Niners buy in bulk at NFL draft

[Kadie]

Niners buy in bulk at NFL draft

GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer

(04-24) 19:25 PDT SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) --

The San Francisco 49ers were in no hurry to make their first pick in the NFL draft. They were much more interested in being busy later in the day.

True to general manager Terry Donahue's plan to stockpile young, cheap talent, the 49ers traded down twice in the first round Saturday, eventually turning their No. 16 overall pick into the No. 31 selection while also adding a second-round selection and a fourth-rounder -- the 58th and 127th overall choices.

San Francisco chose Oklahoma State receiver Rashaun Woods with its belated first-round pick, followed by Alabama offensive guard Justin Smiley with the 46th choice. The Niners got Pittsburgh cornerback Shawntae Spencer later in the second round, then added Clemson receiver Derrick Hamilton in the third.

"I think it was a very successful day," coach Dennis Erickson said. "Our goal going in was to get as many picks as we could, and get a (receiver) that we wanted. (Woods) was a guy we wanted extremely badly."

more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/04/24/sports2225EDT0123.DTL

[Syrinx]

1. Smiley's a great OG

I wish he had stayed at Bama for his final year of eligibility.