![Patrick Willis was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007. [Image Source: Flickr | fred10_2000]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/2/28/660x290/b_502x220x82/patrick-willis-was-named-the-defensive-rookie-of-the-year-in-2007-image-source-flickr-fred10-2000_2216597.jpg "Patrick Willis was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007. [Image Source: Flickr | fred10_2000]")
After looking at the Cardinals’ best choices in the draft since 2000 (they select first in the NFL Draft), we now move on to the 49ers. They will be selecting second in April’s draft. Bleacher Report’s most recent mock draft has them selecting DE/LB Josh Allen out of Kentucky.
San Francisco has drafted a good amount of quality players in the past nearly two decades. Many of those players were at their peak when playing for the 49ers. Here are their ten-best selections since 2000.
Note: Only their time with the 49ers was considered for this list. While players such as Alex Smith and Delanie Walker have made multiple Pro Bowls, they all came after leaving San Francisco. Where someone was drafted also played a role. If someone had close to equal value, but they were drafted in the third round rather than the first, they would get the edge on the list. DeForest Buckner and Mike McGlinchey are two players who could easily crack the list a few years from now. Some later-round players who found success with the 49ers but didn’t quite make the list include Eric Johnson (seventh round, 2001), Eric Heitmann (seventh round, 2002), Isaac Sopoaga (fourth round, 2004), Andy Lee (sixth round, 2004), Tarell Brown (fifth round, 2007), and Trent Brown (seventh round, 2015).
Frank Gore, RB - 3rd round, 65th overall (2005); time with 49ers: 2005-2014
The ten-year tenure of Gore with San Francisco consisted of his rushing for 11,073 yards while scoring 64 rushing and 11 receiving touchdowns. He made five Pro Bowls with the 49ers and rushed for 1,000 yards eight out of 10 seasons.
Patrick Willis, LB - 1st round, 11th overall (2007); time with 49ers: 2007-2014
His career wasn't that long (just eight years), but Willis sure had a productive and effective stay in the NFL. Each of his first seven seasons he made the Pro Bowl, and five times he was named First Team All-Pro. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year for the 2007 season.
Joe Staley, OT - 1st round, 28th overall (2007); time with 49ers: 2007-present
Staley has started 174 games (and counting) for San Francisco since he was drafted by them. He has long been seen as one of the best offensive tackles in the league and has earned six trips to the Pro Bowl.
NaVorro Bowman, LB - 3rd round, 91st overall (2010); time with 49ers: 2010-17
After starting just one game as a rookie, Bowman became one of the premier linebackers in the league. He was named a First Team All-Pro four times and led the league with 154 tackles in 2015.
George Kittle, TE - 5th round, 146th overall (2017); time with 49ers: 2017-present
Despite playing just two seasons thus far, Kittle is already on the top-half of this list as quite the late-round find. All he did last season was set a NFL record for most receiving yards in a season by a tight end with 1,377.
Dashon Goldson, S - 4th round, 126th overall (2007); time with 49ers: 2007-2012
Another late-round find by San Francisco, Goldson was named a Pro Bowler in his last two years with the team and was a First Team All-Pro in 2012. Altogether with the 49ers, he totaled 346 tackles and 14 interceptions.
Julian Peterson, LB - 1st round, 16th overall (2000); time with 49ers: 2000-2005
The third linebacker on this list, Peterson twice received Pro Bowl honors while also being named a First Team All-Pro for the 2003 season. He would have been higher on the list had three of his five Pro Bowl appearances not come after he left the team to join the Seahawks.
Mike Iupati, G - 1st round, 17th overall (2010); time with 49ers: 2010-2014
While he played just five seasons with San Francisco, Iupati's last three with the team resulted in Pro Bowl appearances. He was also named a First Team All-Pro in 2012.
Vernon Davis, TE - 1st round, 6th overall (2006); time with 49ers: 2006-2015
Davis was long seen as one of the premier tight ends with the 49ers and was twice named a Pro Bowler (2009 and 2013 where he finished with 13 touchdowns both seasons). He ranks fourth in franchise history with 55 receiving touchdowns, fifth with 441 catches, and sixth with 5,640 receiving yards.
Colin Kaepernick, QB - 2nd round, 36th overall (2011); time with 49ers: 2011-2016
A controversial figure, nowadays, Kaepernick had his time as one of the league's more dynamic quarterbacks helping to guide the 49ers to the Super Bowl in the 2012 season. He threw for 72 touchdowns while being picked off just 30 times (also rushed for 13 touchdowns). Yahoo Sports has reported that he wanted $20 million to play in the AAF or the XFL, as he has not landed a NFL job over the past two seasons likely due to the controversy surrounding his kneeling for the anthem.
