After a few weeks of training and two preseason games, the San Francisco 49ers’ draft class looks like it’ll make little to no impact this season.
Unlike years past, the lack of rookie production won’t necessarily spell gloom and doom for San Francisco. It is more so a product of the team’s returning depth. Here's a pick-by-by look at how the rookie have performed:
Top pick: WR A.J. Jenkins (first round, No. 7 overall) -- Coach Jim Harbaugh is convinced Jenkins will be an “outstanding football player some day,” but the Illinois product will have a difficult time even suiting up on game days. He’s clearly the No. 6 on the WR depth chart behind Randy Moss, Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham, Kyle Williams and Ted Ginn Jr., and hasn’t been a consistent enough performer to warrant immediate playing time. Grade: C
No. 2 pick: RB LaMichael James (second round, No. 61 overall) -- It wouldn’t be fair to assess James’ performance with a letter grade because his role likely won’t become clear until the regular season. It’s fair to assume the team has a plan for how to use the former Oregon star based on where he went in the draft, but that plan is being kept under wraps during the preseason. He may some use in the return game -- possibly on kickoffs -- and alongside QB Colin Kaepernick when the team utilizes the read option, but it’s hard to say for sure. Grade: Incomplete
No. 3 pick: OG Joe Looney (fourth round, No. 117 overall) -- Looney’s debut in training camp was delayed due to a foot injury, but he adjusted quickly. He’s listed as the backup at the LG spot behind Mike Iupati, but it’s hard to imagine it wouldn’t be Leonard Davis who steps in the starting lineup if Iupati went down. Looney will be on the 53-man squad, but he’ll be there to provide depth. Grade: B-
No. 4 pick: Darius Fleming (fifth round, No. 165 overall) -- Fleming tore his ACL during the team’s rookie minicamp and will miss the 2012 season. Grade: Incomplete
No. 5 pick: Trenton Robinson (sixth round, No. 180 overall) -- Robinson hasn’t assured himself a roster spot, but if he does, it’ll be for what he can provide on special teams. The undersized SS (5-9, 193) is the primary backup to Donte Whitner. Grade: B
No. 6 pick: Jason Slowey (sixth round, No. 199 overall) -- The team drafted Slowey out of Western Oregon knowing he’d be a project and wouldn’t be ready to contribute in his rookie season. Making the jump from Division II to the NFL is simply too difficult an adjustment to make right away. He also moved from OT to C, where he currently sits at No. 4 on the depth chart. If he sticks, it’s probably on the practice squad. Grade: C+
No. 7 pick: Cam Johnson (seventh round, No. 237 overall) -- The knock on Johnson coming out of Virigina was that his production declined in his senior year due to a knee injury. The problem isn’t gone. Johnson had minor surgery in the offseason and didn’t travel to the team’s preseason game in Houston on Saturday. He’s not a strong candidate for the 53-man roster. Grade: C
Follow 49ers reporter Kyle Bonagura on Twitter: @CBSSportsNFLSF and @KyleBonagura.
