(03-22-2023, 08:01 AM)wg171 Wrote:

(03-22-2023, 07:32 AM)Caldrac Wrote: Yet, they had a nice little run out West with similar results to exactly what Lynch and Shanahan are doing now and since his departure. Close, but no cigar. Championship appearances with losses.



That article was written in 2018 to be fair. I wonder what that writer thinks of the Trey Lance trade and the fact that they now have him and Purdy to fix the QB situation.

I think Baalke has fared better here. Especially with the earlier rounds. Urban Miller was Khan's choice. Not Baalke's. Etienne landed on IR as a rookie. Cisco and Walker were not used at all that much.

Caldwell also left this team in far worse shape than Baalke did the 49ers.  Last year's free agency haul for him was also one of the better hauls this franchise has seen in years.

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Completely agree that he’s done a much better job with the Jags. I guess the point I’m getting at is if you’re going to be a “draft and develop” football team then your GM has to draft well, especially in rounds 3-5.

"Going to be a draft and develop football team..."

We just spent the most money in free agency EVER SPENT - just last season. 

When you do that - the next two years are going to be "draft and develop" oriented whether you like it or not. 

So far - what we have to judge Baalke on in rounds 3-5 is hit and miss - or incomplete:

Fortner 
Muma
Conner
Cisco
Tufele
Jordan Smith
Luke Farrell

You've got 3 guys that look promising, one guy they probably cut too soon (Tufele) , one guy who is solid depth with some potential (Farrell), and Conner/Smith who are long shots to succeed. 

From this list - it would appear it is rounds 4 and 5 that are tough for Baalke. (like most GMs I imagine) 
His round 3 picks all appear on a decent trajectory for success, albeit early to be certain for 2 of them.

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