John Lynch’s first draft as general manager looked like a home run. He went from number 2 to number 3 to pick the player the 49ers intended to take to number 2 anyway. They switched to the first round to select striker Reuben Foster 31st overall and by the end of 2017, it looked like there would be more than five quality starters in the 10-player category. At the start of the 2021 league year, it looks like the 2017 draft was closer to an attack.
A week after the legal bargaining period for free agents opened, only two members of the 2017 draft class remain with San Francisco and do not appear to be on track to retain players who have not signed.
Here’s a reminder of the 2017 49ers draft class and what happened to each player:
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Thomas was recruited for his versatility, but was never able to grab the pin effectively and hampered his overall impact.
Current team: Las Vegas Raiders
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Off-field problems forced the 49ers to cut Foster before the end of his second season. He was picked up by Washington, but was hurt before playing a game for them.
Current team: free agent
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It was four seasons up and down in red and gold for Witherspoon, but a strong end to the 2020 campaign was not enough to invite the 49ers to re-sign him after his rookie contract ended.
Current team: Seattle Seahawks
(Photo by AP / Jed Jacobsohn)
The 49ers moved up to the third round to select Beathard outside of Iowa. However, his development never came out, and he now seems unlikely to return to San Francisco after four unproductive years.
Current team: free agent
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This remains the only selection the 49ers have used in a running race under Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. He never played a regular season game in San Francisco.
Current team: retired
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This is a selection good enough to prevent the draft from being a total disaster, but Kittle is the first of the group to enter the 49ers roster in the 2021 season.
Current team: San Francisco 49ers
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Injuries derailed Taylor after a promising start to his career. The changer slot receiver had a back injury between year 1 and year 2, and was later sidelined by a foot injury in year 3 and was ineffective in year 4.
Current team: free agent
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Jones sculpted an initial role during his third and fourth years, and San Francisco re-signed him for a one-year contract this offseason. He is the only member of this novice class to return after the expiration of his first contract.
Current team: San Francisco 49ers
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Taumoepenu never found more than a special team role with the 49ers and dropped out after the 2019 season. He played a game for the Falcons in 2020.
Current team: free agent
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The end of Colbert’s rookie season made him look like the draft robbery. Although he fought in 2018 and did not stay on the list after the training camp in 2019.
Current team: free agent