In putting together his NFL Draft grades, Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com has decided to be the first to declare that Blaine Gabbert, Colin Kaepernick, and the 49ers will now be inextricably linked through history. The 49ers already have Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers linked together, so I guess this is only fitting.
Best pick: I like fourth-round running back Kendall Hunter. He adds speed and quickness.
Questionable move: Passing on Blaine Gabbert and then trading up to get Colin Kaepernick. They will now be linked together in 49ers draft history.
Third-day gem: Tackle Daniel Kilgore, their sixth-round pick, will move to guard and be a quality backup in their rotation.
Analysis: They better hope Aldon Smith turns into DeMarcus Ware and Kaepernick is better than the QBs taken ahead of him. That was risky passing on a quarterback at No. 7.
Grade: C+
Prisco described it as risky passing on a quarterback at seven, but that would seem to be based on his assumption that Blaine Gabbert is a solid long-term quarterback option. Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. NFL draft grades are inherently subjective so I guess they should be taken with a grain of salt.
A lot of folks over at Niners Nation are intrigued by Daniel Kilgore. It seems like he could turn himself into a Tony Wragge type of swing-guard/center. At guard the 49ers are set with Mike Iupati at left guard, but have big questions at right guard with Chilo Rachal and Adam Snyder. Additionally, the center position has a lot of questions because David Baas is an unrestricted free agent and Eric Heitmann has had some injury issues. Kilgore could get some playing time down the road.