| 1 | 7(7) | Aldon Smith | DE | Missouri |
| What he brings: Smith could play 4-3 end or 3-4 OLB, but either way he has to get better against the run. He struggles to sink his hips and needs to play with better leverage, but he has the frame and upper-body strength to improve in that area. He is a tenacious pass-rusher with initial quickness that is just a notch below elite and the flexibility to bend back inside when he gets underneath the blocker. He also has above-average athletic ability and can redirect inside after starting outside. Video analysis: Todd McShay  How he fits: The 49ers used a four-man rotation at OLB last year with Manny Lawson, Travis LaBoy, Ahmad Brooks andParys Haralson. Lawson and LaBoy are free agents, while Brooks and Haralson are under contract. The 49ers run a 3-4 scheme and Smith fits perfectly as an edge rusher, which is a huge need for this defense but he can also put his hand in the dirt in a 4-3 front. New defensive coordinator Vick Fangio will run a similar defense to the Green Bay Packers with a lot of fronts and looks, including a variety of nickel and Smith can really fit in thanks to his versatility. | ||||
| 2 | 4(36) | Colin Kaepernick | QB | Nevada |
| from Denver | ||||
| What he brings: Kaepernick has a great frame, strong arm and excellent athletic ability. And while he will have to adjust from the Pistol formation to a pro-style offense, he has excellent work ethic and improved every year at Nevada. There are concerns about his herky-jerky throwing motion, but it's not a project on the same level as Tim Tebow a year ago. How he fits: The QB position at San Francisco is probably the most wasted in the NFL in recent years. Of the 49ers' three QBs a year ago, Alex Smith, Troy Smith and David Carr, only Carr is under contract in 2011. Kaepernick has a great upside, although like Alex Smith, he has to make a huge transition from an unorthodox college offense to a pro-style offense. The 49ers will run a West Coast style, but the huge question is do they talk Alex Smith into coming back to develop Kaepernick or cut ties and throw the rookie into the fire? But this selection could make it a little tougher to talk Smith into staying. | ||||
| 3 | 16(80) | Chris Culliver | CB | South Carolina |
| from Jacksonville | ||||
| What he brings: Culliver has a good blend of size and athleticism, and his movement skills are above-average. Instincts and discipline are concerns, though, and he has to work on breaking down and tackling better in space. How he fits: This secondary gives up an alarming amount of big passing plays and lacks turn-and-run cover corners.Nate Clements is aging and has a big contract, while Shawntae Spencer is inconsistent. They need a starter who cam play man coverage and blitz off the edge and Culliver is a guy that has good cover skills and some experience at safety. | ||||
| 4 | 18(115) | Kendall Hunter | RB | Oklahoma State |
| from San Diego | ||||
| What he brings: Hunter is undersized but quick around the corner and can make defenders miss in the hole. He's also shifty in the open field, and if his hands get more consistent he will be valuable on third down. He has had some ball-security issues, though. How he fits: He is more a Brian Westbrook type than Frank Gore because his lack of size probably doesn't put him in a situation to be an every-down back. He probably needs to improve a little bit of a pass-catcher to be a legitimate nickel back, but he's a solid player. ESPN | ||||
The pressure was on the San Francisco 49ers to find a quarterback this offseason to fill the team's greatest need.
They landed one Friday night.
Another might soon be on the way.
In the first major move of the Jim Harbaugh Era, the 49ers traded up in the second round to take Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick with the 36th overall pick in the NFL draft. They gave Denver their second-round (45th overall), fourth-round (108th) and fifth-round (141st) picks to move up.
SFGate
The San Francisco 49ers have selected Missouri linebacker Aldon Smith with the No. 7 overall pick in the NFL draft.
The 6-foot-4, 258-pound Smith is slated to be a strong-side outside linebacker as part of a unit led by superstar All-Pro Patrick Willis. The Niners were expected to upgrade their defense with their top pick. Smith provides an athletic, long-limbed pass rusher who set Big 12 freshman records for sacks and tackles for loss in 2009. He finished with 17 career sacks in his two college seasons for the Tigers.
He was limited by a leg injury during his sophomore season.
