San Francisco Gets Its Go-To Receiver

Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.

With the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers had the good fortune of having one of the best (if not the best) players fall into their laps.

There are a number of theories as to why Michael Crabtree was still available at the No. 10 spot, ranging from his lack of a 40 time, to the alleged "diva" attitude he displayed in St. Louis and Cleveland during his visits, leading to an hilarious battle of wits between Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach and Browns coach Eric Mangini.

Either way, the 49ers now have the go-to receiver they've lacked since Terrell Owens was signing footballs on the field and marking his territory at the center of the Dallas star. Crabtree joins an organization that hasn't had a 1,000-yard receiver since the 2003 season, which is also the last time it ranked higher than 13th in the NFL in passing offense.

Expecting him to come in and instantly change five years of futility in the passing game is expecting a bit much -- receivers, even good ones, take some time to develop -- but he certainly brings the ability and potential to be a difference-maker. The fact he's doing it across the bay from one of the teams that passed on him in the first round just adds to the intrigue of this pick.

Draft Picks

1 (10) Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
3 (74) Glen Coffee, RB, Alabama
5 (146) Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh
5 (171) Nate Davis, QB, Ball State
6 (184) Bear Pascoe, TE, Fresno State
7 (219) Curtis Taylor, S, LSU
7 (244) Ricky Jean-Francois, DT, LSU

Grade: B. With its first-round pick San Francisco ended up with a player that could have gone in the top-five without much of an argument, and it didn't have to give up anything to get him. That's a draft day win every time. With their second pick, No. 74 overall, the 49ers selected Alabama running back Glen Coffee as a potential backfield partner for Frank Gore. Even though Gore's one of the best backs in the league, two back systems are all the rage these days and San Francisco had little behind the three-time 1,000-yard rusher in terms of depth.

Linebacker Scott McKillop is an interesting player as a fifth-round pick. He's not flashy and doesn't make you say "wow" with his athleticism, but he's smart and always seems to be around the football. Ball State quarterback Nate Davis was considered, at one point, to be a potential first-day pick but fell all the way to the fifth-round, possibly due to concerns that he might suffer from a learning disability. He certainly has the talent, while the 49ers still don't have a true long-term solution under center.