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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (April 23, 2003 9:04 a.m. EDT) - The San Francisco 49ers' urgent needs have become general preferences. But no matter their coach or their success, they still believe in building through the draft.
The 49ers hope to find at least one starter in the first draft of Dennis Erickson's tenure, the new coach said Tuesday. San Francisco has few holes in its starting lineups, but there are two empty spots on the defensive line and a gaping hole on the receivers' depth chart that must be filled.
After consecutive trips to the playoffs and last season's NFC West title, the 49ers are making the transition into a maintenance mode in their personnel decisions. General manager Terry Donahue will choose the best player available with the 26th overall pick, with no particular position in mind - a change from the 49ers' strategy in the last few drafts.
"We have a much more experienced, deeper football team than in 1999, 2000 or 2001," Donahue said. "Our approach to each round and free agency after the draft is much different today. You have to change as your team changes."...more
The 49ers hope to find at least one starter in the first draft of Dennis Erickson's tenure, the new coach said Tuesday. San Francisco has few holes in its starting lineups, but there are two empty spots on the defensive line and a gaping hole on the receivers' depth chart that must be filled.
After consecutive trips to the playoffs and last season's NFC West title, the 49ers are making the transition into a maintenance mode in their personnel decisions. General manager Terry Donahue will choose the best player available with the 26th overall pick, with no particular position in mind - a change from the 49ers' strategy in the last few drafts.
"We have a much more experienced, deeper football team than in 1999, 2000 or 2001," Donahue said. "Our approach to each round and free agency after the draft is much different today. You have to change as your team changes."...more
