San Francisco 49er Draft Review Day One and Two.

The 2014 draft began with the opening of the league year for Trent Baalke and company. Their first player move was the acquisition of quarterback Blaine Gabbert from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 6th round pick (#205 overall) in this year's draft, and possible future considerations in the 2015 draft which would be performance based. It was a deal that had been in the works for some time according to David Caldwell, the Jags G.M., beginning midway through last season when the teams played in London and Gabbert was finally healthy enough to start but was left sitting behind his former backup Chad Henne. Baalke inquired about the availability of Gabbert, a player they had evaluated highly prior to the 2011 draft. Jags were unsure at that time of their quarterbacking plans, and in retrospect, apparently were high on local college quarterback Blake Bortles playing for Cental Florida. Gabbert had a rough start in Jacksonville under some terrible conditions for a young quarterback. There was a record setting injury run for his first two seasons, to his teammates and himself. He had to deal with a new coaching staff and offensive scheme every year. Talk of relocation was rampant and Gene Smith was shaving the team payroll to make the team easier to sell. The team was sold his first season, the General Manager who drafted him was fired his second season, and as one of the last survivors of that team he joined in August of 2011, he became the focal point of fan and media discontent. Caldwell and Gus Bradley decided it was best for all concerned to make a change. In respect to Gabbert who was well liked by the new owners and management, Caldwell didn't shop him around the league but dealt directly with Baalke as he perceived it to be the best situation for Gabbert, being able to play for a strong team under a respected developer of young quarterbacks in Jim Harbaugh. Gabbert is still just 24, the same age as Tom Savage who Houston drafted at the position in the fourth round this year, but he has three years of NFL experience and nearly 30 starts, despite lost time due to injuries. He was the top rated quarterback in the 2011 draft, and likely the top rated quarterback on the 9ers board, but they had made a commitment to Alex Smith not to draft a quarterback in the first round in order to give him a fair shot at the starting role. The top pick was used on Aldon Smith, and Gabbert was taken shortly afterwards by Jacksonville, with the 49ers using a second round pick to add Colin Kaepernick. Now Gabbert gets a chance to start fresh in a new location, and represents the first return of the 2014 draft for San Francisco. The team had 11 picks prior to the Gabbert deal, dropped to 10 briefly, then added a third round compensatory pick (#100 overall) to get them back to 11. Their first round pick at #30 overall was used to bring versatile defensive backfielder Jimmie Ward from Northern Illinois. Ward was a bit under the radar, playing at a smaller school and not making any high profile Bowl appearances. He was the #1 rated strong safety by NFL Draft Scout, and ranked #33 overall by that outlet. Ward has a good blend of skills for a defensive back, decent size, above average speed, with superior instincts and competitiveness. His first role will be as a nickle back, where his coverage ability and sure tackling should allow him to excel. At 5-11, and under 200 pounds, he will probably have to bulk up somewhat to play as a full time safety, or develop his cover skills to play outside cornerback. The team's first of two second round picks was situated at #56 overall, but prior to making the selection the team announced a deal bringing veteran receiver Stevie Johnson from Buffalo for a 2015 fourth round pick. Johnson who had been the Bills' #1 receiver for the past four seasons, became expendable with the acquisition of Mike Williams via trade, and Sammy Watkins early in the first round of the draft. Expectations of an early pick at wide receiver were altered, and the #56 was traded back to Denver at #63 for a fifth in 2014 and a fourth in 2014 (essentially replacing the pick they spent on Johnson earlier). Thereupon Baalke, in a clever bit of draft manipulation, sent the 2014 portion of the payment he received from Denver moments earlier to San Diego at #57, while retaining the 2015 fourth round pick. With the #57 overall selection he tabbed power runner Carlos Hyde from Ohio State. It was a luxury selection (originally part payment for Alex Smith) which had already delivered a Pro Bowl quality wideout in Stevie Johnson, so the club could afford to indulge in a value player even if it was at a position of depth. Hyde was the consensus top all around RB available, an ideal blend of power and speed for the position. Their own pick in round two was subsequently dealt to Jacksonville for a move back into the early part of round three (#70 overall), along with a fourth round selection (#150 overall). Having covered the two primary need positions going into the draft, nickle back and wide receiver, Baalke covered a potential third weakness by taking top rated center Marcus Martin. Martin was the youngest player available in the draft, and won't turn 21 until late in the upcoming season. He has tremendous upside at the position which is currently occupied by utility lineman Daniel Kilgore. Shortly thereafter, at #77 overall in round three, Baalke covered another temporary soft spot on the roster by adding one of the top rated inside linebackers available, Chris Borland of Wisconsin. Borland provides day one cover for the absence of All Pro Navarro Bowman, coming off a severe knee injury in last year's playoffs. A fifth year senior with a sterling record of production, Borland is one of the most NFL ready prospects in the draft. Finally, they closed out the second day of the draft by using their compensatory pick (#100 overall) on big OT Brandon Thomas of Clemson, a conversion project to guard as a pro. Thomas was one of the top rated guards, but suffered a knee injury during the pre draft workouts that will sideline him all of the upcoming season. With a plethora of picks and few holes to fill, San Fran was a team that could afford to stash him on the roster for a year. Once he is healthy he should be a long term starter inside.