverage liability in San Francisco's secondary (though he's great in run support). He needs to be replaced, but that could be difficult because of how poor this upcoming safety class is. Franchised Dashon Goldson
- Cornerback: The severity of this need depends on whether the 49ers re-sign Carlos Rogers, who had a terrific 2011 campaign. If Rogers is retained, only depth will be required here. Signed Carlos Rogers and Perrish Cox
- Defensive End Depth: The 49ers are pretty thin behind Justin Smith and Ray McDonald.
2012 NFL Free Agent Signings:
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Mario Manningham, WR, Giants. Age: 26. 
Signed with 49ers (2 years)
Mario Manningham is a talented, young receiver who caught 60 balls for 944 yards in 2010. His stats were down this past season because of a nagging knee injury.
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Josh Johnson, QB, Buccaneers. Age: 26. 
Signed with 49ers (2 years)
Josh Johnson has some nice skills and the upside to potentially make some team believe that it can groom him into a starting quarterback.
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Perrish Cox, CB, Broncos. Age: 25.
Signed with 49ers (2 years)
Perrish Cox is very talented, but has a long history of off-the-field issues. He was recently acquitted of sexual assault.
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Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants. Age: 30.
Signed with 49ers (1 year)
Brandon Jacobs had some good games down the stretch, but he averaged 3.8 YPC for the year. He'll be 30 in July, and considering his running style and ineptness in the passing game, he could be close to done.
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Randy Moss, WR, Titans. Age: 35.
Signed with 49ers (1 year)
Here's the list of teams interested in Randy Moss:
Matt Millen's Kielbasa Killers Fantasy Team
Moss is done. He couldn't separate from corners in 2010. He couldn't even get on the field for the Titans. He's a horrible guy to have in the locker room because he's a quitter. No general manager in his right mind will want to sign this bum.
- Rock Cartwright, RB, Raiders. Age: 32. -- Signed with 49ers (1 year)
San Francisco 49ers Free Agents:
Salary Cap: TBA.
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Carlos Rogers, CB, 49ers. Age: 31.
Signed with 49ers (4 years, $29.3 million)
Carlos Rogers had a fantastic season, picking off six passes and limiting receivers to a 52.6 completion percentage. Only his age (31 in July) is a concern.
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Ahmad Brooks, DE/OLB, 49ers. Age: 28.
Re-signed with 49ers (6 years, $44.5 million; $17.5 million guaranteed
Ahmad Brooks has developed into a potent pass-rusher. He had seven sacks in 2011, but could have had a few more, as he was unlucky in certain situations.
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Alex Smith, QB, 49ers. Age: 28.
Re-signed with 49ers
Alex Smith threw for 3,150 yards, 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions in his first season under Jim Harbaugh. His two fourth-quarter drives against the Saints were a thing of beauty.
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Braylon Edwards, WR, 49ers. Age: 29.
Braylon Edwards sucked this past year because he was battling injuries. He can be a starter again if he can get healthy.
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Dashon Goldson, FS, 49ers. Age: 27.
Franchised by 49ers
There are a lot of posts about Dashon Goldson in the comment board below, so I'll address this ranking. Goldson stinks in coverage. That's why I initially put him at 1.5 stars, but you could argue two or 2.5 because of his ability against the run. Of the safeties who have played 800-plus snaps this year, he's surrendered the eighth-highest completion percentage. He allowed four touchdowns this year (tied for fifth among safeties) despite the amazing front seven he has in front of him. He's tied for sixth in penalties among safeties this year. If he played behind a mediocre front seven, he would be exposed. Those who just look at stats and Pro Bowl voting might think Goldson is great, but he's just a backup at best.
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Larry Grant (RFA), ILB, 49ers. Age: 27.
Re-signed with 49ers (1 year, $1.26 million)
Larry Grant played terrifically in relief of an injured Patrick Willis down the stretch. He'll have to wait a year to get more playing time elsewhere, however.
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Ted Ginn, WR/KR, 49ers. Age: 27.
Re-signed with 49ers (1 year)
Ted Ginn stinks as a receiver, but he's one of the top return specialists in the NFL.
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Josh Morgan, WR, 49ers. Age: 27.
Signed with Redskins (5 years, $12 million; $7.5 million guaranteed)
Josh Morgan looked like he was on his way to having a solid year, catching 15 balls for 220 yards in five games, but he went on injured reserve with a broken leg.
- Adam Snyder, G, 49ers. Age: 30. -- Signed with Cardinals (5 years)
- Shawntae Spencer, CB, 49ers. Age: 30. -- Signed with Raiders
- Reggie Smith, S, 49ers. Age: 25. -- Signed with Panthers
- Tavares Gooden, ILB, 49ers. Age: 27. -- Re-signed with 49ers (1 year)
- Madieu Williams, FS, 49ers. Age: 30. -- Signed with Redskins
- Chilo Rachal, G, 49ers. Age: 26. -- Signed with Bears (1 year)
- C.J. Spillman (RFA), S, 49ers. Age: 26. -- Re-signed with 49ers (3 years, $6 million)
- Blake Costanzo, ILB, 49ers. Age: 28. -- Signed with Bears (2 years, $2 million)
- Moran Norris, FB, 49ers. Age: 34.
- Justin Peelle, TE, 49ers. Age: 33.
- Brett Swain, WR, 49ers. Age: 27. -- Re-signed with 49ers
2012 NFL Free Agent Rankings Coming Soon
Divisional Rival History:
Arizona Cardinals: The 49ers get up for these games; they've taken six of the past eight in this rivalry. 
Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks and 49ers split the season series the three years prior to 2011. San Francisco swept last year. 
St. Louis Rams: San Francisco has claimed 11 of the previous 13 battles in this NFC West rivalry.
Features to be Posted This Offseason:
- 2012 NFL Draft Grades (Pick-by-Pick NFL Draft Grades as well - Live on Draft Day!)
- Detailed season preview
- Fantasy football projections
- Positional rankings
- Daily updates on free-agent signings
2012 NFL Offseason Pages
2012 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 25
2013 NFL Mock Draft - May 22
Charlie's 2013 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
2012 NBA Mock Draft - May 19
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 7
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