Daily Madden: 49ers Score High With Low Pick
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Declining to trade up for a higher pick, the 49ers waited for their 30 spot to select Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward in the NFL Draft Thursday night.
"Someone is going to let someone slip through and you're going to catch him," John Madden told the KCBS Radio morning crew. "I bet you that's what the 49ers did. I bet they had their guy rated higher than that and they're surprised that he was there for them... There's no big advantage to being real low in the first round, but if there is a little advantage is that you let everyone make their choice, and then there's going to be someone that they leave for you or someone that they miss on."
Madden said the 49ers could use help in the defensive backfield.
"That was a need for them," Madden said. "What did they lose, three defensive backs in the off-season? Teams are using so many receivers now that the more receivers offenses uses, the more defensive backs that the defense needs." (6:40)
(Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.)