BTSC Mock Draft - Pick #29 by the San Francisco 49ers: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College

The 49ers started with several clear cut needs and a defined draft board but the way this mock turned out, I couldn’t help but rip it all up and go for the gold. Next up, as we try and finish out the BTSC mock draft today, the Green Bay Packers, represented by Chicago Steeler.

No team needs a high pick in this years draft more than the San Francisco 49ers after a 5-11 season that saw them dead last in points per game, yards per game, passing yards per game and time of possession. The lone bright spot of the 2007 season was rookie Patrick Willis who finished the season with 174 tackles, four sacks, a Pro Bowl, an All Pro selection and a defensive Rookie of the Year trophy. His fellow rookie, Joe Staley also had a nice rookie season. Going into the draft the Niners biggest needs were WR, OL and DL, but the way this draft has fallen there is a guy who they simply can’t pass up. Matt Ryan may be a reach in some minds with a top ten pick but at 28, he looks like nothing short of an absolute gem. The Niners have several young quarterbacks under contract (Alex Smith, newly signed Shaun Hill and JT O’Sullivan), but it’s time to move in a new direction. Smith may have been sabotaged by the rotating door in the coaching staff but Mike Martz should be able to get great results out of Matt Ryan.

Several other players made me think twice including James Hardy and Lawrence Jackson, but when you can get a potential franchise quarterback you can’t hesitate. Not to mention that the Niners will get another pick at 39^th overall. WR and DL can be addressed at that time, but for now they’re giddy that Ryan fell this far.

BTSC Mock Draft Team Selections

#1 - Miami Dolphins, Darren Mcfadden
#2 - St. Louis Rams, Chris Long
#3 - Atlanta Falcons, Sedrick Ellis
#4 - Oakland Raiders, Vernon Gholston
#5 - Kansas City Chiefs, Jake Long
#6 - New York Jets, Glen Dorsey
#7 - New England Patriots, Dominique Rodger-Cromartie
#8 - Baltimore Ravens, Jerod Mayo
#9 - Cincinnati Bengals, Keith Rivers
#10 - New Orleans Saints, Aqib Talib
#11 - Buffalo Bills, Malcom Kelly
#12 - Denver Broncos, Ryan Clady
#13 - Carolina Panthers, Chris Williams
#14 - Chicago Bears, Brandon Albert
#15 - Detroit Lions, Leodis McKelvin
#16 - Arizona Cardinals, Jeff Otah
#17 - Minnesota Vikings, Derrick Harvey
#18 - Houston Texans, Rashard Mendenhall
#19 - Philadelphia Eagles, Jonathan Stewart
#20 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Limas Sweed
#21 - Washington Redskins, Mike Jenkins
#22 - Dallas Cowboys, Felix Jones
#23 - Pittsburgh Steelers, Kentwan Balmer
#24 - Tennessee Titans, Devin Thomas
#25 - Seattle Seahawks, Kenny Phillips
#26 - Jacksonville Jaguars, Phillip Merling
#27 - San Diego Chargers, Gosder Cherilus

#28 - Dallas Cowboys, Antoine Cason