49ers 2013 Draft - How It Will Play Out

The 49ers enter the 2013 draft owning 5 of the first 93 selections.  Here is how I see it all playing out:

DAY 1

Pick #31 - 49ers select, DJ Hayden, CB, Houston

The 5'-11" Hayden is a top level corner, who would not be at this position for the 49ers had he not suffered a near fatal injury during practice on November 6th of last year.  Prior to the injury, Houston opponents had thrown his way on only 45 of 362 pass attempts (12.4%) and completed only 11.


DAY 2

Pick #34 - 49ers select, Cornelius (Tank) Carradine, DE, Florida State

The 6'-4", 276" Tank will be the heir apparent to Justin Smith at Right DE.  Like Hayden, Carradine will fall to 31 due to an injury.  In this case it was a torn ACL in his right knee suffered on November 24.  Prior to the injury Carradine had put up 11 sacks and 13 tackles for loss.  Although he is a little light, he should be able to add another 10-20 pounds of muscle, while filling in on a rotational basis this season.

Pick #61 - 49ers select, Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech

The 6'-0" Patton is the 3rd straight former Juco player selected by the 49ers.  He is a quick accelerator who shows strength and competitiveness against press coverage.  His performance at the Senior Bowl really helped elevate his draft stock.  Also has experience as a punt returner which could come in handy with Kyle Williams returning from a knee injury and slated to become a free agent after this season.

Pick #74 - 49ers select, Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State

The selection of Poyer gives the 49ers 2 of the top 8 rated corners in the draft and sets them up nicely for 2014, when only Chris Culliver is still under contract.  Poyer is a better fit for the 49ers as a slot corner than Tyrann Mathieu in that he is taller, stronger, and does not bring along the baggage that the "HoneyBadger" carries with him.  And like Mathieu, Poyer brings with him the ability to be an option on special teams as a return man, having averaged 14.1 yards per punt return and 25.9 yards per kick return over his career in Corvallis.

Pick #93 - 49ers select, Travis Kelce, TE, Cincinnati

Kelce is an amazing athlete, having played QB in the Bearcats version of the Wildcat during his freshman season.  Character concerns are the only reason he is not considered as one of the top 2 TE prospects in this draft.  He has shown the ability to be a solid blocker whether lined up in a prototypical Y position on the line of scrimmage or coming out of the backfield.  His experience in the Bearcats spread attack will come in handy with the 49ers as they continue to build their offense around the strengths of Colin Kaepernick.


DAY 3

The 49ers open day 3 of the draft with a trade.  They send pick #128 (4th), and #173 (6th) to Dallas in exchange for pick #114.  

Pick #114 - 49ers select, Josh Evans, FS, Florida

Watching Evans on film he showed many of the same qualities of former 49er FS Dashon Goldson.  He attacks the line of scrimmage against the run game, and is a ball hawk on the back end in the passing game. He will benefit from sitting behind Craig Dahl early, and may be able to wrestle the starting job away by the second half of the season.  If not, he will be ready come 2014.

Pick #131 - 49ers select, Gerald Hodges, LB, Penn State

The 49ers need to fill in depth at inside linebacker and on special teams with the losses of Larry Grant and Tavares Gooden.  Hodges will do just that.

Pick #157 - 49ers select, Duke Williams, SS, Nevada

The 5'-11" Williams will compete with last years 6th round pick Trenton Robinson, and veteran Darcel McBath to back up Donte Whitner and fill in on special teams.

Prior to the start of Round 6 the 49ers will trade down with the Tennesse Titans.  The 49ers will give the Titans picks #173, and #237 in exchange for the Titans pick at #216 and a 7th round selection in 2014.  This move will give the 49ers 10 solid selections in 2014 (they also have a conditional 3rd from KC in the Alex Smith deal that could become a 2nd, and a 7th from Carolina in the Colin Jones trade), with at least 1 or more expected to come through the compensatory process.

Pick #216 - 49ers select, Jeff Baca, G, UCLA

Baca's ability to play multiple positions, he played both guard and tackle while in Westwood makes him a natural fit for the 49ers who are looking to add depth along the front with Daniel Kilgore, and Joe Looney both looking at the possibility of becoming the starting center in 2014 if not sooner.

Pick #246 - 49ers select, Quinton Dial, DE, Alabama

Dial is another former Juco player who has shown the ability to play at every position along the defensive front.  His draft profile on NFL.com describes him as a "tall, powerful player who can drop his hips despite his height and to hold his ground or drive his man backwards on a bull rush.  Also capable of holding the edge against the run, using strong arm extension and hands to contain or crash inside.  Has good short area agility for his size, and often hustle to the ball."

Pick #252 - 49ers select, Luke Marquardt, T, Azuza Pacific

The 49ers are thin at the tackle position, and Marquardt will will compete with Al Netter, and Kenny Wiggins for a spot on the practice squad, with the hopes of eventually becoming the backup tackle.