We always say that it takes about five years to properly judge an NFL Draft. You see so many immediate-after-the-fact analysis of draft classes, but that’s based on speculation and projection rather than any actual facts of the matter. Not until players have actually been in the league for a few years can you really accurately judge how well the team did. The grade that the 49ers got for their 2016 draft is meaningless, compared to where the team will be in 2020 or so.
Five years ago, Trent Baalke was working on his first draft as full-time general manager; while he called the shots in the 2010 draft, he was also taking over for Scot McCloughan in mid-stream.