2011 BGN Community Mock Draft Pick #45: The San Francisco 49ers

With the forty-fifth pick in the 2011 BGN Mock Draft, T-rade selects...

Leonard Hankerson - WR, Miami

Heated discussions took place in the San Francisco war room when it was their time to make a pick, 3 players stood basically side by side on their board. All three being needs, all three being amongst BPA. The original plan had been to go CB in the first round and NT in the 2nd, but they felt that the gap between their pick and the next NT prospect was too big and wouldn't want to reach for a player at this point in the draft, being a sub .500 team, but still trying to compete for a playoff spot meant there was no room for gambling. LB was another spot of interest, but drafting the versatile Navarro Bowman last year made them agree that depth at that position could wait 'till later in the draft and the QBs worth a look at this point where all taken early

When Michael Crabtree was drafted it was regarded a smart move, but like the rest of the 49'ers draft that year pretty much turned out dull. Besides the contract issues, a lot of people have claimed that Crabtree is nowhere near fast enough, gives up at times and simply isn't all that which his contract and draft spot would've suggested. If the 9'ers wants to help Alex Smith/Kevin Kolb/McNabb/whoever they draft, he needs more help other than Crabtree and Vernon Davis. The pick therefore fell on Miami's single-season receiving TD record holder.

More after the jump...

Hankerson, viewed by some as a definite 1st round talent and by some a mid 2nd round choice, seems like a solid pick at this point. Coming from The U, he follows the footsteps of such greats as Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne, which is exactly what the 49'ers is hoping to get, making him a super steal in the 2nd round. He has had some catching issues, but seems to have solved these, and with his 6'2, 209 body and long arms, he suggests that he is a reliable target going across the middle and his 4.4 40 yard dash shows he has enough speed to be a deep threat as opposed to Crabtree. He also possesses enough arm strength to not get jammed at the line of scrimmage and get into his route quickly, making him a good fit for a WCO.

The biggest concerns about Hankerson is that he has had a tendency to drop easy balls at times (something he worked on with help from Cris Carter and Mark Duper) and his lack of productivity after he has caught the ball, as he doesn't have the quickness in short areas to make an explosive cut and get away from defenders.

Next on the clock will be David_K with the Denver Broncos.

Previous Picks: 1 - Nick Fairley 2 - Patrick Peterson 3 - Blaine Gabbert 4 - Cam Newton 5 - Von Miller 6 - Marcell Dareus 7 - Prince Amukamara 8 - A.J. Green 9 - Da'Quan Bowers 10 - Corey Liuget 11 - Robert Quinn 12 - Julio Jones 13 - Tyron Smith 14 - Jimmy Smith 15 - Mark Ingram 16 - Cameron Jordan 17 - Ryan Kerrigan 18 - Anthony Castonzo 19 - Mike Pouncey 20 - Adrian Clayborn 21 - Phil Taylor 22- Stephen Paea 23 - Brandon Harris 24 - Aldon Smith 25 - Gabe Carimi 26 - Torrey Smith 27 - Justin Houston 28- J.J. Watt 29 - Nate Solder 30 - Akeem Ayers 31- Derek Sherrod 32 - Cameron Heyward 33- Muhammad Wilkerson 34 - Allen Bailey 35 - Jabaal Sheard 36 - Marvin Austin 37 - Jonathan Baldwin 38 - Jake Locker 39 - Colin Kaepernick 40 - James Carpenter 41 - Christian Ponder 42 - Aaron Williams 43 - Ryan Mallett 44 - Rahim Moore