SB Nation released their latest 2011 NFL Mock Draft and it has a whole assortment of interesting picks. It remains to be seen how realistic it is, but if the 2011 NFL Draft falls out in this order, it would lead to some interesting discussion. A quick look through the mock draft has the 49ers selecting Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green:
7. San Francisco 49ers: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia. You won’t see this pick in a lot of projections, because when you get right down to it, Green isn’t a snug fit for Jim Harbaugh’s West Coast Offense. If the Niners were smart, they’d look past that; pairing Green with Michael Crabtree would be a win no matter who’s at quarterback.
This pick would be very much like the 49ers decision to select Michael Crabtree in 2009. The 49ers didn’t have a desperate need at wide receiver but he was clearly the best player available when the team went on the clock.
While I don’t see Cam Newton necessarily going number one overall, I would not be shocked to see him join Blaine Gabbert in the top six picks. If that were to happen, Green slipping to the 49ers wouldn’t be the most surprising development. I think the Browns will grab Green, but the top seven or eight picks seem very fluid right now.