3 Draft Picks the 49ers Gave Up on Too Early

For as bad as the Trent Baalke era ended, the man knew a thing or two about drafting, as some of his selections remained contributors on a 49ers team that went to the Super Bowl this past season. Unfortunately, some of Baalke's best selections were cut loose a bit too quickly, which led to the 49ers having to watch them morph into stars on different teams. San Francisco would probably keep each of these three players, if given another chance.

3. S Eric Reid

Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid / Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Reid was up and down during his two seasons in Carolina, but you can't deny that the production he piled up last year is very impressive. Reid nearly doubled his previous career high in tackles (77) when he amassed 130 in Ron Rivera's final season with the Panthers. While he has just one pick with the Panthers, his ability to play in the box and make plays still stands out, and it wouldn't be unreasonable to say he is a superior player when compared to Jaquiski Tartt.

2. OT Trent Brown

Oakland Raiders tackle Trent Brown / Al Bello/Getty Images

Brown is a mammoth offensive tackle that started under both Chip Kelly and Kyle Shanahan in 2016 and 2017. After being traded to New England in an odd move that only netted them the pick that became Tarvarius Moore, the 380-pound tackle started all 16 games on Tom Brady's offensive line, winning a championship along the way. Brown resurfaced with the Raiders, where he became a Pro Bowler and the highest-paid offensive tackle in NFL history. Even with a stout o-line at the moment, Brown would be a welcome addition if San Francisco had a do-over.

1. QB Colin Kaepernick

San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick / Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Let's be honest here. If we're going off of how he played during his final season with the team, Kaepernick did not warrant an unceremonious release. On a poorly-coached team with no weapons on offense and the worst defense in the league, Kaepernick completed 59 percent of his passes and threw 16 touchdowns against just four interceptions while running for 468 yards and two touchdowns. He should be in the league right now, but there are some...other factors preventing him from playing.