Many had the San Francisco 49ers taking a wide receiver with the No. 30 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and many more agreed that it was a solid option before free agency began. Now, with the addition of Randy Moss and Mario Manningham, the pick is starting to change from guys like Stephen Hill to guys like Janoris Jenkins and players at other positions. One position that's mentioned a lot is offensive guard.
It's mentioned a lot because the 49ers are missing a starter there, as it happens. The line is set outside of that, with Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, Jonathan Goodwin and Anthony Davis taking the left tackle, left guard, center and right tackle spots, respectively. Adam Snyder took over for Chilo Rachal in 2011, and played very well - well enough to earn himself a nice contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
Rachal? He ain't coming back. He's the Kwame Harris of offensive guards.
So we're hearing a little mention here or there of the 49ers taking a guard at No. 30, to compete with 2011 draftee Daniel Kilgore, who played just one snap in 2011. But is it all-that likely that the 49ers take a guard at No. 20? As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle noted a few days ago, it's not very likely, given the precedent, or lack thereof.
The overwhelming majority of top guards in the NFL didn't come out of the first round, but there are definitely exceptions to the rule. Mike Iupati was the last guard to be drafted in the first round, by the very same San Francisco 49ers, and that's looking like it's going to turn out well, no? And the fact that the 49ers are picking at No. 30 does make it a bit easier to swallow.
Still, it is an outside chance at this point, unless there's somebody that's can't-miss at that point, which is something rarely seen in a guard prospect. San Francisco will likely be looking to take the best player available at No. 30, and a right guard isn't likely to be that player.