Tidbitzzz

Thank God Gore was locked up long-term relatively quickly. I'm surprised Drew "The Agent from Hell" Rosenhaus didn't cause that big of a stink. Anyways, check the great article by Matt Maiocco here. It's pretty ironic how most "draft experts" hated on the pick and how SI supposedly felt he was "the most overrated back in the draft."
ESPN has more insight into the deal:

Pretty much under the radar by NFL standards, Gore ran for 1,695 yards and averaged 5.43 yards per carry during the 2006 season.

Don't just sail past those numbers; they're special. Only five other players in NFL history have enjoyed seasons in which they reached the Gore levels for both rushing yards and yards per carry: Jim Brown (1963), O.J. Simpson (1973 and 1975), Walter Payton (1977), Eric Dickerson (1984) and Barry Sanders (1994 and 1997).

Pretty good company huh?

Todd McShay from Scouts, Inc. has a new mock up at ESPN (posted 3/27). Many thanks to the Insider subscriber who posted it on the 49ersworld forum!

I honestly think it would be a godsend if DT Alan Branch dropped to us. Then again, would Nolan and Co. use a 1st round pick on a guy who's been described as looking lazy, out-of-shape and unmotivated during workouts? Doesn't really seem to fit the profile of players they want on the team, that's for sure.

***

ESPN has their new NBA Mock Draft Lottery Simulator up. It's fun to keep refreshing the lottery to see different scenarios pop up. After hitting "Play Lottery" three or four times, I see that the Warriors either end up drafting C Roy Hibbert of Georgetown or SF Thaddeus Young of Georgia Tech w/ the 14th pick...which makes me wonder - do we really need another C or SF? If I were the W's, I'd be more worried about trying to secure a low-post threat at the PF position, even if it would mean perhaps trading our 1st rounder this year along w/ one of our guys...I know trading within conferences is typically a no-no, but I read somewhere that PF Zach Randolph is looking more and more expendable w/ the improved play of F LaMarcus Aldridge. Can someone fiddle w/ the RealGM Trade Checker and work out a deal for him that includes J Rich? I'm sorry J Rich fans out there...it's just that I'm convinced that Monta is the future of this squad...

One more note about the Draft Sim...Memphis almost always gets the #1 overall pick (and if not that, then #2). Isn't it almost unfair that they get to pair either Oden or Durant w/ Pau next year? That frontcourt is gonna be sick.

NFL Mock Drafts

I love mock drafts...always good reads that help you gauge what the consensus is on player evals, team needs, etc. I know, I know...like all mock drafts (regardless of the sport), they end up being pretty inaccurate come draft day but they're still fun to pore over.

Here are a few of the ones I'm looking at for the upcoming NFL Draft -

1. Yahoo Sports (updated 3/7) - John Murphy comes through with a well-researched and informative mock here. He has us taking DE Adam Carriker out of Nebraska which seems about right. NFL.com's* comprehensive prospect profile on him compares him favorably to Richard Seymour. Plus, at 6-6, 292, he's built like a monster. And on closer inspection of his picture, he kinda looks like one too. Or a prospective WWE wrestler at the very least...
2. Scott Wright's Draft Countdown (updated 2/15) - This one's pretty insightful as well (covering up to the 2nd Round), except that it hasn't been touched in almost a month! Come on Scott! Quench our Mock Draft thirst!!! Incidentally, he was the first draft "guru" to list us as taking Carriker.
   
3. War Room Report (updated 3/1) - I have to hand it to Rob Tribbett. He's the only guy around that has us reaching and picking LB Patrick Willis from Ole Miss (check out NFL.com's profile on him here), comparing him to another quick LB who thrived under Nolan's tutelage - Ray Lewis.

I know I've missed some great ones out there. Give me a holler and fill me in on those, please!

And before I go, I want to give Hailredskins.com a shoutout. They supposedly have "The Web's Largest 2007 Mock Draft Database"...and just taking a glance at their looooong list of drafts (conveniently organized based on date updated), I might have to agree.

*Speaking of NFL.com's prospect coverage...shit is insane. So much info...maybe too much? Some profiles are so long, they look like thesis papers. Anyways, I'm not complaining. 99% of other sites out there charge some B.S. membership fee to see the same info. So, more power to the NFL.

***Update 3/10***

Don Banks from SI.com just updated his Mock yesterday. He has an interesting take w/ QB Brady Quinn* going to the Lions at #2 but seems absolutely clueless w/ the 49ers defensive scheme and has us taking DT Amobi Okoye again (his previous mock also had us taking him). Check out his analysis:

The 49ers signed ex-Raven nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin in free agency, but Okoye would upgrade the 49ers other tackle slot, and his potential is too great to pass on. Only 19, his stock continued to rise at the combine. Mississippi middle linebacker Patrick Willis is another intriguing option for San Francisco.

The "other tackle slot"? What the? Banks should do his research...3-4 defenses only have one tackle. And on the following pick, he lists Willis as a CB. Get it together, man!

*An aside on Quinn: Dude is straight-up strong. He benched 225 lbs. 21 times. Yup, you read that right. 21 times. Guards and tackles average around that number in the Combine. In fact, the #1 rated Tackle Joe Thomas (who goes 6-8, 315) benched 225 28 times (only 7 more than Quinn!). Either Thomas is weak for his position or Quinn is a freak.

His other athletic stats will have you believing he's the latter: 4.72 in the 40-yard dash, 345-pound bench press, 475-pound squat and a 37½-inch vertical jump (I'm guessing he can dunk w/ ease)...