SANTA CLARA -- Of the seven first-round picks 49ers general manager Trent Baalke has selected since he started running the draft, only one -- safety Eric Reid in 2013 -- did not pay a visit to the 49ers beforehand. Which is to say, when a prospect shows up in Santa Clara in late March or April, it's significant.
Teams are permitted to host 30 players at their headquarters. The 49ers tend to use those visits on smaller-school prospects who don't get as much attention during the college season, on prospects with character concerns and on players they might want to take with a high pick.