(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Last week we broke down the 49ers biggest draft steals of all-time, replete with a handful of hall-of-famers and franchise legends. Now it’s time for the other shoe to drop.
Presenting the top 10 biggest draft busts in San Francisco 49ers history. Let the cringing begin:
Honorable Mention: Solomon Thomas: 2017 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
We’re cutting Thomas a break here. He’s played just three NFL seasons and with DeForest Buckner gone, will have his biggest chance yet to make an impact for the 49ers this season.
But Thomas was selected No. 3 overall in 2017, the highest of any player on this list, and he’s been almost a complete non-factor in his young NFL career. He’s failed to carve out a starting job, and has a combined for just six sacks in his first three NFL seasons.
Thomas still has a chance to turn things around. Considering where he was drafted, however, if the 2020 season is another dud, Thomas could find himself pretty high up this list for years to come.
No. 10 Ken MacAfee: 1978 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7
The only pre-90s selection to make this list, MacAfee is also the 49ers’ highest-drafted bust. MacAfee was an All-American teammate of Joe Montana at Notre Dame, and actually showed promise in his first two seasons in San Francisco, nabbing the starting TE job and scoring five TDs. Things fell apart at the beginning of the 1980 season, however, when the 49ers tried to get MacAfee to play guard, a position they felt he was more suited for. MacAfee disagreed, and left the team to pursue dental school.
MacAfee was eventually traded to the Vikings, but never played in another NFL game.
No. 9 R.W. McQuarters:1998 / Round: 1 / Pick: 28
McQuarters actually carved out a decent career for himself as return man after exiting San Francisco, but could only be described as a bust after lasting just two forgettable seasons with the 49ers. McQuarters started 11 games with Steve Mariucci’s crew, grabbing one interception. As a return man in his rookie season, McQuarters fumbled four times.
No. 8 Kwame Harris 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 26
Drafted out of Stanford as the franchise’s left tackle of the future, Harris became infamous for his inability as a pass protector and his proclivity to commit penalties during his five year tenure in San Francisco. In 2005, Harris committed a whopping 15 penalties while allowing nine sacks in 16 games. Harris was eventually relegated to a backup role in 2007 when first-round pick Joe Staley won the job in camp. Harris’ career was over by 2008.
No. 7 Mike Rumph 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 27
After a forgettable first year, Rumph was decent in his second season with the 49ers, intercepting three passes and working his way into the starting lineup. That’s when everything fell apart. The University of Miami product missed large swaths of the next two seasons with injuries. When he was healthy enough to play, Rumph’s coverage skills fell off to the point that he was moved to safety.
Rumph was eventually traded to Washington where he played in just seven games before retiring shortly after. Rumph is now the cornerbacks coach at his alma mater.
No. 6 Kentwan Balmer 2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 29
Balmer lasted just two seasons with the 49ers, and was never able to adjust to being moved from defensive tackle to defensive end in the 49ers’ 3-4 scheme. Balmer didn’t start a single game for San Francisco, nor did he ever sack the quarterback, finishing his 49ers career with one QB hit.
The Balmer pick was also made with DeSean Jackson on the board, the Cal receiver who many believed San Francisco would take. The 49ers passed again on Jackson in the second round at pick 39, taking another relative bust in offensive lineman Chilo Rachal.
No. 5 Joshua Garnett 2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 28
Another Stanford offensive lineman that just didn’t work out, Garnett was constantly injured, appearing in more than 10 games just once during his three year stint with the 49ers. In addition to missing the entire 2017 campaign due to knee surgery, Garnett seemed to frustrate Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch in 2018, with his inability to stay available. Garnett missed nearly half of 2018 with thumb and toe injuries.
Eventually, Garnett was cut for the likes of Mike Person (7th round pick) and Erik Magnuson (undrafted) before the start of last season.
No. 4 Rashaun Woods 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 31
Looking to replace Terrell Owens in a draft replete with wide receivers, the 49ers were unable to trade up to get the likes of Larry Fitzgerald or Roy Williams, and instead traded back to select Woods, who seemed like good value at the time. At Oklahoma State, Woods once caught seven touchdowns in a single game. During his lone season in the NFL, Woods caught a grand total of seven passes.
After his rookie season, Woods spent 2005 on the injured reserve, and was then traded to the Chargers who cut him in training camp. Woods never played in another game.
No. 3 A.J. Jenkins 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 30
A receiver who somehow fared even worse than Woods, Jenkins did catch a single pass with the 49ers, and was targeted just once. Jenkins was traded after his only season with the 49ers, and lasted two seasons with the Chiefs where he caught 17 passes.
Adding insult to injury, Alshon Jeffery, Rueben Randle, Mohamed Sanu, T.Y. Hilton and Marvin Jones were all selected in the 2004 Draft after Jenkins.
No. 2 Reggie McGrew 1999 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
Drafted as a possible replacement for the injured Bryant Young, McGrew probably should’ve stayed at Florida for his senior season, considering he redshirted his first year in San Francisco. When he finally did see the filed in 2005, it wasn’t much better. McGrew finished his two year 49ers career with 11 tackles and one sack.
McGrew played in two more games in 2002 with Atlanta before his career came to a close.
No. 1 Jim Druckenmiller 1999 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
Here it is folks, the biggest bust in 49ers history. Drafted as Steve Young’s successor, Druckenmiller was the first straw to begin breaking the franchise’s run of nearly two decades of elite quarterback play. The pick itself was a head-scratching one, with Arizona State quarterback Jake Plummer — who general manager Bill Walsh was reportedly high on — still on the board and considered a better prospect. Instead the 49ers reached for Druckenmiller, and the decision was a disaster from the get-go.
With Young hurt, Druckenmiller was forced into action in week two of the season, a game the 49ers somehow won 15-12, despite Druckenmiller going 10 of his 28 attempted passes for 102 yards with one touchdown pass and three picks. Druckenmiller threw almost two more in the fourth quarter. Check out these highlights:
Drukenmiller was just as bad in the only other three games in which he appeared that season, going a combined 11-for-24 with an interception. At the end of his second season, Druckenmiller was indicted on rape charges. Walsh publicly said that the only reason Druckenmiller hadn’t been released was due to salary cap ramifications.
Eventually he was traded to the Miami Dolphins where his career quickly fizzled away.