(SportsNetwork.com) - San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke hasn't been real conventional in recent months basically running off a coaching heavyweight, Jim Harbaugh, for a guy, Jim Tomsula, who came off like a "Saturday Night Live" skit in some early interviews.
For that reason the 49ers are a wild card in this process because Baalke's not afraid to think outside the box. With Justin Smith set on retirement and Ray McDonald gone, bolstering the defensive line should be paramount and fast- rising Florida State defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr., who really put together some average tape while in Tallahassee but possesses freakish athleticism, is a possibility.
Inside linebacker is also a necessity after the retirements of studs Patrick Willis and Chris Borland but it's hard to justify taking players like UCLA's Eric Kendricks or Mississippi State's Benardrick McKinney in the middle of the first round.
2014 Record: 8-8
Top Needs: ILB, DL, CB, WR
First Three Picks: No. 15, No. 46, No. 79
Number of Selections: 9 (1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2014 - Jimmie Ward (S, Northern Illinois); 2013 - Eric Reid (S, LSU); 2012 - A.J. Jenkins (WR, Illinois); 2011 - Aldon Smith (OLB, Missouri); 2010 - Anthony Davis (OT, Rutgers), Mike Iupati (G, Idaho); 2009 - Michael Crabtree (WR, Texas Tech); 2008 - Kentwan Balmer (DL, North Carolina); 2007 - Patrick Willis (LB, Ole Miss), Joe Staley (T, Central Michigan); 2006 - Vernon Davis (TE, Maryland), Manny Lawson (OLB, North Carolina State); 2005 - Alex Smith (QB, Utah)
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