Jed Jacobsohn / Staff
The NFL Draft is still, amazingly, scheduled for April 23. In their short tenure, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have done a solid job at finding value in the lower rounds; Dre Greenlaw, Fred Warner, D.J. Jones and a certain tight end come to mind.
In that spirit, let’s take a look at the 10 biggest draft day steals in 49ers history:
No. 10: John Taylor – 1986 / Round: 3 / Pick: 76
Why doesn’t anyone talk about John Taylor anymore?
Named as the 25th biggest NFL draft steal of all-time by ESPN in 2008, Taylor played an exceptional sidekick to Jerry Rice during much of his nine-year career with the 49ers (1987-1995), one that included arguably the most iconic touchdown reception in team history.
In addition to Super Bowl XXIII, Taylor won two other Super Bowls with the 49ers in ’89 and ’94, and was named to the NFL 1980s All Decade Team. Despite never being a No. 1 receiver, Taylor made back-to-back Pro Bowls in ’88 and ’89 and was also one of the best punt returners of his era, with his combined 94 Super Bowl return yards still standing as an NFL record. In his nine NFL seasons, Taylor recorded 347 receptions for 5,589 yards (an average of 16.1 yards per catch) and 43 touchdowns.
Taylor attended tiny Delaware State but caught the eye of Bill Walsh, who had a knack for selecting talented receivers from small schools.
No. 9: NaVorro Bowman – 2010 / Round: 3 / Pick: 91
Bowman was one of those players who looked like a star the second he stepped on the field. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in his final season at Penn State, Bowman fell in the draft due to his slight frame and average size, two things that ended up not being an issue at all at the NFL level.
Though his prime was brief, Bowman was arguably the best linebacker in football for a three-year stretch, leading the NFL in solo tackles in 2013 with 140. Bowman’s time with the 49ers, and his partnership with the legendary Patrick Willis, coincided with the most successful era of San Francisco football since Steve Young was quarterback. Every season from 2011-2013, the Bowman-led defense was ranked in the top three, and was the primary factor in the 49ers clinching three consecutive trips to the NFC Championship Game.
Before injuries cut his career short, Bowman was selected as a first-team All-Pro in all four healthy seasons with the 49ers.
No. 8: George Kittle – 2017 / Round: 5 / Pick: 146
Despite having just three NFL seasons under his belt, Kittle’s status as a fifth round selection gives him the edge over more accomplished players like Bowman and Taylor, as does his standing as the best tight end in the NFL. Kittle has a chance to finish his career much higher up on this list.
Already a two-time All-Pro, Kittle fell to the 49ers because scouts were worried about his ability to create separation at the NFL level. That hasn’t been a problem at all in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, where Kittle has established himself as both the best receiving and blocking tight end in the NFL at just 26 years old.
Kittle is likely to receive a record-setting contract extension this offseason, one that will ensure he’s a member of the Red and Gold for years to come.
No. 7: Michael Carter – 1984 / Round: 5 / Pick: 121
Another three-time Super Bowl champion, Carter fell to the 49ers as an undersized nose tackle out of SMU. After playing a bit role on the 1984 Super Bowl team, Carter became a starter in 1985, and was named as a Pro Bowler or All-Pro selection every season for the next four years. He was also the first person to ever win an Olympic medal and a Super Bowl ring in the same season, winning silver in the shot put at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
No. 6: Merton Hanks – 1991 / Round: 5 / Pick: 122
The author of one of the most iconic dances in NFL history, Merton Hanks was a fan favorite and one of the best safeties in football during his nine-year tenure with the 49ers from 1991 to 1998. Hanks was part of the 1994 Super Bowl team which featured one of the greatest secondaries in team history, playing alongside Deion Sanders, Eric Davis and Tim McDonald.
Hanks grabbed seven interceptions during that season, and five more the next year when he was named by NFL alumni as the best defensive back in all of football in 1995. Hanks had at least four interceptions in every season from 1994-1998.
A test case as to why what happens at the combine should be taken with a grain of salt, Hanks fell in the draft after running a 4.77 40-yard-dash.
No. 5 Frank Gore – 2005 / Round: 3 / Pick: 65
The greatest running back in 49ers history, Gore would be higher on this list if he was drafted later, but still proved to be an undeniable steal in the third round. Ironically, durability was the biggest concern coming out of the University of Miami, where the running back tore his ACL twice while in college.
Fifteen NFL seasons later, that seems like a joke. In fact, Gore has missed a grand total of fourteen games in his entire career, and had a six year stretch from 2012-2017 where he didn’t miss a single game.
Gore is currently the third leading rusher in NFL history (15,347) and the leading rusher in 49ers history (11,073) by a significant margin.
“[The 49ers] gave me an opportunity to reach my childhood dreams… I love it there man. I love it there.”
Frank Gore: Greatest RB in #49ers history pic.twitter.com/VmB5zQ0A1K
— KNBR (@KNBR) March 20, 2020
No. 4 Jesse Sapolu – 1983 / Round: 11 / Pick: 289
Arguably the greatest offensive lineman in 49ers history, Sapolu was the lowest pick on this list, an 11th rounder who would go on to play center and guard for San Francisco for 14 seasons. Sapolu was a full-time starter on three Super Bowl teams (1988, 1989, 1994) and a member of four (1984) making him one of only six 49ers to accomplish such a feat.
Using Pro Football Reference’s adjusted value metric, Sapolu is the 12th most valuable player in 49ers history.
No. 3 Dwight Clark – 1979 / Round: 10 / Pick: 249
A player many saw as an undrafted free agent, Clark’s 20-year tenure with the 49ers organization began thanks to a chance phone call with Bill Walsh, who was trying to reach Clark’s Clemson roommate, Steve Fuller. Clark impressed Walsh so much as a receiver during Fuller’s throwing session, Walsh took a 10th round flier on the Montana native.
The rest, as they say, was history. It only took two seasons for Clark to put his stamp on the 49ers forever, with one of the most iconic catches in NFL history that punched the 49ers’ ticket to their first ever Super Bowl.
Clark would play nine seasons for the 49ers, with two Super Bowls and two Pro Bowls to his name. Clark stayed in the 49ers organization after hanging up his cleats, working in the front office from 1990-1998. Clark had his number #87 retired in 1988, and will forever be remembered as one of the individuals responsible for transforming the 49ers into one of the league’s most iconic franchises.
No. 2 Terrell Owens – 1996 / Round: 3 / Pick: 89
As a third-round pick, Owens was certainly less of a steal than Clark, but has earned the No. 2 spot on this list as arguably the third greatest receiver in league history. From tiny Chattanooga and with questionable hands, Owens fell to the 49ers in the third round, but quickly revealed himself as a monster at the NFL level.
Owens became the successor to Jerry Rice ahead of schedule, famously setting the NFL record by catching 20 passes in Rice’s final game with San Francisco. Owens was also responsible for the second-most iconic catch in 49ers history, with the “Catch 2” in the 1998 Wild Card Game.
Before his unceremonious exit, Owens made four Pro Bowls and finished his 49ers career as second in all-time receiving yards (8,527) and touchdowns (81).
No. 1 Joe Montana – 1979 / Round: 3 / Pick: 82
Talk about a layup.
It’s hard not give the greatest quarterback in franchise history, and arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history, the top spot on this list. Montana was the fourth quarterback taken in the 1979 draft, and fell largely because a lack of arm strength. That wasn’t a problem for 49ers head coach Bill Walsh, who’s innovative West Coast Offense emphasized precision.
It ended up being a match made in heaven, and one that led to four Vince Lombardi trophies, three Super Bowl MVPs, eight Pro Bowls, inclusion onto the NFLs 1980s All-Decade Team, the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and having his number No. 16 retired by the franchise in 1997.
While there may be much to debate on this list, Montana is without question the greatest draft steal in 49ers history.