The NFL draft has come to a close after general manager Trent Baalke added 11 players to a roster in need of talent after last season’s 5-11 finish. While it was clear the mandate of the draft was to add talent in the trenches, Baalke also did work to supply new coach Chip Kelly with skill players for his offense the late rounds.

Let’s give our initial grades of the picks.

Round 1, pick 7

DeForest Buckner, defensive end (Oregon)

Grade: A



The 49ers got arguably the best defensive lineman in the draft at a good value with the seventh pick. He’s an exact fit in their 3-4 defense, where he’ll play the same “four technique” in the pros he played with the Ducks. San Francisco has lacked a disruptive force along the defensive line since losing former All-Pro Justin Smith to retirement in 2015. What sets Buckner apart from others at his position is his ability to rush the passer from the interior, which is the best way to offset the effectiveness of any passing game. This was a slam dunk pick.

Round 1, pick 28

Joshua Garnett, guard (Stanford)

Grade: B

There’s a chance Garnett may have gone to the Seattle Seahawks with the 29th pick, forcing San Francisco’s hand in moving up. Baalke gave up second-, fourth- and sixth-round picks to move up nine spots from the second round back into the first. That’s a steep price for a guard. But if Garnett can replicate what the team lost in Mike Iupati before last season, it will be a worthwhile investment. However, there are questions about his fit in Kelly’s zone blocking scheme after playing in a power system at Stanford. Overall, it’s hard to argue too much with adding the best run blocking interior lineman available after the 49ers struggled in that department in 2015.

Round 3, pick 5 (68)

Will Redmond, cornerback (Mississippi State)

Grade: C

Redmond is coming off an ACL tear in October, becoming the seventh player Baalke has drafted since 2013 with such a knee injury. Baalke promises Redmond will be ready to compete for playing time in training camp, but it’s almost impossible to see that happening for a couple reasons. First, that’s a very, very fast turnaround after such a significant injury. Second, even if he is ready, how quickly do the 49ers realistically want to insert him into a training camp battle while his knee is still in the fragile stages of its recovery? Redmond was considered a first-round talent before the injury – and he very well could turn into a good player in a secondary that lacks high-level talent. But the more likely scenario is he enters camp on an injury list and stays there to start the season because the 49ers won’t subject him to waivers. It’s hard to give a good grade to a third-round pick that’s unlikely to be available in its first year, no matter how high the upside.

Round 4, pick 35 (133)

Rashard Robinson, cornerback (LSU)

Grade: B-



Another cornerback. The 49ers have numbers at the position, including with their draft pick a round earlier in Redmond. But Robinson offers intriguing upside along with his many flags after being out of football last season. If he develops like San Francisco hopes, he could turn into a high level starter. If not, San Francisco invested a valuable pick at position that’s already filled. For now, the player that reminds us of Antonio Cromartie will get a decent grade because of his talent and athleticism. But there are too many red flags to feel great about this one.

Round 5, pick 3 (142)

Ronald Blair, defensive end (Appalachian State)

Grade: A-

Blair might not have the ideal height for the position, but he makes up for it in length with 34-inch arms. And was as strong as any prospect available, notching 32 reps on the bench press at the combine. His production can’t be ignored – he registered more tackles for loss than games played over his five-year career in 51 starts. And while it’s fair to question the level of competition he played against while at Appalachian State, we’ll point to the Clemson game in 2015 where he registered two sacks and eight tackles from his defensive end spot. Baalke’s sweet spot for defensive players is the fifth round, where he drafted Quinton Dial and Aaron Lynch, and it appears Blair will be the next in line. He becomes a very nice depth piece, which is vital for a Kelly-coached team that needs to rotate along the defensive line.

Round 5, pick 6 (145)

John Theus, offensive tackle (Georgia)

Grade: C



Baalke likes the fact Theus played both tackle spots for four years in the SEC. Kelly likes that Theus could play guard and tackle down the road. But with slow feet and only 19 reps on the bench press, it’s hard to envision him being more than a reserve early in his career, particularly in Kelly’s break-neck offense. He might be a late bloomer and finally realize the potential that made him a five-star recruit before landing in Georgia. For now, he fills a need along the offensive line. But Theus’ selection doesn’t appear to be more than a depth acquisition, for now.

Round 5, pick 37 (174)

Fahn Cooper, offensive tackle (Mississippi)

Grade: B

It’s almost like the 49ers made the same pick twice consecutively in the fifth round. Theus and Cooper seem very similar. What’s interesting about Cooper is many believed he was the better prospect than Theus. He has long arms and might be a better fit as a guard in the long run. But like Theus, he gives the 49ers a versatile option at tackle going forward, who could compete for the starting job on the right side with Brown and Pears. Adding two tackles with versatility to play inside was prudent. But is it weird we like Cooper more than the guy picked 29 slots ahead of him?

Round 6, pick 32 (207)

Jeff Driskel, quarterback (Louisiana Tech)

Grade: B-

It’s hard to find the downside of adding a quarterback like Driskel, who has size (6-4, 234) and athleticism (4.56-second 40-yard dash) in spades. With all his physical tools, he could develop down the road with some work under Kelly. He projected as a sure-fire NFL prospect when he left high school for Florida, but a college career that featured twists and turns derailed things. Perhaps time in the NFL will help him develop and realize his potential. Otherwise, it’s hard to be excited or unhappy with this pick. The 49ers needed to draft a quarterback and Driskel fits the bill for Kelly’s offense at a good value in the sixth round. But it’s tough to gauge how he’ll acclimate to the pros.

Round 6, pick 26 (211)

Kelvin Taylor, running back (Florida)

Grade: C+

We thought the 49ers would add a running back earlier in the draft to back up Carlos Hyde following surgery to insert a screw into his left foot after missing nine games in 2015. But we didn’t think it would come all the way down in the sixth round. Taylor seems like he fits well within Kelly’s system as a powerful, but small, running back. The devaluation of the position might have led to this pick coming so late. We wonder if Taylor’s lack of eye-popping numbers in college was a product of Florida’s struggling offense or if Taylor simply isn’t all that elusive.

Round 6, pick 38 (213)

Aaron Burbridge, wide receiver (Michigan State)

Grade: B+

The 49ers needed a receiver and Burbridge checks nearly every box. He’s has decent size (6-0, 206), speed (4.56), strength (20 reps), and production (85 catches, 1,258 yards, seven TDs in 2015). However, his tiny 8 1/4-inch hands are an obvious concern. Considering he was pegged to go in the fourth or fifth round leading up to the draft, it’s hard to fault the 49ers for taking him way down in the sixth. At worst, he’s the team’s fourth or fifth receiver. At best, he competes to start opposite Torrey Smith.

Round 7, pick 28 (249)

Prince Charles Iworah, cornerback (Western Kentucky)

Grade: B

Iworah’s measurables are off the charts, so it’s hard to find anything wrong with taking a shot in the dark with this seventh-round pick. No, the 49ers don’t necessarily need a corner here. But seventh-round picks rarely make rosters anyway. Perhaps Kelly can figure out a way to capitalize on his 4.32 speed. If not, no harm no foul. It’s a seventh-round pick.