To say the San Francisco 49ers burned through 1st round draft picks between 1995 and 2005 would be a bit of an understatement. They took 11 swings and had only one player be named All-Pro during their time with the team. Meanwhile, multiple selections lasted three seasons or fewer with the Niners.
Between taking Bryant Young in 1994 and Vernon Davis in 2006, the 49ers front office put on a clinic in how not to draft. Even the pair of starting-caliber players they landed in this period, Andre Carter and Julian Peterson, went on to have more success elsewhere.
This would lead to the franchise bottoming out during the mid-2000s. But as bad as the Mike Nolan years were, it was nothing compared to the 49ers decade of dreadful 1st round draft picks between 1995 and 2005.
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Things you may not remember about the 49ers decade of dreadful 1st round draft picks
The worst DBs imaginable
Any postmortem of the 49ers decade of dreadful 1st round draft picks has to start with the front office squandering three selections on some of the most disappointing defensive backs to have ever played in the NFL. In 1998, they took R.W. McQuarters, a decision the team regretted almost immediately. After two terrible seasons, he was sent to Chicago for next to nothing.
After moving on from McQuarters, San Francisco once again used a first-round pick on a cornerback, grabbing Ahmed Plummer in 2000. The Ohio State product was serviceable. However, injuries derailed his career after four seasons.
In 2004, the 49ers drafted Mike Rumph who was just awful. Seriously, ask any Niners fan about Rumph and watch their head explode.
Quarterback issues
Replacing Steve Young turned into a nightmare for San Francisco during this period. They burned a first-round pick on Jim Druckenmiller in 1997. He was gone two seasons later. Alex Smith was taken with the top selection in 2005 and while his career wasn’t awful, it’s safe the say the Niners would have rather had Aaron Rodgers who was also drafted that year.
Why you don’t draft for need
The 49ers found themselves desperate for defensive tackles heading into the 1999 NFL Draft. Dana Stubblefield had left for Washington the previous season while Bryant Young suffered a severe injury during the year. Needing help, San Francisco moved up in the first round to select Reggie McGrew from Florida.
Not only was the pick seen as a reach at the time, but McGrew showed up to training camp out of shape. He didn’t suit up during his rookie season and never started a game for the Niners in three seasons with the team.
The worst of the bunch
Rashaun Woods had a hell of a college career at Oklahoma State. His time in the NFL was the exact opposite. Taken by San Francisco to replace Terrell Owens, the wide receiver caught seven passes his rookie season, injured his thumb in year two and was cut by the 49ers after that. In a sea of terrible first round picks, Woods was unquestionably the worst.
The best of the bunch
San Francisco held the third overall pick in the 2000 draft but sent it to Washington for the 12th and 24th selections. The latter was used on Ahmed Plummer. The former was traded to the New York Jets for the 16th pick and a second rounder that became Jason Webster.
Ultimately, the 49ers took Julian Peterson, a very good linebacker who made the All-Pro team in 2003. After six seasons with the franchise, he signed for the Seattle Seahawks and went to the Pro Bowl for three consecutive years. The Niners would miss the playoffs during that stretch.
