With the Seventh Pick in the 2011 Dawgs By Nature Mock Draft, the San Francisco 49ers Select...

With the seventh pick in the 2011 Dawgs By Nature Community Mock Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select...

Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

This selection and write-up was made by rufio:

Amukamara is my choice for the 49ers for a few reasons that ultimately make him the best value available at this pick.

First, this was no dream scenario for the 49ers. None of the best players in the draft fell to them, and the guys with elite potential (Fairley, Quinn, maybe Gabbert) who were still on the board are guys I don’t think are reliable picks.  The 49ers need players, and they’ve busted on too many high picks to be able to take risks this high in the draft.

Second, Amukamara fills a major need that the 49ers won’t be able to fill later in the draft.  I really like four CBs in this draft (Peterson, Amukamara, Smith and Harris) and all of them would probably be gone by the time the 49ers pick in the 2nd round.  I don’t think QB is a need that can be filled in this draft. NT is another huge need, but there are guys like Phil Taylor, Kendrick Ellis, and Jerrell Powe who can play at over 330lbs and will be available later in the draft, with no first-round-worthy DTs that size.

Third, Amukamara fits well with what the 49ers will want to do defensively and will make an impact for them because of the current makeup of the team. New defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has publicly stated he would love to have multiple cover corners so he can turn rushers loose. He’s worked with Packers DC Dom Capers for 16 years, and if Green Bay’s defense is any indication, Fangio would love to send pressure from everywhere (the 9ers will run a one-gapping 3-4 that blitzes often and is essentially a 4-3 with one extra guy standing up). Nate Clements is the best corner currently on the roster, but he’s 31 and his play is declining while his salary is increasing wildly. The other corners are inconsistent at best.

I think Von Miller, Nate Solder and Julio Jones are worthy of this spot, but I think Miller would almost be a waste with Patrick Willis already on the field, the 49ers have no one to throw to Jones (who would have to share touches with Crabtree and Vernon Davis), and Solder would make 4 first round picks and a second round pick tied up in the OL—quite a lot of resources that would best be spent elsewhere.

Based on that explanation, I'm convinced that it is a good pick for the 49ers. For the past several years, they have been the team in the NFC West that was supposed to elevate their game to another level. It hasn't worked out that way, but with three other teams in the division are won't be known for their offensive firepower, having two reliable corners will allow the rest of the defense to take more chances and start winning games week in and week out with their defense.

The Tennessee Titans are on the clock next (email has been sent to iwearmocs).