49ers got their QB — then ‘7 others’
Picking winners, losers in a class defined by Lance
It’s formally known as the 49ers’ 2021 draft class, but here’s the unofficial title: Trey Lance and Seven Other Guys.
Yes, the 49ers’ class will be historically viewed as a success or failure based largely on how the North Dakota State quarterback they selected with the No. 3 pick fares. For those who think that’s a bit much, consider this: The Patriots drafted 10 players in 2000 and nine never sniffed a Pro Bowl or started more than 23 games for New England … and it was a roaring success because the other pick was Tom Brady.
Given that, Lance is the noduh winner of this award from the 49ers’ 2021 draft: Most Important Pick.
And here are the others:
Besides Jimmy Garoppolo, the Veteran Who Disliked This Draft the Most: running back Wayne Gallman
Gallman, a fouryear veteran, signed with the 49ers on April 21 and appeared poised to serve as the No. 3 back behind Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson on a team that has taken a committee approach to running the ball under Kyle Shanahan.
Nine days later, though, the 49ers drafted Ohio State running back Trey Sermon in the third round. Then, the next day, the 49ers drafted Louisiana running back Elijah Mitchell in the sixth round. Surprise, Wayne!
“We didn’t go into this drafting thinking we’re going to take two running backs,” Shanahan said after the 49ers selected two running backs in the same draft for the first time in 30 years.
Veteran Who Disliked This Draft the SecondMost: guard Tom Compton
Compton, a nineyear veteran, resigned with the 49ers on Wednesday and appeared poised to have a role on a team that was lacking interior line depth.
Two days later, though, the 49ers drafted Notre Dame guard Aaron Banks in the second round. The next day, they drafted Western Michigan tackle Jaylon Moore in the fifth round and said they viewed him as a guard in the NFL.
Veterans Who Liked This Draft the Most: The slot receivers
Despite not having an obvious candidate on the roster to replace slot receiver Kendrick Bourne, now with the Patriots, the 49ers didn’t draft a wide receiver for the first time since 2002.
When asked, Shanahan didn’t rule out signing a free agent, but he suggested there was an answer on the roster. That was good news for a group that includes two unproven seventhround draft picks (Richie James from 2018, Jauan Jennings from 2020), an oftinjured 2019 thirdround pick who hasn’t played an NFL regularseason snap ( Jalen Hurd) and a 31yearold who opted out in 2020 and last played Oct. 13, 2019 (Travis Benjamin).
“If we think there’s a slot receiver or outside receiver that could make our team or beat the guys out in front of them, we would never hesitate as long as it makes sense financially,” Shanahan said. “But I also think we can with the receivers we have.”
Best Change: Shanahan and GM John Lynch
Shanahan and Lynch acknowledged after a season in which the 49ers went 610 largely because they led the league in injuredreserve transactions that they bore some responsibility: Too many of the players they had signed or drafted with extensive medical histories hadn’t stayed healthy.
They pledged to place even more of an emphasis on durability when it came to player evaluations. And the draft appeared to reflect that. Lance did not miss a game in his 17start career. Banks did not miss a game in his 31start career. Moore started all 32 games in his final three seasons. Cornerback Ambry Thomas, a thirdround pick, played in all 39 games in his three seasons at Michigan. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, a fifthround pick, went 47for47 at Oregon. And Mitchell finished his career by playing in 37 of 39 games after he broke his foot as a freshman.
Best First Impression: Talanoa Hufanga
The USC safety had bigtime credentials at a bigtime program — he was a firstteam AP AllAmerican and Pac12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 — and he trained before the draft with Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu.
Given that, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if he was disappointed after he finally was picked late in the fifth round, No. 180 overall. Instead, Hufanga spent his postpick Zoom media call sporting a permagrin and bursting with gratitude. He discussed the historic moment for his family, touching on his father’s hardscrabble upbringing in Tonga, and told reporters he wanted to be fully “present with you guys when I’m on this call.” His 2021 goal: Be the best in a role many rookies with his college bio don’t embrace.
“Being a specialteams Pro Bowler in my first year is a goal of mine,” Hufanga said. “I think a lot of guys get caught into trying to play right off the bat. … I understand there’s a level to it and I just want to be the best I possibly can be. I’m just grateful for this opportunity.”
The 49ers made their lone major injury exception for Hufanga, who twice broke his right collarbone and dislocated his right shoulder in college.
Best First Impression, Runnerup: Lance
The babyface QB from smalltown Minnesota who can’t legally crack a Corona until Sunday exuded Midwestern manners and said “excited” nine times during a brief meeting with the Bay Area media Thursday night.
He also spoke about using his platform to make an impact beyond the field.
“Obviously, football is what I love to do and I can’t wait to get there and learn,” Lance said. “But I don’t believe that I’m on Earth to be a football player.”
Best Text Message: Garoppolo
Not long after Lance was drafted, Mike Chasanoff, a member of the 49ers’ publicrelations staff, received a request from Garoppolo: Could Chasanoff pass along Lance’s number? Lance later indicated Garoppolo was the first among his new teammates to contact him.
“Trey was here today,” Lynch said Friday, “and Trey told us the first text he got was from Jimmy Garoppolo. So that’s pretty special. And it speaks to his class.”
Best Phone Call: ‘A group of 49ers players’
On Sunday, Shanahan heard from several players to let him know they were still alive, NFL Network reported.
The call was in response to Shanahan’s predraft quote that went viral that hinted at the looming destruction of mankind. Amid trade speculation, Shanahan was asked if he could guarantee Garoppolo would be on the roster the day after the draft, which was Sunday. Shanahan darkly dodged the question: “I can’t guarantee that anybody in the world will be alive on Sunday.”
Best Tweet: Taybor Pepper
Wrote the 49ers’ long snapper Sunday morning: “So glad I’m still alive.”
Eric Branch covers the 49ers for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch