Most major sports sites have released their first (of 283) mock drafts leading up to April 26th. The Niners screaming need at WR is not lost on anyone.
FoxSports.com
Devin Thomas - Michigan State (WR / 6'2", 216)
The Niners need serious help. Their offense is horrendous. Their defense is disappointing. And it looks like there's no hope. The one thing San Francisco can do is give Alex Smith a deep threat who can make plays deep. With Sweed and Hardy off the board, Michigan State's Devin Thomas is the best big bodied, deep threat available.
(USA Today article on Thomas' scouting combine performance.)
SI.com
James Hardy - Indiana (WR / 6'5", 218)
The 49ers woeful offense needs receiving weapons for quarterback Alex Smith (or quarterback Shaun Hill), and Hardy emerged at the combine as a prospect with late first-round value. He's got prototypical NFL size and runs very fluid routes. LSU receiver Early Doucet is another name to keep track of.
ESPN.com (Insider protected)
Needs: WR, OT, OLB, DE, QB
James Hardy - Indiana (WR / 6'5", 218)
San Francisco needs a playmaker at wide receiver to take the attention away from TE Vernon Davis and pressure off QB Alex Smith. Hardy comes with some baggage and he needs some polishing, but no receiver in this class possesses a more imposing combination of size and natural athleticism.
Scouts Inc's overall assessment of Hardy:
Indiana red-shirted Hardy during his true freshman season in 2004. Hardy appeared in ten games during the 2005 season. In 2006, he appeared in ten games recording 51 catches, 722 receiving yards and ten receiving touchdowns. Hardy appeared in all 13 games of the 2007 season recording 79 catches, 1,125 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns. Hardy lacks ideal suddenness and will struggle to separate versus some of the elite cover corners at the next level. He also comes with some character baggage that will cause him to drop a bit during draft weekend. However, Hardy possesses a unique blend of size, athleticism and reliable hands, which is why he could be selected as high as the second round.
CBSSportsline.com
Early Doucet - LSU (WR / 6'1", 210)
With Terry Glenn contemplating microfracture surgery and the mercurial Terrell Owens 34 years old, the Cowboys would be wise to add a receiver early. Manningham struggled with consistency at times at Michigan, and will have to prove better speed at his Pro Day than the 4.6s he ran at the Combine if he is to remain in the first round.
(Sheer laziness as he just copied the comment on Manningham since the Cowboys pick right ahead of us. And TO is 34?! Where has the time gone?)
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Offseason Update
With the start of the free agency signing period looming, the Niners have taken care of a couple of their own (Roderick Green and Isaac Sop"onarope"oaga). Don't expect a signing binge like last year but McNolan looks ready to make a play for some key pieces to stock the half-full talent cupboard. Here are some quick hits on the four key guys that may be wearing scarlet and gold at a press conference very soon.
Bernard Berrian - Granted Mike Martz is going to need WRs to help out Alex Hill or Shaun Smith or whoever is playing QB next fall. I'm just not sure that Berrian is the guy. He can definitely stretch the field vertically. But my lasting image of him is dropping a pass and hitting himself in the helmet. We already have enough guys that can do that for cheap. Frankly the draft holds more promise than free agency this year, since it has been touted as one of the deepest WR classes in a long time. Between the 29th and 38th picks, the Niners should be able to pick up some help there. BrownMagic Says: NO.
Justin Smith - Now this is intriguing. The Niners aren't exactly lining up Umeniyora, Strahan, and Tuck, so we need help all across the defensive line, especially pass rushers. Smith only had 2 sacks with the dismal Bengals D last year but that could have been a result of the other 10 guys around him. With a better secondary and linebacking corp, he could face fewer double teams and help out with the "elephant" pass rush position that Tully Banta-Cain never quite grasped. Keep an eye on this one. BrownMagic Says: If the price is right.
Calvin Pace - Although I can't really recall this dude, he actually had a pretty decent year (98 tackles & 6.5 sacks) on what was a surprisingly effective Arizona defense. As an added bonus, this would weaken a division rival. BrownMagic Says: Let's do this.
Lance Briggs - Sounds sexy but we is going to be wayyyyy too expensive for what he provides. Our run stopping is (currently) not as much of a concern as our inability to rush the passer. As sick as it would be to see Willis and Briggs patrolling the middle of the field for the next decade, I think the team's weaknesses on offense need to be addressed first. BrownMagic Says: I'd rather have Antonio Bryant if we're going to pay someone to destroy Lambos.
Free agency is a quick fix for teams that are in contention to make a Super Bowl run - not teams that are trying to get above .500 for the first time in a half decade. Last year's irrational exuberance was tempered by the disastrous 8-game losing streak and general ineptitude on offense. This year, let's let someone else jump in to the empty swimming pool headfirst.
Bernard Berrian - Granted Mike Martz is going to need WRs to help out Alex Hill or Shaun Smith or whoever is playing QB next fall. I'm just not sure that Berrian is the guy. He can definitely stretch the field vertically. But my lasting image of him is dropping a pass and hitting himself in the helmet. We already have enough guys that can do that for cheap. Frankly the draft holds more promise than free agency this year, since it has been touted as one of the deepest WR classes in a long time. Between the 29th and 38th picks, the Niners should be able to pick up some help there. BrownMagic Says: NO.
Justin Smith - Now this is intriguing. The Niners aren't exactly lining up Umeniyora, Strahan, and Tuck, so we need help all across the defensive line, especially pass rushers. Smith only had 2 sacks with the dismal Bengals D last year but that could have been a result of the other 10 guys around him. With a better secondary and linebacking corp, he could face fewer double teams and help out with the "elephant" pass rush position that Tully Banta-Cain never quite grasped. Keep an eye on this one. BrownMagic Says: If the price is right.
Calvin Pace - Although I can't really recall this dude, he actually had a pretty decent year (98 tackles & 6.5 sacks) on what was a surprisingly effective Arizona defense. As an added bonus, this would weaken a division rival. BrownMagic Says: Let's do this.
Lance Briggs - Sounds sexy but we is going to be wayyyyy too expensive for what he provides. Our run stopping is (currently) not as much of a concern as our inability to rush the passer. As sick as it would be to see Willis and Briggs patrolling the middle of the field for the next decade, I think the team's weaknesses on offense need to be addressed first. BrownMagic Says: I'd rather have Antonio Bryant if we're going to pay someone to destroy Lambos.
Free agency is a quick fix for teams that are in contention to make a Super Bowl run - not teams that are trying to get above .500 for the first time in a half decade. Last year's irrational exuberance was tempered by the disastrous 8-game losing streak and general ineptitude on offense. This year, let's let someone else jump in to the empty swimming pool headfirst.
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