NFL Mock Draft 2014: San Francisco 49ers Select Bradley Roby

Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State

Allow me to address the elephant in the room:

Bear in mind that the drama is all over the net regarding this team and  its core players, even in the top of the food chain. But this is neither the place or the time to debate that this team is the victim of its own success and talent maintenance. The 49ers are WINNING and the NFL is better when the Niners are winning.

This team is mighty successful during the offseason. When you think of the San Francisco 49ers during draft time, you think of a team with plentiful talent with ample draft picks with absolutely no way of keeping all of them under one roof.  With eleven draft picks in the credit card, the options are bountiful. When your team has been to three NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl the past three seasons, there is very little that needs tinkering. even coaching.

As I type this, I believe like the rest of the prognosticators that the Niners have too much draft credits to keep and will move up to get that one player they desire. The team has worked hard to stockpile their draft silo and with ten of their picks actually trade-able, it actually makes sense to try to get an elite draft pick for a team that is ready to win a championship NOW. Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown are both Raiders and it only makes sense to go after one of the upper tier cornerbacks. However, since trading is not allowed in this mock, we shall commence with the 31^st pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.

What do you get the team that has everything except championship hardware?

A stud to keep the dynamic tradition of the Smith Bros. alive. Aldon Smith is a talented player who can be a defensive player of the entire NFL, but even the loyal 49er Nation know he is unreliable and tiresome. With games missed last year, and the potential of games missed this year (BOMB!), this team can use a stud on the edge who not only can not be a headache to team with a bad image concern now.  Justin Smith (the man I call the MVP of this defense) is 34 and going into his 14^th season. Hate to admit it but after the Super Bowl, he was never the same tempestuous bull. Eventually attrition will win over guts and heart that Justin Smith has an abundance of. Besides, with Ryan Shazier and Timmy Jerrigan available, now would be the time for that youth upgrade.

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I think we can all agree that the trade that saved the Niners season was Anquan Boldin to the Bay Area. His consistency helped Michael Crabtree be the dynamic player he was last year. Brandon Lloyd was just signed last week and I for one like a good comeback story. With the year he had with the Patriots in 2012 I am surprised no team took a gander at him sooner.  I do not blame them for going the free agent route after getting disappointed BIG TIME by former first rounders A.J. Jenkins and Jon Baldwin. But with a draft class as deep as this, it would be advantageous to go after a youngster that can pop the top off of defenses.

And that offensive line.  Jonathan Martin was traded from Miami, so I will consider that part of the draft. Jonathan Goodwin was a stud in the middle for the Niners keeping Alex Smith and Colin  Kaepernick clean. But a strange thing happened on the way to success: he got old.  Per Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com "Daniel Kilgore was re-signed to man the center position but it wouldn't hurt to bring in some competition. And with Southern Cal's Marcus Martin being the only center to remotely be considered for a first round pick, it is something to consider.

Let's break it down like a fraction:

With good players available on all three levels of the defense, it is a tossup. But with Aldon Smith not getting cut  anytme soon, Corey Lemonier up and coming and Tank Carradine recovered from a knee injury, there is only one way to go: to the weakest position on the team.

And on that note, with the 30^th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select Bradley Roby, cornerback, The Ohio State University.

The truth of the matter is, Timmy Jerrigan has the higher grade and putting him in the rotation would make Justin Smith a  fresh "utility" D-lineman, where he would thrive. However, what good is a pass rush when there is little talent at corner even with the addition of Chris Cook?  Roby  excels at run defense and needs great NFL defensive coaching. No better than (defensive coordinator) Vic Fangio and (secondary coach) Ed Donatell.

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