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With the NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror we take the San Francisco 49ers "Off The Clock" with pick-by-pick analysis, the Bible's take and our grade.
 (1-10) Michael Crabtree, WR (Texas Tech): The waiting game for Crabtree finally ended as the 49ers were pleasantly surprised to find him still available at the ten spot. This was arguably their biggest area of need; San Francisco has no real receiving threats on offense. Along with Isaac Bruce, they now have two legitimate starters but it still remains to be seen if quarterback Shaun Hill will be able to deliver on a consistent basis. For the record, Crabtree had by far the biggest entourage of any player attending the draft. He lacks ideal speed, but no one can question his ability to get open or catch anything that touches his hands.
(3-74) Glenn Coffee, RB (Alabama): We had Andre Brown rated higher, but only by one slot, so the Niners broke a streak of third round reaches with this solid selection. There’s a lot to like with the way Coffee runs the ball—downhill with aggression—and he will flourish in a two-back system. He’s neither explosive nor a feature back, but he will be a productive pro for sure.
(5-146) Scott McKillop, ILB (Pittsburgh): The 49ers do love themselves some linebackers, so they went and got another productive one. He has a nose for the ball along with great instincts—he led the Panthers in tackles in 2008. I thought McKillop was a steal at this spot and with Patrick Willis as a mentor for this guy, how can you go wrong? He should be a productive backup linebacker/special teams player at the very least with the upside to crack the starting lineup quickly for a fifth round pick.
(5-171) Nate Davis, QB (Ball State): San Francisco welcomed in another quarterback to their ongoing competition. Some question Davis’ ability to transition to a conventional offense but he is a great signal caller with the intangibles to make it as a pro. Smaller hands than scout’s like, but there is no issue with his zip. Very raw and he should have stayed in school, but the former MAC quarterback has upside. (Compensatory Pick)
(6-184) Bear Pascoe, TE (Fresno State): Pascoe is a great blocker with an outstanding physical presence. He gives the 49ers a great backup player at the tight end position. He can also play on special teams and should be a great situational/role player. Could be the replacement for Vernon Davis at tight end by next year.
 Pros:(7-219) Curtis Taylor, FS (LSU): Taylor’s stock fell due to injuries, and he’ll now look to climb up the 49ers depth chart at the safety. He has a good frame for the position to go along with great hands, closing speed, and the ability to fill on runs. He needs to cut down on trying to make a big hit rather than making a play on the ball. Starting potential in the seventh round.
(7-244) Ricky Jean-Francois, DE (LSU): Another screwed move by the ‘Niners. He lacks experience—he only made nine starts in college—but makes up for it with his athleticism and quickness. He is exactly what the Niners were looking for in a developmental player, with the skill set to play defensive end in a three-four defense. Once viewed as a potential day one pick, Francois brings excellent value in the final round. (Compensatory Pick)
Team Needs: QB, OLB, DE, NT, S, TE, WR
Needs Filled: Five of seven.
Bible’s Take: Although the 49ers didn’t fill all of their needs, they still got what they needed most, and that was a big play wide receiver. Michael Crabtree was the most NFL-ready wideout in the draft and they got a gift when he fell to them in the tenth spot. Then they got the perfect complement to Frank Gore by getting Glenn Coffee. He should do a great job of spelling Gore. They added depth at the linebacker and tight end positions, which was something that needed to be done in case of injuries. Apparently they aren’t completely sold on Shaun Hill as they brought in Nate Davis to make the quarterback position a full-blown competition, although Davis appears to be a bit of a project. If none of the quarterback options work, they may have to hope they can land a veteran quarterback in the second wave of free agency. What they missed the boat on was adding a pass rusher.
Grade: B+
Photo Credit: Texas Tech Athletics, SEC Sports Media
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