EXTRA POINTS
Doubting Thomas
Starting with the Bears’ trade- up for quarterback Mitch Trubisky at No. 2 overall, the 49ers made six moves in the NFL draft in April, resulting in a widely praised 10- player class. Everyone seemed to love what general manager
John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan did in their first draft together.
It started with their selection of Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas with the Bears’ original No. 3 selection. Thomas was the best player on the 49ers’ board after outside linebacker
Myles Garrett and would have been their pick at No. 2 if the Bears hadn’t moved up. Bears coach John Fox and defensive coordinator
Vic Fangio were also fond of Thomas, and if Trubisky hadn’t been an option, Thomas and safety
Jamal Adams were the best players on the Bears’ board after Garrett.
“Good athlete, good quickness, played hard, had some versatility,” Fangio said of Thomas.
Still, Thomas hasn’t exactly changed the 49ers this season. They’re 28th in total defense and 30th against the run. Thomas has two sacks and eight tackles for loss in nine starts.
His best game came in Week 6 against the Redskins, when he had nine tackles and a sack. He missed back- to- back games against the Cardinals and Giants ( the 49ers’ only win this season) because of a sprained knee.
In general, he hasn’t been the immediate contributor many thought he would be, though he should improve over time — as should Trubisky.
Rotten Apple?
While we’re on the subject of the draft, it’s worth noting what’s happening with Giants cornerback
Eli Apple, the 10th overall pick in 2016. The Bears swapped picks with the Buccaneers in the first round of that draft, leapfrogging the Giants to take outside linebacker Leonard Floyd at No. 9 overall. The Giants had coveted Floyd, as well as offensive tackle Jack Conklin, whom the Texans selected at No. 8. Because of the Bears’ move, the Giants scrambled and selected Apple, who has since become a controversial figure.
In Week 5 against the Chargers this season, he was benched for three series, reportedly for his conduct in practice and an exchange with an assistant coach. After a loss to the 49ers in Week 10, he was heavily critiqued during the team’s film review and nearly walked out because of it, according to the New York Post.
For the last two weeks, Apple has been inactive after being excused from practices to be with his mother, who underwent brain surgery. He’s expected to play Sunday against the Raiders.
Meanwhile, Floyd is on injured reserve with torn ligaments in his right knee. But he’s still evidence that it’s smarter for teams to be bold and go after the players they want rather than wait for players to fall to them in the draft.