The San Francisco 49ers drafted the team's supposed franchise receiver two years ago.
NFL experts were shocked when Michael Crabtree fell to the 49ers at the No. 10 pick. Many blamed a stress fracture in his foot and the senility of Al Davis for the 49ers good luck.
Almost two seasons later, the jury is still out on Crabtree despite him showing flashes of being worthy of the hype as the best receiver in his class.
Now the 49ers have the No. 7 pick in the draft and no one expects the team to draft a franchise wide out in the first round.
Not when the team has glaring needs at quarterback, outside linebacker and cornerback, just to name a few.
Most seem to think Crabtree and Josh Morgan are at least serviceable wide outs. Then why are the 49ers getting an up close look at another potential first round wide out with a foot problem?
Matt Maiocco reports that San Francisco has a meeting scheduled with combine star Julio Jones.
The Alabama receiver is expected to be the second receiver taken off the board and quite possibly sitting there at No. 7.
Most pundits have Jones falling to the St. Louis Rams at No. 14. The team is reportedly looking for a star wide out to link up with young franchise quarterback Sam Bradford.
The 49ers are reportedly not only meeting with Jones but the team is having its doctors take a look at Jones' foot. He had a screw inserted in it after the combine.
Jones has already visited St. Louis. The 49ers could genuinely be interested in adding a speed wide out with Jones combination of size and speed -- he is 6-2 3/4, 220 pounds and ran a 4.39 40 despite having a broken foot.
Or the team could simply be faking interest to force a division rival to trade picks to move up and grab Jones.
The 49ers could also be creating interest in their own pick for a possible move down the draft if players such as Von Miller or Patrick Peterson are not available when the team picks.
