We already looked back one year, now let’s see what happens with five years.
On Saturday, I brought up an NFL.com article with draft do-overs from the 2018 NFL Draft. They said they would have swapped Mike McGlinchey for Bradley Chubb. The pick gives the 49ers their pass rusher, but they miss out on developing what is becoming one of the better offensive tackles in the league. I still would have stayed with McGlinchey.
Now let’s raise the stakes a bit. Rather than a year ago, let’s go five years back. So since 2014, what is the one do-over you’d want? If we’re going back there, we’re going to a time many 49ers fans have repressed: the day of Trent Baalke and his ACL picks. Even with those, I’m able to pick a player that had no ACL issues, but cost the 49ers another pick. ESPN 49ers blogger Nick Wagoner participated in ESPN’s version of this and would want the offensive guard Joshua Garnett pick back in exchange for wide receiver Michael Thomas
A top receiver has been a need for the 49ers since Terrell Owens departed in 2003, but it was heightened further in 2016, when Anquan Boldin left. Plenty of fans and outside observers thought the Niners should use their second-round pick, which was No. 37 overall, on Thomas. Instead, San Francisco traded that pick, a fourth-round choice and a sixth-round choice to Kansas City for No. 28 and a seventh-round choice. Garnett showed promise as a rookie but has been plagued by injury while Thomas has been to two Pro Bowls and averaged 107 catches, 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns per season. The 49ers still find themselves seeking a top wideout and could have had Thomas without trading up.
Well, when he puts it that way, it makes the pick outright sting. Now, I’m well, WELL aware the pool of picks we’d want back when Trent Baalke had that trigger is large. Narrowing it down is hard, especially when you look at picks that never saw the field due to injuries. That said, this pick here, this is probably the one I’d agree with too. Sure we can get mad at the Rashard Robinson pick and ignoring Dak Prescott, or that Marcus Lattimore pick (which made and still makes sense if you think of how good the player was), but yeah.
Garnett has struggled to stay healthy and when healthy, getting playing time has been difficult. The 49ers traded back into the first round to get him and many (myself included) were trying to convince themselves such a move was correct. Garnett very well could have been there if the 49ers just waited (though there were reports after that other teams were interested).
With the wealth of picks at our disposal thanks to Baalke’s knack of hoarding, what is the one do-over you’d want to have since 2014?
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